38' 1-0 Horan dribbles to arc top right, two pass-tries blocked back to her feet -- she stumbles through the last 2 defenders, shoots right instep from 15m arc right -- Forbes sprawls and saves at 6-center. 39' 1-0 Morgan breakaway to 16m mid-left, left instep shot into Forbes's body. Meh! 39' 1-0 T&T chip over #19 at 12m 6-right, awkward touch or bounce arcs across mouth, makes Solo dive (and miss), way wide left. 40' 1-0 Johnston pokes to Dunn spinning through 2 past box top right, alone to 10m box right. Backpass to 12m center, Heath unmarked -- one-touch shot drills a standing defender in the hip at 8m, bounces back off Heath's foot, to another defender, cleared
42' 1-0 O'Hara chips to 16m right post, Horan +1 leans past T&T's high central line. Horan, facing ball, chest trap to corkscrew half-volley -- pulled just wide left low, medium power. 44' 1-0 USA snuff a rare foray to arc top wide right. 45' 1-0 Dunn turns through box right low, dribbles square to 7m 6-right, shoots way high. +2'. 45+1' (of +2') 1-0 USA cross from the right way over 4m, Lloyd crashing to 3m 1/5 left -- and gets her left foot surreptitiously hooked forward, preventing any jump.
Horan has looked a lot better in this game than she did against Brazil, imo. Partly, I think, because sitting in the midfield covers up her lack of speed, but I'm not convinced this CM combo would work against a better team.
Horan's strengths are holding the ball and redirecting passes, she's very strong on the ball and winning the ball. I see her used centrally, how far up the field remains to be seen. she can compete at a high level, but i agree, she needs to prove herself. (foudy called her one of the best, if not the best, forward in the world with her back to goal) i know, i quote foudy a lot.
HT 1-0. A very refreshing preformance by T&T. USA are pretty active, not killer-sharp. T&T look way better than those minnows we used to clobber: organized, stubborn, calm on the ball, and always in the way of our shots.
Attacking-third touches in 1st half:147 #USWNT11 Trinidad & TobagoAll U.S. players but Solo, Johnston, Sauerbrunn had > 11.— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) December 11, 2015
Yeah, Horan has been the only bright spot for the U.S. Except of course for, as always, Becky Sauerbrunn. I suppose we'll run up the score in the second half as T&T get tired and has to put in the U-17 player who took the bus up from Houston today and hasn't even practiced with the team. You have to admire the T&T players. No training, no money, no nothing.
I like Horan better back there than slowing down the attack up top. Still eager to see the other CM candidates.
I also think she's being given acres of room to work with for the most part that's allowing her to take her time to pick out players. She didn't have that luxury against Brazil and it showed.
A long ball was played from the defense up towards Morgan. The GK rightfully challenged for the ball, and got to it before Morgan, and was able to punch it away. While Morgan got there a tad late, and kicked the GK in the ribs. Ref immediately pointed to the spot as Morgan and the GK laid on the ground.
46' 1-0 USA subs in (1 of 6) #26(?) Jaelene Hinkle for #5 Kelley O'Hara. 47' 1-0 USA pass to Morgan facing away alone at 22m mid-left. Morgan -- gets cleats stuck in turf, does a sesselfall backward Fortunately, Heath(?) first to ball, one-touch chip down box left for Morgan to chase. 49' 1-0 USA fk at 7m wide left, Heath kind of lackadaisically kicks it to a huge void at 8m center -- no bend, T&T clear the bounce. 49' 1-0 Horan(?) splits the high line through box top left to 6m mid-left -- tries a soft backpass to Morgan trailing centerline, T&T steal. Too unselfish
For me, Dunn has been another bright spot. She's one of those players that when she gets the ball, I think something's about to happen, which has been one of the only fun things to watch in the first half.
52' 2-0 Horan receives and turns just behind circle back left, long right-foot chip low and flat through the high line -- Morgan backcuts past 30m arc right, in behind! Touches through box top center to 13m, snipes under Forbes's right hand into 2/5 left back low. 56' 2-0 USA fk at 6m wide left, Heath mini-bends it to 1/4 left. Morgan front-cuts a standing defender from behind, one-touch left instep bounce low, spins just wide left low. Kicked/touched, USA corner.