USWNT begins Concacaf Olympic Qualifying with 4-0 win over Haiti
HOUSTON – The U.S. Women’s National Team began the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament with a 4-0 victory against Haiti as Christen Press, Lynn Williams, Lindsey Horan and Carli Lloyd scored for the USA.
The victory launched the U.S. team on its quest to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games that will be held this July and August in Japan.
After the first round of games in Group A, the USA sits in second place behind Costa Rica on goal difference. Costa Rica defeated Panama, 6-1, in the first game of the day.
It took a mere 75 seconds for Press to notch the game’s opening goal, volleying home a cross from Williams, who had lost her left boot in her efforts to win the ball and earn the space down the right wing to lift her cross to the far post.
With the early 1-0 lead, the USWNT looked to be set for more goals, but a tough and physical Haiti side did well to disrupt the USA’s attacking rhythm and the Americans played an uneven first half.
The USA ultimately finished with a 23-3 advantage in shots, 70 percent possession of the ball and more than double the amount of completed passes (430-205) but took until the second half for that dominance to show on the score board.
The USA did have to endure one scare before the break. An in-swinging Haiti corner in the 19thminute from the right flag flew over the head of Roseline Eloissaint and nestled inside the left post, but the goal was mysteriously waved off by the officiating crew.
After nearly adding to its lead numerous times in the final minutes of the opening frame, the U.S. came out in the second half with renewed verve. A weaving dribble through the Haiti box by Press saw her create enough room for a low drive that brought a top class save from Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Théus in the 59th minute.
The near goal and the introduction of Megan Rapinoe in the 62nd minute spurred the USA forward with the reigning World Player of the Year having a near instant impact when she assisted on Williams’ goal off a corner kick five minutes after coming on for Press.
The USA scored next off a short corner in the 73rd minute as Rapinoe teed up Horan for one of her trademark headers. A diving Théus and a defender on the goal line couldn’t keep the ball from crossing for the 3-0 USA lead.
Lloyd capped of the evening in the final minute of added time when she converted a Julie Ertz feed with her chest as she fell to the ground to provide the final 4-0 margin of victory.
Next on the Schedule: The USWNT continues 2020 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying against Panama on Friday. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 CT and will broadcast on FOX Soccer Plus and TUDN XTRA 4. Fans with FS1 level authentication will also be able to watch the game on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app. The USA will conclude group play on Monday, Feb. 3 vs. Costa Rica (8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 CT; FS1, TUDN).
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Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Christen Press (Lynn Williams), 2nd minute: Having lost her left boot attempting to collect the ball on the right side, Williams beat a defender one-on-one to the end line on the right side and lofted a perfect cross to the back post where Press easily volleyed home with her left foot. USA 1, HAI 0 [WATCH]
USA – Lynn Williams (Megan Rapinoe), 67th minute: Off a corner kick from the left corner flag, Rapinoe expertly bent a cross toward goal where Williams was stationed in front of the ‘keeper. With a perfectly timed leap, the North Carolina Courage forward headed the ball past her marker and the goalkeeper into the center of the net. USA 2, HAI 0 [WATCH]
USA – Lindsey Horan (Megan Rapinoe), 73rd minute: Kelley O’Hara played a short corner from the right flag to Rapinoe, who curled a cross toward the penalty mark. Horan, drafting just behind Lloyd, met the ball to send a powerful header on goal that Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Théus and defender Batcheba Louis, both of whom got a piece of the ball, could not keep out of the goal and it bounced just over the line. USA 3, HAI 0 [WATCH]
USA – Carli Lloyd (Julie Ertz), 90+4: Battling to the last second, the USA worked the ball inside out, from Crystal Dunn to Kelley O’Hara on the wing. The right back one-timed a pass to the feet of Ertz, who had drifted into the right side of the box. With time to turn, she chipped a cross to the center of the six-yard box where Lloyd outpaced her defender and the onrushing ‘keeper then dove to knock the ball into the net off her chest from close range. USA 4, HAI 0 [WATCH] FINAL
Additional Notes:
- With her goal, Carli Lloyd now has 122 in her WNT career.
- Lloyd, who captained the USA, appeared in her 15th Olympic qualifying match tonight, surpassing Abby Wambach, who had 14, for the most Olympic qualifying caps in WNT history.
- Lynn Williams scored her seventh career goal. She recently finished 2019 scoring for the USA in its final match of the year, notching a brace against Costa Rica in a 6-0 win on Nov. 10 in Jacksonville, Fla., giving her three goals in the last two games.
- Tonight’s game was the first Olympic qualifying cap for Williams, Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper.
- Christen Press’ second-minute goal was the 52nd of her WNT career. She has scored in back-to-back games, most recently tallying against Costa Rica in the USA’s final match of 2019.
- The result marked Haiti’s best-ever result against the USA, which was previously 5-0.
- Half of Haiti’s roster for this Olympic Qualifying tournament was part of the team that qualified for the 2018 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in France which was Haiti’s first FIFA event for women at any age level.
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Haiti
Date: January 28, 2020
Competition: Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying
Venue: BBVA Stadium; Houston, Texas
Attendance: 4,363
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. CT
Weather: 60 degrees; partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 3 4
HAI 0 0 0
USA – Christen Press (Lynn Williams) 2nd minute
USA – Lynn Williams (Megan Rapinoe) 67
USA – Lindsey Horan (Megan Rapinoe) 73
USA – Carli Lloyd (Julie Ertz) 90+3
Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Kelley O’Hara (2-Emily Sonnet, 81), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Crystal Dunn, 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle (9-Lindsey Horan, 71), 3-Samantha Mewis, 20-Christen Press (15-Megan Rapinoe, 62), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 13-Lynn Williams
Substitutes not used: 12-Adrianna Franch, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 6-Andi Sullivan, 11-Ali Krieger, 14-Jessica McDonald, 17-Tobin Heath
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
HAI: 12-Kerly Theus; 3-Chelsea Surpris, 2-Soveline Beaubrun (13-Emeline Charles, 27), 20-Kethna Louis, 4-Ruthny Mathurin; 6-Melchie Dumonay, 8-Dany Etienne (7-Batcheba Louis, 74), 10-Nerilia Mondesir, 9-Sherly Jeudy, 11-Roseline Eloissaint (16-Abaina Louis, 88); 17-Mikerline Saint Felix
Substitutes not used: 1-Jonie Gabriel, 18-Madelina Fleuriot, 5-Tabita Joseph, 14-Phiseline Michel, 15-Johane Laforte, 19-Angeline Gustave
Head coach: Laurent Mortel
Stats Summary: USA / HAI
Shots: 23 / 3
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 13 / 1
Fouls: 12 / 13
Offside: 1 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Rose Lavelle (caution) 62nd minute
Officials:
Referee: Odette Hamilton (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephanie-dale Yee Sing (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Princess Brown (JAM)
4th Official: Myriam Marcotte (CAN)
Player of the Match: Julie Ertz
2020 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 3 |
| USA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
| Haiti | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -4 | -4 | 0 |
| Panama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -6 | -5 | 0 |
