US earns Olympic berth with 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago

Also in Houston, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) had no trouble with Trinidad and Tobago.

United States’ Alex Morgan (13) shoots and scores a goal as Trinidad and Tobago’s Khadidra Debesette (6) defends during the second half of a CONCACAF Olympic women’s soccer qualifying championship semifinal Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, in Houston. Look back through recent history of games with Olympic or World Cup qualification and a pattern develops, starting lineups with one or two, maybe even a few, players around 23 or 24 years old but no younger. “Part of it is, in a tournament like this, being able to utilize the depth”.

But when I reflect on it, we did really well defensively. By the end, Morgan had her third career hat trick and sole possession of eighth place on the team’s all-time scoring list, all while still only 26 years old.

The United States women’s national soccer team will take on Trinidad and Tobago tonight in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACF) semifinals.

Canada, boosted by two goals from Christine Sinclair, also earned a ticket to Rio with a 3-1 win over Costa Rica in the other semifinal. They’re really a good first half team. Six Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro, will host matches. The United States capped the first round with a 10-0 rout of Puerto Rico, led by a team record-tying five goals from Crystal Dunn. I was hoping for a little bit more from Trinidad.

“We did a remarkable thing at the time”, Ellis said of the World Cup win.

The tactic of playing without any full-backs might be one rarely used, but it looks like the Canadian team follows Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola very closely, as the maverick Spaniard is the only one now who experiments with formations and playing players in multiple positions, sometimes going defender-less in matches, playing midfielders and full-backs in roles they are alien to, and gives them such confidence that they excel in it. “It’s great to see that these players are coming through”.

Still, the Americans emphasized the importance of setting the tone, scoring early and extinguishing T&T’s spirit.

The opportunities flowed, but the next goal did not come until the 30th minute.

Lloyd scored off a header in the 43′, running in on a corner kick and knocking the ball down for a bullet that slipped through Forbes’ legs.

It was Heath’s first goal since she scored in the 5-2 World Cup final victory over Japan.

Morgan added her second in the 71st minute and claimed the hat trick with a goal two minutes later.

As it turned out, Pugh provided the assist on the goal that qualified the USA for Brazil, although not without some help from Tobin Heath. She chested down Josee Belanger’s cross and laced an eight-yard volley. It is tough, I imagine, scoring five goals and then not playing the following game. While Costa Rica is not a team without any global experience, the game was nothing more than a practice game for the Canadians.