U.S., Canada book tickets to Rio

Perhaps it works in the other direction, with teams that missed out on a World Cup title feeling extra motivated to win Olympic gold a year later, as the USA has done in the last four Olympics.

Just for a moment, as a pop song blared over the public address system at BBVA Compass Stadium in the minutes before an Olympic qualifier between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, Mallory Pugh looked like any teenager moved to dance along to familiar notes. Coach Jill Ellis brought it up with her team during its first camp of 2016 in Southern California. “It always tends to be a bloodbath”, Solo said.

Having employed a side half-full of young, internationally inexperienced players this month to see out CONCACAF’s qualifying process, Herdman has decisions to make. “But we are finally playing an incredible possession style of soccer, and it’s attractive”. To be fair, she did miss a number of solid goal-scoring chances but her raw ability is obvious and the US looks to have a player who will be a major contributor for years to come. “I think part of it is, in a tournament like this, being able to utilize your depth”.

They also remained unbeaten in qualifying at 17-0-1, outscoring their foes, 96-4.

Canada hosted the Women’s World Cup a year ago, falling 1-0 to England in the quarterfinals. Retirement claimed Lauren Holiday, Abby Wambach and others. What can the U.S.do to slow that down? The United States won the hard-fought semifinal match 4-3 on Alex Morgan’s goal in the 123rd minute. It was her third career three-goal game. Morgan fired home a hat trick to continue her resurgence.

Sinclair scored the opening goal of the game, scoring off a cross into the box by Josée Bélanger in the 17th minute. “So it was really about what we wanted this particular game”.

Sunday marks the fifth game for both teams since the tournament started February 10 (Feb. 11 for Canada).

The reigning world champions could’ve easily netted a half-dozen, but they settled for three before heading into the locker room at halftime – though the third was cheaply gifted by the otherwise solid Forbes.

The U.S. has qualified for a sixth consecutive Olympic Games and will be looking to win the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying event for the fourth consecutive time. Incredible as it may sound, but no team has accomplished that, not the USA, Germany or Norway. “There were a lot of nerves and pressure on us for sure”.

“This game on Sunday is going to be a really wide-open game”. The championship match will be played on Sunday.

“Today it’s exciting”, said Morgan.

“Qualifying for Rio is the moon landing but it means nothing if you don’t get back”, said Wilkinson. “We have players retiring and obviously with Pinoe’s injury, [we are] just looking for different types of creative attacking players”. Since then, the Americans have won 26 and lost five.

History is what it is in soccer.

This will be the toughest test of the tournament by far for either team.

When she was informed that no team had done the Women’s World Cup/Olympics double on Friday, Lloyd smiled. “They can hurt you”, Scott said. “But I think we get frustrated because it tends to be such a physical game that it takes us out of the quality of soccer that we want to play, so it is definitely a rivalry for us in that respect”.