Pre-Match Notes: The U.S. Women’s National Team is coming off of a 5-3 win against Canada in a semifinal match, where many fans and journalists questioned whether it would be safe to continue. The pitch had been soaked with rain, and the match was nearly unplayable in the first half. The match would proceed as planned, with players on both sides soaked, and trudging through a waterlogged pitch. After going into extra time, the USWNT would triumph in the penalty shootout, where Alyssa Naeher would make three penalty saves, securing the U.S.’s spot in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup Final. The USWNT will now be meeting Brazil.

Brazil, who defeated Mexico to book their spot in the final, made their 3-0 win against Mexico look easy, with their skillful and quick movement on the ball, clever touches and passes, and quick finishing. Brazil weaved their way through the midfield, breaking through Mexico’s backline and defense, and wreaking havoc in the Mexico box. When it comes to this match, we could see that craftiness and flare, that beautiful football, this Brazilian team is known for.

When it comes to the USWNT, this match is going to be another tough challenge for this team, especially when it comes to the midfield. Since Brazil is known for their quick movement in the midfield, the U.S. needs to maintain control and recover possession as quickly as possible. In the U.S.’s match against Canada, despite the waterlogged pitch, Canada appeared to be stronger in the midfield, able to challenge the U.S. for possession and control, and get their attack forward. When it comes to Brazil, the U.S. needs to prevent the Brazilian attack from getting forward. With attacking players like Adriana, Geyse, Debinha, Beatriz, Duda Sampaio, and Ary Borges, Brazil’s attack can be deadly if they find their way into the U.S. penalty area.

Despite Brazil’s attacking prowess, the U.S.’s backline and defense proved to be strong in their last two games. In the past, there has been a lot of concern surrounding the U.S. backline and defense, with many analysts thinking the backline hasn’t been challenged enough, or hasn’t been consistent in the face of heavy attacking challenges. However, in the U.S.’s matches against Colombia and Canada, where the backline and defense faced heavy attacking pressure, the defense, for the most part, was able to step up to the challenge and pressure. Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Fox, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, and Casey Krueger have put up a strong fight in the U.S. backline. It’s important to note that the U.S.’s defense still needs more work, but if the match against Canada was any indicator, the team can defend when called to do so.

When it comes to the U.S. attack, we need to start seeing better connection in the attack and in the box, along with better chemistry. While the U.S. attack struggled to get forward in their last match due to the conditions on the pitch, the attack must get forward in this match if they want to win. This still goes back to the midfield and how well they can maintain control and possession.

A challenge for the U.S. in this match will be how effectively the team will be able to move the ball through what could be a congested midfield. Brazil, in this match, may be looking to overwhelm the midfield. That way, they’ll have more passing targets in order to move the ball down the pitch. This is where the U.S. midfield and attack need to put pressure on Brazil. If the U.S. team can cut off Brazil’s passing targets and force them to turn over possession, the U.S. can counter and get their attack forward that way.

Line Up Notes

Starting Eleven: We have Alyssa Naeher in the goal. For defenders Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, and Emily Fox. For midfielders Lindsey Horan, Korbin Albert, Rose Lavelle, and Sam Coffey. For forwards Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman.

Substitutes: Abby Dahlkemper, Jenna Nighswonger, Becky Sauerbrunn, Lynn Williams, Jaedyn Shaw, Midge Purce, Sophia Smith, Olivia Moultrie, Emily Sonnett, Casey Murphy, Casey Krueger, Jane Campbell.

It’s an all right line up. There are some changes from the U.S.’s last game. Instead of Nighswonger starting, Twila Kilgore is going with Crystal Dunn in the backline. Dunn will be able to assist in the U.S.’s attacking press up the wing, and will help the attack get forward. Instead of three in the midfield, Kilgore is going with four, most likely to combat Brazil’s pressure, movement and control in the midfield. This will still benefit the U.S.’s attack as Horan and Lavelle will be driving forces in the midfield and attack. From an attacking perspective the U.S. appears to be set in this area provided that there is good connection between the midfield and attack, good movement on the ball, and good connection and finishing in the box.

When it comes to the backline and defense, the U.S. needs to respond to Brazil’s counterattacks and transitions, and recover possession as quickly as possible. The team also needs to shut down Brazil’s attack, before they can get it off the ground, as well as defend against set pieces and corner kicks.

This midfield battle between the U.S. and Brazil is going to be interesting to see. This match will most likely come down to which team will be able to control the midfield the best, and get their attack forward. This is going to be a challenging match for this U.S. team, but hopefully the team will step up to the challenge once again and bring home this trophy.

First Half Notes

USWNT 1-0.

Goal Scorers for this half: Horan (1)

Coffey gets the play started with a long pass up to Rodman. Rodman cuts back to Fox. Fox, with a cross, would find the head of Horan, who would score the first goal of the match, in the dying minutes of the first half.

It took awhile for the U.S. to build into this game. At the start, and towards the middle of the first half, it was all Brazil when it came to dominating and controlling the midfield. They did what we expected them to do. Brazil was more successful at getting their attack forward and were taking shots on goal. Slowly, the U.S. started getting more adjusted, and started getting their attack forward. Albert and Coffey were getting more aggressive in the midfield when it came to their recoveries, and battling for possession.

Going into the second half, the U.S. needs to defend their lead and score more goals. In order to do that, we need to see more from the midfielders, particularly Albert and Coffey, both of whom need to be more aggressive going into this second half. We need to see them, and the U.S. team as a whole, putting pressure on Brazil. The U.S. in the first half was the most successful when they were able to put pressure on Brazil, and force turnovers in their midfield and backline.

The U.S. was also successful when it came to long passes behind the Brazil backline. Brazil has been effective when it comes to moving the ball through the midfield. Long passes up to the attack are a good way to bypass Brazil’s midfield control. It’s important to point out, the play leading to Horan’s goal, was created from a long pass by Coffey up to Rodman. If the U.S. can go long, they could create more chances, and find their way behind the backline much easier.

Second Half and Closing Notes

USWNT Wins 1-0.

Goal Scorer for the U.S: Horan (1)

Congratulations to the U.S. Women’s National Team. The team pulled through and was able to win their first tournament of the year.

When it came to this second half, the U.S. did get their attack forward a few times, but it was mainly Brazil getting forward and creating chances. The U.S. appeared to settle back and were content with defending this lead, despite Smith, Shaw, Albert, and Purce trying to catch Brazil off guard, and get the attack forward. The final few minutes of this half were nerve-racking, with Brazil not letting up their pressure on the U.S. backline and defense, and receiving some free-kicks outside the U.S. box. In the end, this team held off Brazil’s attack, and would go on to lift the trophy.

This tournament was a great test and challenge for this U.S. team. There are still things this team needs to work on like building confidence in their younger players, developing that chemistry in the midfield and attack, and building those attacking partnerships, however, this tournament showed that there is still some fight left in this team, along with plenty of talent, quality, and enthusiasm. There is hope for the future of the U.S. Women’s National Team, and that is a beautiful thing to look forward to.