My 3 Thoughts on USWNT-Jamaica
Sophia Smith's two goals in the first eight minutes set the stage for an easy 5-0 U.S. win
MONTERREY, Mexico — The USWNT beat Jamaica 5-0 on Matchday 2 of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the World Cup and Olympics on Thursday night. Sophia Smith scored the first two goals, Rose Lavelle added the third, Kristie Mewis converted from the spot and Trinity Rodman finished the deluge. The win left the U.S. on six points and all but assured of a spot in World Cup 2023. (The U.S. would mathematically clinch a berth if Mexico doesn’t beat Haiti in the nightcap.) Here are my three thoughts on the game:
GrantWahl.com is a reader-supported soccer newsletter. Quality journalism requires resources. The best way to support me and my work is by taking out a paid subscription now. Free 7-day trials are available.
• Smith was in the zone. The 21-year-old winger, who has been on a scoring tear with the national team, found the net twice in the first eight minutes and put the U.S. in control before most people had settled into the game. Smith’s first goal was an utter thing of beauty as she took a good ball from Naomi Girma, flicked the ball up with one touch to erase her defender and hit a gorgeous trivela with the outside of her right boot into the net. Smith’s second saw her run onto a ball from the excellent right back Sofia Huerta and steer the ball into the air so that it just crossed the line for 2-0. I will say this: Watching in person, you can’t miss Smith when she’s on the ball. She just moves at a higher RPM than anyone else on the field, especially when the general pace of the game is slower than normal due to the 97-degree heat at kickoff. There’s a frisson of excitement whenever Smith drives at defenders, and you find yourself wishing she would do it even more on a team that sometimes settles frustratingly for hopeful crosses into the box.
• Naomi Girma was terrific in a game where Vlatko Andonovski was testing her. The NWSL rookie came into the starting lineup to replace Becky Sauerbrunn alongside Alana Cook, and the opposition was real: Jamaica forward Bunny Shaw of Manchester City, who scored the game-winner against Mexico, is a tough player for any central defender to handle. But Girma didn’t put a foot wrong the entire night. She reads the game extremely well, and she frustrated Shaw so much that she resorted to firing a hope shot from a crazy distance into the stands at one point. (Shaw ended up exiting the game in the 63rd minute after being completely shut down except for one run to beat Emily Fox down the right side.) Plus the well-placed ball that Girma sent to release Smith gave the U.S. an early lead that took any worries away. Give Cook credit, too, for helping shut down any remote Jamaican threats. This U.S. clean sheet looked a lot better defensively than the one against Haiti the other night, when the U.S. back line was vulnerable at times and lucky not to give up a goal or two.
• Huerta is making a good case to be the starting right back. That’s not really a knock on Kelley O’Hara, who played well on Monday. But the 29-year-old Huerta was a menace attacking down the right side, especially in the first half, and her attacking passes, including pinpoint crosses, were consistently dangerous. Huerta’s crosses have a purpose that not all crosses do with this team, and Mal Pugh was unlucky to be a hair offside and have her goal at the end of one of those crosses disallowed. (Pugh will be frustrated that she hasn’t found the net yet despite having several chances.) Overall, Jamaica’s performance was disappointing on Thursday after the Reggae Girlz had gotten three points against host Mexico in Game 1. But that shouldn’t take away from a totally-in-control U.S. performance that was better than the one they had against Haiti. The fact that the U.S. could do that without seeing a minute of Alex Morgan (being rested) or Megan Rapinoe (accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom) is an encouraging sign for a team that has all but clinched a berth in World Cup 2023.
What are your thoughts? You can join the discussion in the comments below.
Great points Grant. Mallory played really well even though she was not awarded that goal ( very iffy call, I thought). Also, Hatch was good just unlucky. No need for me to repeat about how good smith is. And Midge Purce is great as well. She created chaos and multiple scoring opportunities for herself and others. She has pace and strength. No one takes the ball from her. Sanchez showed up more today but only after she forced the team to use her correctly. Good work by Mewis ( she always does good work). And a confident penalty shot. I still think Horan is off her game a bit. All the defenders were good if unchallenged . And “ the kid” ( the 6’1” person) would be the talk of the town if she had put that left footed screamer on frame. Congrats to Trinity on a fine goal from an unfamiliar spot. A good day, overall. But it is sad the women Euros draw 68,000 ( England v Austria ) and Concacaf draws 800.
Agree on all three of the players you highlighted. Girma was great with her steady presence in the back and outstanding distribution. Your podcast guest, Gwendolyn Oxenham, wrote a feature article on Girma a week ago, such a fascinating story.
Smith had her breakout performance for the national team, an exuberant goal scorer with evasive speed to beat defenders on the dribble and make darting runs in behind. Her future is like a sunrise: extravagantly bright and full of promise.
Lastly, Huerta had two magnificent assists and is so good at getting involved in the attack at that RB slot.
Andonovski has his work cut for him in the coming year, but in a positive way, with an abundance of talented players making a case for themselves to be on the “plane to Australia/New Zealand.”