U.S. women’s soccer team defeats Mexico 4-0 in final tuneup before the Olympics
The U.S. women’s national soccer team had a rousing sendoff Monday before departing for the Tokyo Olympics, beating Mexico 4-0 in an international friendly match in front of a raucous crowd of 27,758 at Rentschler Field.
The U.S. ran its winning streak to 44 games, the second longest in the team’s history. The Americans won 51 in a row from December 2004 to September 2007.
After Monday’s game, the team was heading to a pre-Olympic training camp in Miyazaki, Japan, before opening Olympic play on July 21 against Sweden, going for the United States’ fifth gold medal.
“I feel very good,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “I feel like we are going in the right direction. We are slowly but surely fulfilling all the tasks to be prepared for the Olympics.”
On Monday, the U.S. team got early goals from Lindsey Horan and Carli Lloyd. Christen Press, who has been involved in 37 goals in her last 37 games, headed a ball toward the goal, which was saved by Mexico’s goalie Itzel Gonzalez but then glanced off the hand of a defender and into the goal for the third U.S. goal. Tobin Heath scored the fourth in the 39th minute.
Much as they did in their 4-0 win Thursday, the Americans dominated, outshooting Mexico, 17-5.
Defender Becky Sauerbrunn said the team worked on fine-tuning some aspects of its game that needed work Thursday night.
“In that first match against Mexico, there were a couple things we were disappointed in ourselves about — I would say second balls was a big one,” Sauerbrunn said. “I think what you saw today in that first [half] in particular were people really wanting to be in the right position, really fighting for the second ball.
“We feel good about the first contact, the first ball, but a lot of those second balls were dropping to the Mexican players the last game. We know that that’s huge when it comes to these tournaments to get possession to rest your legs because these games come quick and fast so that was something we really focused on.”
The U.S. players were impressed by the number of fans, which was the largest crowd ever to watch a women’s soccer game at Rentschler. In 2016, 21,792 fans were in attendance when the U.S. team faced Colombia. On Thursday, close to that — 21,637 — braved a torrential rainstorm to watch the Americans.
“When we drive in and there’s just parking lot after parking lot of fans tailgating, you see everyone playing and kicking soccer balls around, then you go out for warmup and you hear this huge roar for us — my heart was very full these two games,” Sauerbrunn said. “The fans that stuck around for the first game in the downpour and then the 27 [000] strong today, it’s truly amazing and could not have asked for a better sendoff.
“Hartford, Connecticut really just brought it.”
The crowd also sang “Happy Birthday” to Megan Rapinoe, who turned 36 Monday.
The offense was dominant and the defense didn’t face a lot of pressure in the last few games, but Andonovski wasn’t concerned.
“I’m happy the back line is well in sync,” he said. “We know [goalkeeper] Alyssa [Naeher]’s quality. We’re happy with where we’re at. They’re getting tested on a daily basis in our environment. They have to defend Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd and Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe, and I can tell you it’s not easy.”
Lori Riley can be reached at lriley@courant.com.
