A lot of soccer fans watch the USWNT and ask themselves “Why can’t the men’s team be this amazing?”
Just three days after the WNT romped Costa Rica 8-0 in Pittsburgh, Pa., the national team continued its victory tour in an an international friendly, beating the same team, 7-2, this time in Chattanooga, Tenn. in an international friendly. It only took midfielder Carli Lloyd six minutes to score her first goal of the game off of a free kick that just kept rising over the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz to put the USWNT up 1-0 Wednesday.
There was, however, an 80-minute delay due to weather, but Lloyd would waste no time continuing her brilliant stretch of soccer, scoring a second goal and causing the Costa Ricans to score an own goal. Abby Wambach also got in on the action once play resumed after the weather delay, and after Heather O’Reilly headed in her second goal of the game, Lloyd struck for the hat trick. But her goal actually deflected off of a defender, and she was later stripped of the hat trick (poor Lloyd).
The rout was on after just 30 minutes, with the count at 6-0. In 11 matches, Costa Rica had been outscored by the Americans by a whomping 65-0. But in the 41st minute of action, Cristin Granados, scored Costa Rica’s first-ever goal against the USWNT. And history repeated itself again when Karla Villalobos scored a second goal in the 69th minute.
The USWNT may have won by a margin of five, but this match should be considered a victory for both squads. Lloyd fell short of the hat trick (because she was subbed out at the half), but Costa Rica got to score some goals and the Americans continue to establish that they are a fun yet dominant team to watch.
About Winston Cho