U.S. women shut out Nigeria in final audition for Olympic roster spots - OCRegister

cicingwos.blogspot.com

• The U.S. team’s Lindsey Horan, right, heads the ball as Nigeria’s Chidinma Okeke, left, and Michelle Alozie defend during the first half of their Summer Series match on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas. The U.S. won, 2-0. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Christen Press #23 of the United States shoots against Onome Ebi #5 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Christen Press #23 of the United States shoots against Onome Ebi #5 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Carli Lloyd #10 of the United States is honored before a WNT Summer Series game against Nigeria at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Fans watch as the United States take on Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Young fans cheer as the United States play Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Catarina Macario #11 of the United States shoots against Akudo Ogbonna #19 of Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Onome Ebi #5 of Nigeria tries to steal the ball from Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Lynn Williams #6 of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi #1 of Nigeria makes a save against Christen Press #23 of the United States during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States kicks the ball against Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Christen Press #23 of the United States controls the ball against Asisat Oshoala #8 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria and Lindsey Horan #9 of the United States fall while competing for the ball during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States controls the ball against Michelle Alozie #22 of Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States controls the ball against Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States passes the ball against Chidinma Okeke #14 of Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Lynn Williams #6 of the United States scores a goal against goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi #1 of Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Christen Press #23 of the United States controls the ball against Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Carli Lloyd #10 of the United States competes for the ball against Michelle Alozie #22 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States controls the ball against Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Lynn Williams #6 of the United States scores a goal against goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi #1 of Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Rita Chikwelu #10 of Nigeria competes for the ball against Catarina Macario #11 of the United States during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States heads the ball against Michelle Alozie #22 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States waves to fans as she is substituted during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game against Nigeria at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States grabs her ankle in pain during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game against Nigeria at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Lynn Williams #6 of the United States celebrates with teammate Christen Press #23 after scoring a goal against Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Alex Morgan #13 of the United States drives against Nigeria during the second half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• U.S. forward Christen Press, center, is congratulated by teammates Carli Lloyd, left,, Megan Rapinoe (15) and Samantha Mewis, right, after scoring a goal during the first half of their Summer Series match against Nigeria on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States is grabbed by Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria during the first half of their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: Players of the United States and Nigeria stand for their national anthems before their WNT Summer Series game at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

• AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 16: A general view during the second half of a WNT Summer Series game between the United States and Nigeria at Q2 Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

By JIM VERTUNO  The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — The winning was expected for the U.S. women’s national team. The harder part for Coach Vlatko Andonovski might be trimming the roster to the final 18 players for the Olympics.

Christen Press scored late in the first half, Lynn Williams added a goal in the final moments and the U.S. wrapped its Summer Series with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Wednesday night in the last match before setting the Tokyo lineup.

And after sweeping three shutout victories, Andonovski likes the depth and talent available to choose from on the world’s No. 1 squad, no matter which players get the final call.

“The confidence level going to the Olympics is higher than it was before. I feel good where we are at. In terms of making final decisions, I feel pretty good,” Andonovski said.

Temperatures were in the low 90s at kickoff and while the U.S. dominated possession throughout, it created few chances at goal until Press finally broke through in added time at the end of the first half.

A failed clearance by Nigeria fell to Carli Lloyd to tap the ball past a defender to Press, who was left wide open and hit a left-footed strike to the opposite corner just past the fingertips of diving goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi.

Career goal No. 61 was another impressive moment from Press, a former Chadwick School star who had one goal and three assists in the Summer Series and has been directly involved in 34 of the last 36 goals for the national team.

Press later assisted on the score by Williams, a former Pepperdine standout who came on in the 88th minute and slipped the ball past Oluehi on a breakaway.

“I feel very happy with where I am,” Press said. “This is a stepping stone (to Tokyo).”

The U.S. women are 9-0-1 this year are and undefeated in 42 matches. The team is undefeated in its last 56 games on American soil.

The U.S. lineup against Nigeria featured six changes from the previous matchup against Jamaica, with Alyssa Naeher back in goal and Kristie Mewis in midfield for Rose Lavelle, who rolled an ankle in a 4-0 win over Jamaica on Sunday and left that game as a precaution. Andonovski said after the Nigeria match he expects Lavelle will be ready to play.

Naeher recorded her 42nd career shutout and 13th in her last 14 appearances. She had a mostly quiet night behind a defense that quickly shut down what little possession Nigeria could manage in the U.S. half of the field.

The lineup Andonovski selects for Tokyo is scheduled to play two pre-Olympics warmup matches before facing rival Sweden in its opener on July 21 in Japan. The U.S. is the reigning World Cup champion but will be looking for some Olympic redemption after getting knocked out in the quarterfinals by Sweden in 2016 in Brazil.

Stars like Press and Megan Rapinoe are set for the Games. But to trim the roster from 23 to 18 means some will be nervously awaiting the decisions that will determine their national team future.

The games of the Summer Series were their last chance to shine and now the waiting starts.

Veteran center back Becky Sauerbrunn said she told Andonovski that players on the bubble will appreciate honesty in the selection process above all else.

“There are nerves, people will be getting phone calls,” Sauerbrunn said. “I think we’ve got an amazing team. There’s no doubt in my mind we’ll have a team that can win everything.”

Late goals, great goals ✨

Scores by @ChristenPress to @lynnraenie to close out the #SummerSeries pres. by @ATT 5G in style! pic.twitter.com/AarGCgR55d

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 17, 2021

Adblock test (Why?)

"Shut" - Google News
June 17, 2021 at 02:01PM
https://ift.tt/3wNwBNX

U.S. women shut out Nigeria in final audition for Olympic roster spots - OCRegister
"Shut" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d35Me0
https://ift.tt/2WkO13c

Bagikan Berita Ini