U.S. women beat Mexico to earn spot in Olympic qualifying semifinals
The Mexican women’s national soccer team was only 10 minutes away from doing what only one other team had done in the history of the CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying tournament — playing the United States to a draw.
However, a handball by Mexico’s Karla Nieto in the defensive box gave the U.S. a penalty kick in the 80th minute on Saturday, which led to the only goal of the group-stage game and a U.S. win.
Luckily, the rebound came back to me and there was no hesitation, and I put it in the back of the net.
Carli Lloyd on her game-winning goal
With the victory, the U.S. is guaranteed a spot in an Olympic qualifying semifinal on Friday at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
U.S. captain Carli Lloyd took the penalty shot, which was initially saved by Mexican goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago. The rebound quickly found Lloyd’s foot, and she directed the follow-up shot into the back of the net.
“You can’t make all of them all the time,” Lloyd said. “Luckily, the rebound came back to me and there was no hesitation, and I put it in the back of the net.”
Lloyd is four goals behind the Americans’ all-time leading goal scorer in the Olympic qualifying tournament, Abby Wambach.
Scoring chances were limited for the U.S. against a Mexican team that executed a 5-4-1 formation with precision. The extra defenders in the defensive third clogged passing lanes, keeping U.S. attacking runs at bay.
In a tournament where goal differential is the first tie-breaking procedure, playing a compact defense and attempting to limit the offensive damage done by the Americans has become a common strategy among CONCACAF opponents.
We’ve had matches like this before where it’s frustrating, and we walk away with a win, but we all know we can probably put in a better effort.
U.S. captain Carli Lloyd
“Germany, France, England — they don’t pack it in,” Lloyd said. “They’ll be teams that really don’t want to concede goals and that’s what the teams are trying to do here and make it very difficult. It kind of seems to be the pattern of the CONCACAF qualifying tournaments.”
A majority of the Americans’ scoring opportunities came off seven corner kicks as well as a few set pieces in the offensive third.
The U.S. managed to put six shots on goal to Mexico’s two, both saved by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, who recorded her 93rd shutout with the national team.
Mexico’s defensive effort held the U.S. to its second-longest scoreless stretch in a CONCACAF qualifying tournament game (108 minutes), surpassed only by the Americans’ only draw in the tournament vs. Canada in 2008.
The U.S. has never lost a game in the tournament, which began in 2004.
The Americans close the group stage of the tournament Monday against Puerto Rico and will take first place in the group with a win. The U.S. can earn a bid to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with a semifinal win.
“We’ve had matches like this before where it’s frustrating, and we walk away with a win, but we all know we can probably put in a better effort,” Lloyd said. “It’s hard when you play these Chelsea-ish teams where they park the bus.”
Travis L. Brown: 817-390-7760, @Travis_L_Brown.
This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 8:18 PM with the headline "U.S. women beat Mexico to earn spot in Olympic qualifying semifinals."