US Women Close out Perfect Group Stage with 2-1 Victory over Australia

3 matches, 3 wins. 9 points. +7 goal differential. Never seriously challenged in any game. The US Women have been about as good as you can possibly be for a group stage performance in a major tournament.

The only other time we had 9 points from 3 matches was in the 2012 London Olympics, during which we won the Gold Medal. Here’s hoping history repeats itself. In the quarterfinals the USA will face Japan, the team we beat 2-1 to win that Gold in 2012.

Here are the final group standings from Group B.

This match had a very different feel than the first two games this tournament, as Australia sat very deep and played for the draw. Their keeper was even wasting time and trying to shorten the game as early as the 24th minute. We’d like to call it a chess match, but the tactic Australia deployed is relatively simple so we’ll call it a checkers match. Here’s a screenshot of just how deep they were playing early on. Note that they are conceding over half the field to the USA.

Luckily for the USA, we have Trinity Rodman on our team and Australia does not. She broke the deadlock by being first to react to a bouncing ball in the box in the 43rd minute. She also looked like the player most likely to create opportunities against Australia’s 5-woman back line, had several key defensive plays, and is our Woman of the Match. The USA claimed the western hemisphere as our domain under the Monroe Doctrine, we’re coining the term the Rodman Doctrine as she controls the right side of the pitch like no one else.

From there, Australia did engage higher up the pitch but continued to concede possession. Look how much closer to the USA’s goal their team begins to apply pressure in this screenshot.

Korbin Albert showed why we’ve been calling for her to get more PT when she fired in from over 20 yards to give the USA a deserved 2-0 lead in the 77th. Australia needed a point in order to ensure they would advance to the knockout stages, so they threw everything forward late on. They managed to claw one back in the 91st minute, but that was it. 2-1 victory for the USA and on to the quarters with a perfect record intact.

You can see just how little Australia offered in attack until the final stretch of the game in the attack momentum chart below, and in the match stats that follow.

match stats

individual performances

the good

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Sophia smith (F, Unsung hero award)

Smith had probably the most difficult assignment on the team today, playing center forward against a back 5. Despite having little-to-no space to make plays, she assisted on the goal and had good link up play with Horan in particular. Smith also displayed good dribbling skills and passing to set up others, just missing Swanson on a beautiful lob pass in the box. Early in the second half she started dropping deeper in a false 9 role to help build up against Australia’s 5-woman back line and looked very good doing it. 

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trinity rodman (f, Woman of the match)

We said it all above, but she has been outstanding in all 3 games for the USA so far. Very glad to see her not pick up a Yellow and be ready to go against Japan.

the mixed

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Sam coffey (m)

Unfortunately we can’t say the same re: not picking up a yellow for Sam Coffey. It was unbelievable when, in THIRD minute…when she knows a yellow will cause her to miss the next match, she came sweeping in on an Aussie player from behind and was deservedly awarded a yellow. From there, she committed another foul that was a borderline yellow and risked being sent off. She also had an awful giveaway in buildup that resulted in a breakaway for Australia, which fortunately for the USA went unpunished. The only reason we put all this in the mixed column is that Coffey will have to sit out next match and Korbin Albert will be in.

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Korbin albert (M)

Speaking of Albert…we were encouraged by her performance today. She scored an amazing match-winning goal. She went 11-for-11 in passing and had more defensive actions (clearances, interceptions, etc.) in 25 minutes than Sam Coffey did in 90. On the downside, she had two plays in stoppage time where she could have relieved pressure but failed to, which allowed Australia to continue to create chances to tie. She was so close to being in “the good” section until those last two slip ups.

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lindsey horan (m)

Horan looked significantly better to us in the attacking midfield role after Lavelle went off in the 65th. Even before that she combined nicely with Smith on a give-and-go that created space against Australia’s low block and had a powerful header saved off the bar. As a side note, we would have liked to see her get forward more against the low block given her aerial ability. One the downside, Horan had multiple sloppy passes and another bad giveaway that created a fast break opportunity for Australia. It’s not the first time she’s been caught on the ball in a dangerous situation this tournament and we’d like to see her clean that up in the knockout round(s).

what's next

The USA is one of only 4 nations whose men’s and women’s teams have both advanced to the quarterfinals. This could make for some juicy contests if countries end up playing each other in both brackets. The men play next so let’s take a look at their bracket.

As we said after the win against Guinea, Morocco will be a very difficult game. Odds makers are giving us about a 40% chance of advancing though. A win means a semifinal matchup against Japan, who beat us 2-0 in a pre-tournament friendly, or Spain, who are stacked. Time to show what we’re made of.

For the women, the bracket looks challenging as well.

We may have to beat Japan, Canada (defending gold medalists and drone spying champions), then Spain or France. Quite the gauntlet to run which just shows the improvement in the global competitiveness of women’s soccer over the last 20 years.

You can find details on all the upcoming matches and recaps of the games so far at our US Olympic Soccer HQ. Bookmark that page to easily find broadcast details for all the US Olympic Soccer action.

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