USA-Australia Wrap: Star Power Key And Two Other Things We Learned In Ugly Win

The United States women’s national soccer team avoided calamity largely thanks to Megan Rapinoe’s shifty feet and Hope Solo’s steady hands.

Team USA opened its 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup journey with a 3-1 win over Australia on Monday. Rapinoe advanced her claim for national hero status by scoring two goals, which added gloss and substance to an otherwise disappointing performance from a team many have tabbed among the favorites to win the tournament.

Australia seized the initiative and held it for much of the first hour, despite conceding Rapinoe’s early, deflected goal in the 12th minute. Team USA struggled to find its rhythm, as “The Matildas” threatened to run riot and earn a shock win over its highly rated, yet disjointed, opponent.

Thankfully for Team USA, Sunday’s explosive domestic-violence revelations didn’t negatively affect Solo’s performance. Australia’s standout forward Lisa De Vann managed to beat Solo with a superb finish in the 27th minute after some equally fine build-up play, but the Team USA goalkeeper made a string of stellar saves — be they routine or jaw-dropping — while her out-field teammates worked the kinks out of their respective games. There’s no excusing Solo’s alleged behavior that night in March 2014, but the focus she showed Monday is admirable.

Team USA must attack and defend better as a unit if it is to make a deep run at the biggest and perhaps most competitive World Cup in history. It’s okay to rely on the star power of Solo and Rapin-aldo, and moments of opportunism like that of Christine Press, who scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute, but team and squad performances ultimately win seven-game tournaments.

Here are some other things we learned in Team USA’s win over Australia:

Spinal Tap
Team USA struggled mightily to gain a foothold into the game because the combinations in the center of the field simply didn’t work well.

Center backs Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston were shaky against Australia’s speedy and imposing forwards in open play and on set pieces. Christie Rampone should expect to see increased minutes when the stakes increase.

Central midfielders Press and Lauren Holiday had problems retaining the ball and managing the game’s rhythm amid Australia’s high pressure. The Matildas outnumbered the American duo and repeatedly pinned them deep in their own half or dragged them out of position altogether. Team USA lacked a creative and holding presence until Tobin Heath entered after 68 minutes, and Australia began to run out of energy.

The forward pairing of Abby Wambach and Sydney Leroux was virtually non-existent. Leroux set up Press’ goal with a solo surge in a wide area but did little else of note. Wambach missed a few scoring chances, which she usually buries. The two were isolated from each other, and their teammates failed to provide them with adequate service. Alex Morgan can’t regain her sharpness and fitness soon enough.

USA’s Depth, Experience and Fitness
Australia started fast and threatened to upset Team USA, but couldn’t match the Americans’ intensity and energy after Press scored. Team USA coach Jill Ellis had the luxury of calling on Heath and Morgan as substitutes, bringing the quality and know-how into the game necessary to see off Australia.

Overall, Team USA was technically and tactically deficient against Australia but was top-notch physically and mentally. Team USA gradually will become sharper over the course of the tournament. Ellis must explore her resources and find the right combinations to make the Americans’ game more beautiful.