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February 24 – The USA put four past Argentina at the Dignity Health Park stadium, scoring three in eight minutes in the first half, to stamp their authority on the W Gold Cup and guarantee progression to the quarter finals.
Jaedyn Shaw scored twice and veteran Alex Morgan added a third in a blitz that effectively ended this match just when it was starting to warm up. It was an impressive display of pace, power and athleticism throughout by the US.
For so long the dominant force in international women’s football, the US have a point to prove following their disappointing exit in the group stages at the 2023 World Cup. Against Argentina they sent a reminder to the rest of the world it is better not to write them off just yet.
Against the Dominican Republic in their opening game they dominated but didn’t destroy.
They put that right in the first half of this game.
Twila Kilgore made 10 changes to her starting eleven (10!). Only Korbin Albert remained from the team that started against the Dominican Republic.
In contrast Argentina coach German Portonova made just one change from the team that drew with Mexico 0-0 – how he would like to have the depth the Americans have.
Kilgore had talked before the match about getting behind defences and getting balls into the six-yard box to create better goalscoring opportunities, something the US had failed to do effectively against the Dominican Republic.
Argentina tested that requirement from the start, lining up with a 5-4-1 formation. The US proved more than equal to it.
In the second minute a ball right to left found Trinity Rodman who headed well wide. Three minutes later the US appealed for a penalty when Alex Morgan was bundled over in the box.
Morgan had an opportunity to score soon after. Splitting the Argentine defence she received the ball and hit her left footed shot into an advancing Laurina Oliveras.
The US had started strongly but Argentina showed against Mexico that can be when they are at…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/02/23/us-pace-power-proves-much-argentina-4-0-win-sends-warning-rivals/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-02-23 13:45:12
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