The Victory Tour is coming to an end…soon. There are only three games left in the tour and the United States Women’s National Team will be heading to Texas to face Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday at the Alamodome.
This will be the seventh match in the tour for the USWNT, since the last game on Sunday was cancelled due to poor field condition at Aloha Stadium. The last second cancellation at Honolulu has caused US Soccer and the Aloha Stadium Authority a lawsuit from attorneys Brandee Faria and John Perkins. The two attorneys are representing two Oahu soccer fans.
US Soccer will be in need of some good news and a victory against T&T will be exactly what the doctor order. The Stars and Stripes have not lost a game yet in the Victory Tour. Their record is (W-L-D) 5-0-1; they have defeated the likes of: Costa Rica, Haiti and Brazil. The U.S. has been flexing their muscle by dropping 32 goals and has only allowed four goals in the process.
U.S. goalie Hope Solo and the defense have not really had a lot to do in these games. Brazil was the only country that slowed them down and forced Solo to make five saves. Plus Carli Lloyd had to rescue the national team of defeat by scoring the tying goal in the 85th minute. The match ended in a 1-1 on Oct. 21st at Century Link Field.
Another factor driving the United States to get a victory for this match is Abby Wambach. After the victory tour ends on Dec. 16th against China PR at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, the leading goal scorer (She has scored 184 goals.) in USWNT history will be hanging up the cleats. The rest of the players on the national team will be pushing to send Wambach out with a 3-0 record in the final matches of the tour.
However, for USWNT head coach Jill Ellis these matches will be the perfect chances to see who is ready to represent the national team in the 2016 Women’s CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers. The tournament begins for the U.S. on Feb. 10th against Costa Rica at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Ellis knows she can depend on the likes off: defender Julie Johnston, midfielders Tobin Heath, Lloyd, forwards Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux and Christen Press. However, with Megan Rapinoe recently tearing the ACL in her right knee Ellis will most likely find a replacement for her in the upcoming qualifications.
For young midfielders: Samantha Mewis, Rose Lavelle, Morgan Brian and Danielle Colaprico there is a chance to grab the attention of Ellis for the tour and the qualifications. This match against the Caribbean nation will be the start.
However, Ellis will be aiming to get a good result out of this match. Even with no Rapinoe the midfield will still dictate the tempo. The captain Lloyd will lead the attack and suffocate the Trinidad and Tobago offense in the process. However, the dream scenario is Wambach scoring in this game and in each of the final three games left in the Victory Tour.
The USWNT will most likely enjoy another comfortable victory in San Antonio.
Prediction: USA 6-0 Trinidad and Tobago