USA Win Algarve Cup

Win a free try out for the Sounders Women

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Germany 0 : 2 USWNT

By Kara McDermott, Portugal

The player nicknamed “Baby Horse” turned out to be the main horsepower behind the USWNT’s victory in the Algarve Cup finals against Germany. Alex Morgan’s two goals in the first half inside beautiful Estadio Algarve ensured that the previous Cup champions would not defend their title.

Germany started with Dszenifer Marozsan and Celia Okoyino da Mbabi on the front line, and these two players caused plenty of havoc for the US defense. They were most effective in providing constant pressure and stripping the ball from the feet of players, forcing the US side to play more quick clears instead of setting foundational passes through the back line.

The US has struggled in this tournament coming strong off the line with the first whistle, but hit a stride with the combination of Yael Averbuch and Tobin Heath in the center of the field, the former a true playmaker and the latter a ranger from side to side.

With Shannon Boxx shoring them up in a defensive position, the center of the field saw a marked improvement in organization from previous matches.

Head coach Tom Sermanni has done his fair share of experimentation in mixing players for this tournament. He used all 23 of his players on the pitch in group play and decided to start Morgan and Sydney Leroux (both former Seattle Sounders Women players) together as forwards saying, “We felt their mobility could cause some trouble with the German defense.”

Truer words could not have been spoken as the result was a lethal dose of speed for Germany. In the 13th minute, Leroux ran down a ball to the touchline that appeared to be heading for a goal kick, her defender was a step behind and gave it up for out.

However, Leroux saved it on the line and launched it across the goal from the right side.

A defender got her head on it, but the deflection was not strong enough to pass Morgan, who powered a shot high in the box to the top of the net.

Germany returned with chances of their own. With their own offensive front well endowed with speed, the US played a tricky offside trap that ended up working to their advantage.

However, goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart was called in for plenty of serious moments.

Germany had possibly their best chance in the 69th minute when Marozsan took a free kick that found its way to Mbabi who ripped a shot towards the goal.

Barnhart made a diving save, but Alexandra Popp was crashing in for the deflection. Barnhart had to spring to her feet for another half dive to make the double save.

In anticipation for the European Championships this summer, Germany’s head coach Silvia Neid chose to try out new players.

While useful for assessment purposes, it was perhaps their undoing for the tournament at hand as the Germans could not come back from dropping two goals in the first half.

Morgan got her brace in the 34th minute when she capitalized on a miscommunication and hesitation between goalkeeper Almuth Schult and her defense. Morgan split between them and touched the ball around the keeper for an easy finish on an open net.

Neid noted after the match:

“You almost can’t stop Alex Morgan, players like that, that high quality. We tried to stop them but as you know we have a lot of young players, especially in the defense. “

The US continued to hold possession for the second half, but did not have the chance to play as much in the offensive third as the game became very midfield-heavy. The fatigue of playing four games in a week started to show.

Even with a pitch that was remarked to be slippery and visibly muddy in places, the touches and passes lost more of their crispness and accuracy. The US, long considered the most fit team in the world, prevailed, but at the final whistle caught their breath more than celebrated.

Sermanni spoke specifically about the even tone of the game between the number one and two ranked teams in the world:

“I think the game-winning factor was we scored goals at a good time. These games, if you can get in front – there’s not much in it between the teams – so the team that can get the early goal has the advantage.

It’s difficult for a team to score three goals against us so the critical difference between the two teams today was the fact that Alex Morgan scored two goals and we either scrambled clear the chances that Germany had or our goalkeeper produced critical saves during the game.”

Germany will take their lessons into the Euros in July as the USWNT takes their ninth Algarve Cup title home. The rest of their schedule will be quiet this year, leaving room for the start of the new professional league, the NWSL, to start play in April. Megan Rapinoe, signed to Seattle Reign, did not play in the final but was named the player of the tournament.

Lineups:
USA : 18-Nicole Barnhart; 11-Ali Krieger (6-Crystal Dunn, 58), 19-Rachel Buehler, 14-Whitney Engen, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 23-Christen Press (20-Abby Wambach, 75), 7-Shannon Boxx (capt.), 16-Yael Averbuch (4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 68), 17-Tobin Heath (8-Kristie Mewis, 82); 13-Alex Morgan, 2-Sydney Leroux
Substitutions Not Used: 3-Christie Rampone, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 17-Tobin Heath, 22-Lindsey Horan, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Tom Sermanni

GER: 12-Almuth Schult; 4-Babett Peter (capt.) (27-Jennifer Cramer, 46), 22-Luisa Wensing, 23-Josephine Henning, 25-Leonie Maier; 15-Verena Faißt (18-Svenja Huth, 75) 17-Viola Odebrecht (26-Nadine Keßler, 46, 10-Linda Bresonik, 60), 20-Lena Goeßling, 14-Dzsenifer Marozsan (24-Lena Lotzen, 81); 13-Celia Okoyino da Mbabi, 11-Anja Mittag (9-Alexandra Popp, 46)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Nadine Angerer, 3-Saskia Bartusiak, 7-Melanie Behringer, 8-Kim Kulig, 21-Laura Benkarth, 29-Isabel Kerschowoski
Head coach: Silvia Neid

Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 6 / 12
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 5 / 1
Corner Kicks: 1 / 4
Fouls: 12 / 14
Offside: 3 / 6