The US Women's National Team might be in the semi-finals of the Olympic Qualifying tournament, but they certainly did little to impress in their last game. After beating Costa Rica with ease, the US faced Mexico and escaped with a 1-0 win thanks to a questionable penalty that lead to a Carli Lloyd penalty kick which was the only goal of the game. Now looking to regroup on short rest, the team could turn to their depth against Puerto Rico.
The US have already booked their tickets to the semi-finals of the tournament, but they would like to close out group play perfect. They head into what is expected to be an easy game against Puerto Rico where some of the team's stars could get some rest. However, the team cannot risk to take it easy on Monday. An upset loss would leave the US at risk of having to face Canada with their Olympic spot on the line. The winners of both semifinal games immediately qualifying for the 2016 Rio Games. The US do not want to face an opponent like Canada in that situation. They would rather either face Mexico or Costa Rica depending on how the Monday games turn out.
One thing is clear, the US need to get their offensive issues figured out. Mexico played an extra defender during their entire match and the pressure worked. The US struggled to get accurate passes off. They suffered some bad luck with the cross bar, but all-in-all, their attack left a lot to be desired. Many wonder if Jill Ellis will use this game to get a look at the team's depth. Players like Mallory Pugh, Samantha Mewis and Stephanie McCaffery could all see more playing time while Christen Press and Kelley O'Hara are also expected to be on the field. That should be enough to beat Puerto Rico while giving Ellis a chance to see if any adjustments need to be made before Friday's semi-final match.
If the US play Mexico again, they might not get so lucky with another 1-0 lead. Mexico's offense struggled against the once-again tight defense of the US, but they will come into the match with confidence and looking for revenge after the penalty-driven loss. The United States will be rested for the game, but have some work to put in beforehand.
