The United States has done pretty much what everyone expected thus far in what is billed as the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship (but what is more importantly World Cup qualifying). After a slow burn in the first half of their opener against Mexico, the USWNT has scored 10 goals in 135 minutes of soccer. They used their game against Panama over the weekend as a glorified training exercise, and there might be more of the same tonight against Trinidad and Tobago.
T&T has had enormous difficulties even getting to the tournament thanks to the ever-bumbling TTFA. Their hopes for a spot in the semifinal round have been vanquished, but it’s worth noting that these teams met in qualifying for the 2015 World Cup, and the USWNT were held off the board for 55 minutes by goalkeeper Kimika Forbes and only won 1-0.
Location: Sahlen’s Stadium (Cary, NC)
Kickoff time: 7:30pm Eastern
Projected USWNT starting 11: (433) - Alyssa Naeher; Kelley O’Hara, Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn; Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle; Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe
Bench: Ashlyn Harris, Emily Sonnett, Casey Short, Hailie Mace, Samantha Mewis, Morgan Brian, Christen Press, Carli Lloyd, Mallory Pugh
Unless someone has a knock that needs to protect, it feels safe to figure that Jill Ellis will start her preferred best 11 (“her preferred” being important terms here) in this one and in Sunday’s semifinal, which is a de facto one-game playoff for a spot at France 2019. Ellis could easily send out the lineup that beat Panama 5-0 and get a big win here, but there’s a minuscule chance that the USWNT could face Canada in the semis that goes up with a loss today.
Available TV: Fox Sports 1 (this was originally billed as FS2 before a change today)
Available streaming: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
What are you drinking?: Keeping it simple and going with a Brooklyn Brewing Oktoberfest.
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