U.S. women win big but lose Alex Morgan to ankle injury
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The U.S. women's big victory came with a price.
The Americans are all but assured of a spot in the semifinals of the World Cup qualifying tournament after routing Guatemala 5-0 Friday night in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated. But Alex Morgan left the stadium on crutches after spraining her left ankle in the 37th minute in a collision with a Guatemalan defender.
When Morgan injured her left ankle last fall, she was off the field for seven months. She'll have additional tests Saturday.
"It's a pretty bad sprain," coach Jill Ellis said. "She's optimistic, so that's a good sign."
Should Morgan miss significant time, at least the U.S. has plenty of depth at forward. Sydney Leroux had two assists Friday night, and just missed a goal when she headed the ball right into the hands of Guatemala goal keeper Alicia Navas. Christen Press, who replaced Morgan, had goal at the end of the first half waved off by a phantom offside call.
The U.S. also has Amy Rodriguez and, oh yeah, Abby Wambach, who just happens to have scored more goals than any other female player.
"(Morgan) is a special player," said Megan Rapinoe, who scored in the 66th. "Hopefully she's healthy. That's our concern, that it's not a long injury.
"But somebody else will step up."
At least the U.S. came out of this game knowing it is on the right track.
After a sloppy effort against Trinidad and Tobago in which the Americans struggled to finish, they were far more effective Friday night. Guatemala bunkered down just like Trinidad did – "At one point I looked up and thought all 11 players were in the box," Carli Lloyd said – but the Americans neutralized that by getting the ball outside early to Tobin Heath and Meghan Klingenberg.
Heath was particularly impressive, both providing service and finishing. She got her first goal in the seventh minute, poking a flick from Leroux past Navas. She scored again from short range in the 57th.
"It was good to follow the game plan a bit more," Rapinoe said. "Things opened up and we converted our chances."
As frustrating as it may be to go up against a 10-woman wall on every possession, the Americans had to find a way around it. In a tournament like this, where the Americans are so far superior, opponents have little option but to put everyone behind the ball.
If the U.S. gets some width, however, its opponents will be forced to, too. And that's when the floodgates open.
"We scored some great goals," Lauren Holiday said. "That's what we needed. Score some great goals, get on the board and have some fun."