U.S. happy with 1-0 win, but not result against Trinidad

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Trinidad and Tobago gave the rest of the world a blueprint for how to play the U.S. women.

Trinidad bunkered down, loading its back line with five defenders, and the Americans struggled all night to break through. Yes, the Americans came away with a 1-0 victory in the first game of group play in the World Cup qualifying tournament, thanks to Abby Wambach's header in the 55th minute.

But they were more frustrated than satisfied, knowing they'd squandered far too many chances. The U.S. finished with a whopping 29 shots, including 12 on goal.

"We're embarrassed because that's not the way we want to play soccer. That's not our style. That's not the kind of system we want to play," Wambach said. "We want to get back to what we do well."

Give credit to Trinidad goalkeeper Kimika Forbes, who was simply spectacular. Trinidad also is likely the best team besides Mexico that the U.S. will see in the qualifying tournament for the North and Central American and Caribbean region, where three World Cup spots are on the line.

But if the U.S. is going to win its first World Cup since 1999 next summer in Canada, it will have to clean up its game.

"We couldn't break them down," Wambach said. "That last ball, that final chance, that final pass wouldn't come."

Don't blame the struggles on the changes new coach Jill Ellis has made to the team's style of play. Ellis wants the team to be able to hold the ball and build better, and has asked Wambach and Lauren Holiday to play slightly different roles.

Rather than being alone up top, Wambach is playing deeper. Ditto for Holiday in the midfield. But the players are used to adapting to different roles as they move from their club teams to the national team, Holiday said, and there was no hint of Wednesday night's trouble during practice this week.

"We were just off," Holiday said. "We had the right ideas and had some good combinations and then we couldn't make that final pass, that final touch."

The U.S. faces Guatemala on Friday night in suburban Chicago, and a win would all but assure the Americans a spot in the semifinals. But with bigger goals in mind, their performance in this tournament matters almost as much as the points, and the Americans are determined not to have a repeat.

"No one is really satisfied with the way we played," Alex Morgan said.

Follow Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.