For months, head coach Jill Ellis and the United States Women’s National Team have faced criticism about the way they play soccer.
The knock was that the USWNT play uninspired, boring, kick-it-up-and-hope-something-good-happens soccer. That they rely on athleticism at the expense of skill. That they rely on goalie Hope Solo to bail out their inability to maintain possession. That their Plan A is to kick it to Abby Wambach’s head and there’s no Plan B so to speak of.
And on Monday night, in a scrappy 3-1 win over Australia, they proved everyone right.
This style of play will work against a team like Australia, who were missing two starters and couldn’t compete physically all over the field with the Americans.