They have lost no games and allowed no goals, and yet it would be hard to find anyone who would consider the United States Women’s National Team perfect through the semifinal round at the Concacaf W Championship.
The U.S. defeated Costa Rica, 3-0, to advance to the championship Monday night, a game that conveys not only the regional title, but also an automatic berth in the 2024 Olympics.
And it’s not just the Olympics. It’s the Olympics in Paris.
Who would want to miss that?
This is how the 16 players who appeared for the USWNT in another just-good-enough performance graded out.
USWNT player ratings vs. Costa Rica
Casey Murphy (goalkeeper): 6
Once again, the U.S. dominance of possession — 64 percent to 36 percent — allowed Murphy the freedom to play Candy Crush on her iPhone, if she wished. She only had one reasonably challenging circumstance to manage, when a curling cross arrived in the center of her area in the 81st minute, and she used a powerful fist to punch it away. She did not record a single save.
Sofia Huerta (right back): 5
Choosing between Huerta and Kelley O’Hara probably was Andonovski’s most difficult decision, and Huerta did little to suggest he’d made the right choice. Huerta put in a nice cross in the 3rd minute that Alex Morgan pushed wide. There was an instance of solid hustle to chase down a steal in the 16th minute, and by then the U.S. had been beaten to a lot of balls. Huerta sent in some decent crosses that weren’t converted, but she was rarely threatening.
Alana Cook (central defender): 5
When Cook was on the ball in her half or just beyond, she played impatient long balls that weren’t accurate. She gave away a corner kick on what should have been a simple back-header to Murphy. She sent another basic pass over the sideline. Is Andonovski certain she’s the best option to pair with his captain?
Becky Sauerbrunn (central defender): 6
Had there been more of a challenge from the opposition, a performance this commanding would have scored at least one point higher. She executed important clearances twice between the 56th and 59th minutes.
Emily Sonnett (left back): 7
In Andonovski’s reconfigured approach to attacking Costa Rica’s five-player back line, it was Sonnett who was withheld most often as a third deep defender — and she still managed to produce more offensive threat than Huerta, who was playing in an advanced role on the right. Sonnett scored the first U.S. goal in the 34th minute, sweeping in a ball that fell to the grass in front of goal after Lindsey Horan headed off the post, and Costa Rica goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez could not seize it.
Andi Sullivan (defensive midfielder): 6
She was involved in the sequence that led to the opening goal, fielding the corner kick from Mallory Pugh and sending it to Horan. Sullivan fired a powerful shot off a great pass from Megan Rapinoe that forced Bermudez’ best save of the night. In the 70th minute, she did her most important job, overpowering a move through the center of the field and swiping the ball to end the threat.
Lindsey Horan (attacking midfielder): 5
If we were grading on a curve, giving an extra point or two for a player who’s powering through what has digressed from an apparent to an obvious impairment of some sort, we’d grant Horan a passing grade. She was beaten to numerous balls even early in the game, before the heat had its greatest impact, and she was productive only when she was operating in tight areas in or near the 18-yard box. It would have been wise to sub her out earlier.
Rose Lavelle (attacking midfielder): 8
Her backheel assist to Mallory Pugh on the team’s second goal was the very reason people pay money to watch soccer, but Lavelle also had to handle extra duty because Horan was playing below her standard. As she has done throughout this tournament, Lavelle excelled at tracking back on defense and using her elite footwork to disarm the opposition.
Mallory Pugh (forward): 7
Pugh’s strike off that backheel was powerful and accurate, the kind of shot the U.S. will need to win this tournament and others beyond. She was dynamic throughout her night. In the 58th minute, she placed a nice feed to Horan that helped set up Sophia Smith for what ought to have been a slam-dunk goal. She took the responsibility for corners and free kicks and was far more dangerous than Sullivan had been in her attempt at set-piece duty. It was Pugh’s best game in the six matches since the USWNT began preparing for this tournament.
Alex Morgan (striker): 5
She was not crisp, either in gathering passes in her direction that might have developed into scoring chances, or in finishing the several chances that developed. In the first 20 minutes, she wasted two excellent opportunities on wide shots. She got into dangerous positions several times, and that’s good, but she ought to have bagged at least one goal.
Sophia Smith (forward): 5
It was another vexing performance from Smith, who often found herself surrounded by defenders without enough ideas on how to escape. It was her hustling steal, though, that set up Lavelle for the backheel assist to Pugh. She made another nice pass over the top to Morgan that was cleared for a corner. She needs to be even more connected to teammates.
Substitutes
Megan Rapinoe (forward): 5
She took over set-piece responsibility for Pugh, but could not find the right touch in this one.
Ashley Sanchez (attacking midfielder): 7
Sanchez was the most active of all five U.S. substitutes, constantly grabbing possession and attempting to generate offense. Her most obvious contribution was the beautifully struck goal from the center of the six-yard box, but it was clear she entered the game intent on making a positive impact.
Naomi Girma (central defender): 6
She has looked sharp on either side of the goalkeeper.
Trinity Rodman (forward): 5
She made little impact in her short time on the field.
Kristie Mewis (defensive midfielder): 7
Mewis sent the gorgeous pass over the top of the defense to Morgan that she was able to bring down but not quite transform into a shot attempt. That’s when Sanchez stepped in and swatted it into the net for the final 3-0 scoreline.