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2015 Algarve Cup

Lloyd Lifts Yanks; Solo Returns; Wambach Woes

Jill Ellis' side opened its Algarve Cup campaign with a comeback win over Norway that both highlighted the team's strengths as well underscored a few areas of concern.
BY John D. Halloran Posted
March 05, 2015
6:45 PM
THE UNITED STATES WOMEN'S national team opened up its 2015 Algarve Cup campaign on Wednesday with a solid 2-1 win over Norway. After heading into the locker room down 1-0 at the half, the U.S. engineered a second-half rally on the back of two goals from Carli Lloyd.

The victory sets up the Americans for a Group B clash against 19th-ranked Switzerland on Friday (12p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). Here are three thoughts from the match.

The Formation

The biggest talking point from Wednesday’s game against No. 12-ranked Norway was the U.S.’ formation. As she had done in recent matches against France and England, head coach Jill Ellis started the game with the U.S. deployed in an “empty-bucket” 4-2-2-2. Morgan Brian and Lauren Holiday were positioned in front of the center backs with Christen Press and Carli Lloyd playing slightly wider underneath the strikers.

Under this arrangement Lloyd and Press can operate as the team’s playmakers—and both are more than equipped to handle the job. The problem is the lack of width the formation provides, both offensively and defensively.

When Press and Lloyd receive the ball centrally, their options are fairly limited, especially if the outside backs don’t join the attack. Against Norway (and last month against England) that wasn’t a problem, as Ali Krieger and Lori Chalupny were able to get forward well and provide service from the flanks.

But that occurred precisely because both Norway and England sat back and absorbed pressure. When the U.S. plays against teams like France, Brazil, Germany, and Sweden, the American outside backs will likely be pinned back for long stretches. If they are unable to get forward, the U.S. attack will be easy to smother.

Defensively, the lack of width in the 4-2-2-2 midfield means that the outside backs are on an island with little to no help. Against France that proved to be a disaster and, on Wednesday, even Norway was able to expose the U.S.’s lack of pace on the left side.

One solution would be to add either Kelley O’Hara or Crystal Dunn to the starting XI, but considering Ellis’ lineup selections over the past year, it’s fair to say that ship has sailed.

Thank Goodness for Carli Lloyd

Despite playing outside her preferred central midfield role for the third game in a row, Lloyd rose to the challenge, played well, and scored both U.S. goals.

In the 57th minute she received the ball near the top of the box, turned a defender, and fired in a left-footed laser to bring the U.S. level. Five minutes later she converted a penalty that proved to be the game-winner. Most telling of all, however, was the effort that Lloyd put into Wednesday’s match. Sporting a fresh shiner, her commitment to the cause was obvious from the opening whistle. Lloyd played the entire match with a chip on her shoulder, something U.S. fans have seen time and time again.

Hope Solo and Abby Wambach

With Hope Solo serving a 30-day suspension last month, Ashlyn Harris claimed the U.S. starting keeper role against both France and England. Despite Harris' solid play in both matches, Ellis reinstated Hope Solo as the U.S.’ starter against Norway.

Solo had her ups and downs. She spilled a cross in the fourth minute (Krieger did a nice job blocking the ensuing shot on an empty net); could have done better on Norway’s lone goal; and gave up a sloppy rebound on a shot in the 77th minute.

Having said all of that, Solo's breathtaking save in the 54th minute demonstrated precisely why U.S. Soccer is so willing to put up with her off-the-field shenanigans. The sequence began with a Norwegian corner kick that fell to Solveig Gulbrandsen, who fired a hard shot from close range. Somehow, Solo managed to get her right hand down and parry the shot away from the U.S. goal.

It was an absolute stunner.

Abby Wambach also started against Norway and one again she struggled to make an impact on the match. Ellis has continued to show faith in her veteran striker, but Wambach’s performances of late have not been impressive—nor have they seemed to justify her continued presence in the U.S. lineup.

Against Norway, Wambach struggled to connect with her midfield compatriots and her lack of pace was painfully obvious when her teammates tried to play her in behind. While she is still a force in the air, even that asset now appears to be fading. Nowhere near the form she displayed in 2011 or 2012, Wambach is now scoreless in her last seven games.

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.

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