Pre-match notes 11:30 a.m.: First, here’s yesterday’s story from the USWNT training session. Some Meghan Klingenberg-related items there, including video of her press conference. It’s not all sunshine and roses for the defender’s family, which is serving as the team’s unofficial host this weekend. “My mom has been planning a tailgate that has grown to epic proportions,” Klingenberg said with a smile. “I don’t know if she’s more excited to see me play or for the tailgate to be over.”… If you’re among the anticipated record-breaking crowd trekking to Heinz Field today, you will see most of the roster that captured the World Cup last month. Forward Sydney Leroux and defender Kelley O’Hara are out with ankle injuries, while goalkeeper Hope Solo, forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Lauren Holiday are questionable. Of the USWNT’s 21 available players, up to 17 could see the field because six substitutions are permitted for each match on this ‘Victory Tour.’ … Defender Ali Krieger isn’t from Pittsburgh, but this match represents a homecoming in at least one way, as she was a Penn State student-athlete from 2003-06. “It’s been exciting because I don’t get to come back to Pennsylvania that often,” she said, noting that her time playing pro soccer in Germany and Sweden has kept her away. Now that she’s joined the Washington Freedom of the National Women’s Soccer League, she hopes to visit State College for a football weekend and “get the full Penn State experience.” … 35-year-old forward Abby Wambach is the only U.S. player not affiliated with an NWSL club, and as such she spent the last two weeks on vacation while the rest of her teammates returned to league action. She scored 183 goals in 249 national-team appearances, the most ever by any player, man or woman. Despite all those career highlights, she clearly recalls one in particular she scored in the USWNT’s only previous trip to Pittsburgh:
1:05 p.m.: Starting lineup for the USWNT: GK Ashlyn Harris, D Christie Rampone, D Krieger, D Julie Johnston, D Klingenberg, M Shannon Boxx, M Heather O’Reilly, M Carli Lloyd, M Megan Rapinoe, F Amy Rodriguez, F Christen Press. Solo, Morgan and Wambach are listed as substitutes.
1:36: We’ve been fooled! Actual kickoff time is 2 p.m., even though the match was marketed for 1:30. Quick video of the crowd for warmups.
2:05: Well then. O’Reilly steals a weak Costa Rica pass in its own box, sprints in on goal and beats keeper Dinnia Diaz with a short-side shot. 1-0 United States as the crowd gets something to cheer right away.
2:21: This one shouldn’t be a contest. 20 minutes in and Costa Rica has yet to approach the U.S. penalty area. The Americans are choking off nearly every attempted through-ball and have had three or four dangerous opportunities as a result.
2:31: Some sloppy play by Costa Rica defender Daniela Cruz, and Press takes advantage in the 29th minute. 2-0 USWNT after Press powered the rebound of her initial shot attempt into the side netting.
2:38: 3-0 United States in the 36th minute. Johnston rammed a header home off Rapinoe’s driven corner kick. Costa Rica neglected to cover … anybody, really.
2:47: Make it 4-0 at the intermission after Press collects her second. Another Rapinoe corner found Boxx’s head. Diaz made the first save, but Press cleaned it up.
3:05: Substitutions for the USWNT at the start of the second half: Solo for Harris, Whitney Engen for Johnston, Morgan Brian for Boxx, Tobin Heath for Rapinoe and Lori Chalupny for Rodriguez. Also, Klingenberg is up in the midfield as coach Jill Ellis presumably tries to get her a goal in her hometown.
3:15: Wambach into the game to a nice cheer. She replaces Lloyd. U.S. is out of substitutes.
3:17: There it is! Klingenberg deflects Heath’s cross high into the net and the place loses it. So does Meghan, who sprints to the sideline and grabs a Terrible Towel to twirl at midfield. Everyone in attendance won’t forget that moment.
3:20: O’Reilly pops in the rebound of Press’ lofted shot off the post. 6-0 USWNT at the hour mark.
3:23: Stop the fight (unless Klingenberg can score again). Double-header goal in the 63rd minute, with Wambach setting up Engen’s final touch. 7-0.
3:28: Press, hat trick, 8-0. Costa Rica dragging. O’Reilly with the assist.
3:34: This is the largest crowd ever for a stand-alone (non-doubleheader with men’s national team) U.S. women’s friendly: 44,028. 10th largest home game for USWNT with no caveats. Biggest congregation to ever watch a soccer match in Pittsburgh.
3:51: Klingenberg nearly assists on a fourth goal for Press, but the shot is stopped by Diaz, who has been much better in the second half despite conceding four times.
Press is a good striker. Obviously they were killing CR, but Press stood out across the board, constantly playing like a quality striker. Hope to see more of that next summer.
After Solo came in there were 3 or 4 times I turned to my daughter to tell her "and that's why she's the best keeper in the world." Fearless, elite athlete and she almost never makes the wrong play.
Carli Lloyd is awesome to watch, she goes off script so much, and many times it costs her team, but when it works it Works. A little like watching Troy.
Wambach is huge. Dwarfs other players, that long stride and technical precision is still great to see, but she's a step too slow and the reaction time and creativity aren't there anymore. Going to show my daughter some of her highlights from the old days. What a player she was.
How freaking good is Julie Johnston? She's so young but she is a rock at center back, never out of position and big on set pieces. Costa Rica couldn't get a scoring chance till she went out at the half.
Our girl Meghan is great to watch, tons of energy (even when not at home) and moves off the ball well, always giving options. Love the way they use her too.
Terrible Towel, will never forget that.
A crowd of more than 40,000 stands at attention for the national anthems of the U.S. and Costa Rica. -- MATT GAJTKA
August 16, 2015
Final: United States 8, Costa Rica 0
14by Matt Gajtka • Game previews • Special
Looking ahead to kickoff …
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Costa Rica, 2 p.m., Heinz Field
TV, video: Fox Sports 1, FoxSportsGo
Online: Live stats | Multimedia | Media notes
Pre-match notes 11:30 a.m.: First, here’s yesterday’s story from the USWNT training session. Some Meghan Klingenberg-related items there, including video of her press conference. It’s not all sunshine and roses for the defender’s family, which is serving as the team’s unofficial host this weekend. “My mom has been planning a tailgate that has grown to epic proportions,” Klingenberg said with a smile. “I don’t know if she’s more excited to see me play or for the tailgate to be over.”… If you’re among the anticipated record-breaking crowd trekking to Heinz Field today, you will see most of the roster that captured the World Cup last month. Forward Sydney Leroux and defender Kelley O’Hara are out with ankle injuries, while goalkeeper Hope Solo, forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Lauren Holiday are questionable. Of the USWNT’s 21 available players, up to 17 could see the field because six substitutions are permitted for each match on this ‘Victory Tour.’ … Defender Ali Krieger isn’t from Pittsburgh, but this match represents a homecoming in at least one way, as she was a Penn State student-athlete from 2003-06. “It’s been exciting because I don’t get to come back to Pennsylvania that often,” she said, noting that her time playing pro soccer in Germany and Sweden has kept her away. Now that she’s joined the Washington Freedom of the National Women’s Soccer League, she hopes to visit State College for a football weekend and “get the full Penn State experience.” … 35-year-old forward Abby Wambach is the only U.S. player not affiliated with an NWSL club, and as such she spent the last two weeks on vacation while the rest of her teammates returned to league action. She scored 183 goals in 249 national-team appearances, the most ever by any player, man or woman. Despite all those career highlights, she clearly recalls one in particular she scored in the USWNT’s only previous trip to Pittsburgh:
1:05 p.m.: Starting lineup for the USWNT: GK Ashlyn Harris, D Christie Rampone, D Krieger, D Julie Johnston, D Klingenberg, M Shannon Boxx, M Heather O’Reilly, M Carli Lloyd, M Megan Rapinoe, F Amy Rodriguez, F Christen Press. Solo, Morgan and Wambach are listed as substitutes.
1:36: We’ve been fooled! Actual kickoff time is 2 p.m., even though the match was marketed for 1:30. Quick video of the crowd for warmups.
2:05: Well then. O’Reilly steals a weak Costa Rica pass in its own box, sprints in on goal and beats keeper Dinnia Diaz with a short-side shot. 1-0 United States as the crowd gets something to cheer right away.
2:21: This one shouldn’t be a contest. 20 minutes in and Costa Rica has yet to approach the U.S. penalty area. The Americans are choking off nearly every attempted through-ball and have had three or four dangerous opportunities as a result.
2:31: Some sloppy play by Costa Rica defender Daniela Cruz, and Press takes advantage in the 29th minute. 2-0 USWNT after Press powered the rebound of her initial shot attempt into the side netting.
2:38: 3-0 United States in the 36th minute. Johnston rammed a header home off Rapinoe’s driven corner kick. Costa Rica neglected to cover … anybody, really.
2:47: Make it 4-0 at the intermission after Press collects her second. Another Rapinoe corner found Boxx’s head. Diaz made the first save, but Press cleaned it up.
3:05: Substitutions for the USWNT at the start of the second half: Solo for Harris, Whitney Engen for Johnston, Morgan Brian for Boxx, Tobin Heath for Rapinoe and Lori Chalupny for Rodriguez. Also, Klingenberg is up in the midfield as coach Jill Ellis presumably tries to get her a goal in her hometown.
3:15: Wambach into the game to a nice cheer. She replaces Lloyd. U.S. is out of substitutes.
3:17: There it is! Klingenberg deflects Heath’s cross high into the net and the place loses it. So does Meghan, who sprints to the sideline and grabs a Terrible Towel to twirl at midfield. Everyone in attendance won’t forget that moment.
3:20: O’Reilly pops in the rebound of Press’ lofted shot off the post. 6-0 USWNT at the hour mark.
3:23: Stop the fight (unless Klingenberg can score again). Double-header goal in the 63rd minute, with Wambach setting up Engen’s final touch. 7-0.
3:28: Press, hat trick, 8-0. Costa Rica dragging. O’Reilly with the assist.
3:34: This is the largest crowd ever for a stand-alone (non-doubleheader with men’s national team) U.S. women’s friendly: 44,028. 10th largest home game for USWNT with no caveats. Biggest congregation to ever watch a soccer match in Pittsburgh.
3:51: Klingenberg nearly assists on a fourth goal for Press, but the shot is stopped by Diaz, who has been much better in the second half despite conceding four times.