Hartnett: Rapinoe Provided The Spark That Jump-Started The Jittery Americans
By Sean Hartnett
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Every team needs a game-changer.
Megan Rapinoe is the crafty midfielder that is sparking hope that the United States will leave Canada having ended a 16-year Women's World Cup championship drought.
The 29-year-old left her mark on what was an otherwise jittery and underwhelming performance by the Americans to open the tournament. Rapinoe scored twice in USA's 3-1 victory over Australia in Winnipeg on Monday. There were spells during each half where the Americans appeared shaky and off-kilter, forcing goaltender Hope Solo into frequent action.
Rapinoe, however, was the difference-maker, carrying her team on her back for 86 minutes before leaving the pitch to a hero's reception from a predominantly pro-U.S. crowd packed inside Investors Group Field.
She repeatedly demonstrated outstanding control while weaving her way through Aussie defenders to create space outside the penalty box arc. Rapinoe's first goal deflected off an Australian defender and past keeper Melissa Barbieri, giving the Americans a 1-0 advantage in the 12th minute.
Australia's Lisa De Vanna struck back, sneaking behind the U.S. defense to score 15 minutes later. And with both teams suffering repeated defensive breakdowns, the match could have swung in either direction in the second half.
With off-field controversies swirling around her, Solo stood tall and showed no sign of distraction. The 33-year-old keeper came up huge when the U.S. defense turned leaky, especially early, parrying away Emily van Egmond's close-range effort in the fifth minute.
The Americans' confidence grew in the second half. Rapinoe ignited a 61st minute go-ahead goal, expertly controlling a Solo long ball before lifting a clever through ball to spring Sydney Leroux down the wing. Leroux turned on the jets and worked her way toward the box and then found Christen Press, who provided a cool finish.
It was the kind of goal that is expected from the Americans as they excel at torching defenses down the flanks using their speed.
In the 78th minute, Rapinoe made a lung-busting 50-yard run. None of the disorganized Australians stepped up to intervene before she tucked away a pinpoint low-corner finish that would have made Barcelona star Lionel Messi smile.
Rapinoe showed again why she's a leading lady for the U.S. team. She has the stamina to make long forward runs, the precise control to deceive defenders in tight spaces, and, of course, displays a renowned ability to deliver inch-perfect crosses.
Goals shouldn't be a problem for the Americans as the tournament progresses. Even though Abby Wambach uncharacteristically missed two headers, the U.S. has plenty of goal-getters in Wambach, Press, Leroux, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and Rapinoe.
USA's next Group D match will come against Sweden on Friday night in Winnipeg. Led by former U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage, the Swedes are fifth in the FIFA rankings. It should be an epic showdown between the second-ranked Americans and a Swedish team that will be desperate to take all three points after a shocking 3-3 draw with Nigeria earlier Monday.
The Swedes are free-kick and corner experts, scoring two of their goals from set pieces against Nigeria. It will be vital for the U.S. defense to find added measures of consistency and cohesion if they are to come away with three points on Friday.
Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey