The United States Women’s National Team defeated Costa Rica 3-0 to qualify for the final of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, where next Monday they will play for the title and a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
After a perfect first phase, the USWNT went to the Estadio Universitario to face Costa Rica and did not have many complications, and with goals from Emily Sonnett, at minute 34, Mallory Pugh (45+3) and Ashley Sanchez (95), they won the semifinal phase.
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In addition to advancing to the CONCACAF W Championship title game, the U.S. team extended its streak to 32 matches without conceding a goal in pre-World Cup play.
How did the USWNT score goals?
The United States, a powerhouse in the zone, opened the scoring with Sonnett’s 34th-minute strike off a corner kick. After a shot hit the post, none of the Costa Rican players were able to clear and the ball fell to Sonnett, who just pushed the ball in.
With time added on in the first half, the second goal came and gave the Americans more peace of mind. Costa Rica lost the ball at the start and Pugh received it with a touch of his heel, and already inside the area he controlled and left-footed the ball for his goal.
Costa Rica could do nothing in the second half and the Americans made it 3-0 in the 94th minute when Sanchez was left with the ball practically in the penalty area and she scored with a right-footed shot to seal the game.
USWNT will play for their ticket to Paris 2024 on Monday
Thus, the U.S. team reached the final of this tournament and awaits an opponent for next Monday, which will be the winner of the match between Canada and Jamaica.
The United States, Costa Rica, Canada and Jamaica have already secured their tickets to the Australia-New Zealand 2023 World Cup, but only one will have a guaranteed ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics and that will be the winner of the match between the USWNT and its opponent on Monday; the runner-up and the third place will have the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games in September 2023.
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