WASHINGTON: Costa Rica was held to a goalless draw by the United States Women's National Team on Tuesday in the Americans' elimination match before they leave for the Paris Olympics.
USA captain Lindsay Horan told a crowd of 19,000 that they were nervous about their chances in France despite the draw.
“We wish we had won,” he said. But we go out and do our thing at the Olympics. This team is amazing. We will represent this country well and we will do our best to get back to the gold medal.
Costa Rica goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez's defensive efforts frustrated a patient USA team as the Ticas earned a draw after losing their first 17 games against the Americans.
The U.S. women outshot Costa Rica 26-2, holding Bermuda to 12 saves and taking all 16 corners in the contest.
“It takes a lot of patience to play against a low block. Costa Rica did it really well,” American midfielder Sophia Smith said.
I know we can create chances. I don't know how many chances we created tonight. No matter how it looks, someone is behind the net. It will come.”
While it was a defensive-minded team that was disappointing for new head coach Emma Hayes and her USA team, it showed the Americans what they need to do before they begin playing for gold next week in France.
“That was a big message from Emma at the end of the game – don't give up,” Smith said. We wanted to draw from this, but these games are preparing for something bigger.
We must peak when we need to peak, and that is at the start of the Olympics. We are calm about it. We are not desperate, we trust the process. “We know that when we need them, things will go our way.”
The U.S. women open Olympic Group B play on July 25 against Zambia in Nice and also face Germany and Australia in group matches in Marseille.
“I think it's going to be amazing,” Smith said. “I'm very excited to be with this group. I'm excited to get the ball in France. This group has a lot of potential and good things.”
The United States has won four Olympic women's soccer titles on home soil in 1996 and three in a row in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
American midfielder Rose Lovell, who helped France win the 2019 Women's World Cup, suffered a late scratch due to leg tightness. Corbin Albert replaced him in the US starting lineup.
The Americans have three wins and one draw without conceding a goal under Englishman Hayes.
“I think we've made good progress,” Hayes said. When you take over a team and have a lot of work to do, they are well-adapted to these ideas.
We're going into the Olympics with an idea of what we're looking for most of the time, but now we're starting to add some adjustments.
Smith and Mallory Swanson were each ruled out in early chances by Bermudez, while Trinity Rodman was caught offside in another for the United States.
Bermudez and Rodman clashed when the goalkeeper denied Horan in the 24th minute. Bermudez also headed home Horan's header in the 40th minute before thwarting Smith shortly before half-time.
Bermudez grabbed Smith's chance in the 49th minute and deflected Horan's shot in the 50th minute for the Rubberas to equalize.
Horan scored in the 55th minute only to have the offside flag raised.
Bermudez deflected Rodman's center pass in overtime, and Horan nodded over the crossbar in the final seconds.
