WASHINGTON: Costa Rica held the U.S. women's national team to a scoreless draw Tuesday in a farewell game before the team heads to the Paris Olympics.
U.S. captain Lindsey Horan told a crowd of about 19,000 that despite the draw, there was no chance of winning in France.
“We would have liked to have won,” she said. “But we're going to go out there and do our job at the Olympics. This team is great. We're going to represent this country very well and do everything we can to get that gold back.”
Costa Rica, which frustrated the U.S. team with tenacious defense and goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez, held the team to a draw after losing 17 times to the U.S.
The U.S. women's team defeated Costa Rica 26-2, drawing 12 saves from Bermudez and winning all 16 corner kicks in the game.
“It takes a lot of patience to play against a low block. Costa Rica did a great job,” U.S. midfielder Sophia Smith said. “It was definitely a challenge for us, but it was a good test because that's what we're going to face at the Olympics.
“I know we can create chances. I don't know how many we created tonight. No matter what it looks like, we're going to put a goal in the back of the net. That's what we're going to do.”
It was a disappointing performance against a defensive-minded squad for new coach Emma Hayes and her U.S. team, but it served as an example of what the U.S. needs to work on before it begins its quest for gold in France next week.
“Emma's big message at the end of the game was don't get discouraged,” Smith said. “We wanted a result from this game, but this game is preparation for something bigger.
“We have to reach our peak when we have to reach our peak, and that's when the Olympics start. We're calm about it. We don't get frustrated. We trust the process. We know that when we need to, everything will work out in our favor.”
The U.S. Women's National Team opens Olympic Group B play against Zambia on July 25 in Nice, before facing Germany and Australia in Marseille.
“I think it's going to be really great,” Smith said. “I'm so excited to be going with this group. I'm excited to get the ball rolling in France. This group has a lot of potential and great things are ahead of them.”
The United States won the Olympic women's soccer tournament at home in 1996 and went on to win three straight titles in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
U.S. midfielder Rose Lavelle, who helped France win the 2019 Women's World Cup, missed the game with a sore leg. Corbin Albert replaced her in the U.S. starting lineup.
Under England coach Hayes, the United States went 3-1 without conceding a goal.
“We think we’ve made great, good progress,” Hayes said. “When we took over the team and had to implement a lot of things, they’ve been really receptive to that idea.
“We have an idea of how we're going to spend most of our time going into the Olympics, but we're starting to add some adaptations now.”
Smith and Mallory Swanson both missed early chances against Bermudez, and Trinity Rodman was ruled offside on another USA chance.
Bermudez and Rodman clashed when the goalkeeper blocked Horan's shot in the 24th minute. Bermudez also stopped Horan's header in the 40th minute and Smith just before half-time.
Bermudez denied Smith a chance in the 49th minute and parried Horan's kick in the 50th minute to keep Las Ticas level.
Horan scored in the 55th minute but the offside flag was raised.
Bermudez latched onto Rodman's cross in added time and Horan headed the ball over the crossbar seconds before the game ended.
