U.S. women continue to look like world beaters in 4-0 win over New Zealand (Video)
With two months and change remaining until the 2015 Women's World Cup kicks off in Canada, the United States demonstrated that it is building towards its peak form with a 4-0 win over New Zealand in St. Louis on Saturday.
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The Americans dominated a solid opponent, continuing their recovery from a difficult 2014, which was bookended by disastrous results at tournaments in Portugal and Brazil and included a rare mid-cycle coaching change.
But the USA is now 5-1-1 this year, having won the Algarve Cup this time around, to avenge a worst-ever seventh-place finish last year. And while New Zealand, a rising power in women's soccer, may have been weighed down by jetlag and the toll of traveling, the American performance wasn't any less impressive for it.
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The U.S. began creating chances early on. In the first quarter of an hour, the outstanding Megan Rapinoe made a nice move up the left and swung her cross into Alex Morgan. But her flick was saved and Christen Press sliced the rebound high and wide. Then, Rapinoe's aggressive throw-in found Amy Rodriguez, who took a quick turn and volleyed the ball. But goalkeeper Erin Naylor, in the first of many fine interventions, tapped the ball off the cross bar.
Then, in the 14th minute, Meghan Klingenberg blasted a laser of a shot that zipped into the net from some 25 yards out.
The game slowed some after that, but in a flash of brilliance before halftime, Rapinoe picked up a loose ball up the left and crossed it for Rodriguez. A-Rod volleyed from the edge of the box, left-footed, but watched her splendid effort carom off the top of the upright.
It took time for the Americans to break the Kiwi resistance. Around the hour mark, Sydney Leroux's incisive run set up Morgan, who knocked her finish wide. And then Rapinoe pulled her shot too near to Naylor, who stood on her head several times to prevent more scoring.
But in the last 15 minutes, New Zealand's endless turnovers finally caught up to it.
Lori Chalupny got a look in the box off a short-corner play set up by Rapinoe and swept it home to double the score.
Then the ever-impressive Lauren Holiday floated a free kick towards the penalty spot and Julie Johnston dinked a lovely header over the sprawling Naylor to become the third defender of the day to score.
Lastly, Morgan Brian, having only just come on, slotted her finish off the far post and in from a nice setup by Leroux to make it 4-0.
It was, on the whole, an encouraging afternoon for a team that has, at times, lacked a clear style and struggled to put away chances. But this was a composed and complete performance, giving away no chances at all. It was educational, too: Holiday and Carli Lloyd are plainly the strongest combination in central midfield. And a 4-4-2 formation still suits this team best, after months of tinkering with a 4-3-3.
Head coach Jill Ellis will make the cuts for her World Cup roster soon. And on Saturday's evidence, she has put together a team that could finally break that 16-year title drought after all.
Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.
