USWNT 3 vs. 0 Costa Rica summary: stats and highlights | CONCACAF W CHAMPIONSHIP
The stage is set for Monday's Final between Canada and the USWNT.
Ashley Sanchez finished off the job in the fourth minute of stoppage time with this strike from inside the box.
How about the assist from Rose Lavelle to find Mallory Pugh slashing into the box for the second goal of the match.
Emily Sonnet with the opener in the 34th. Her first international goal was very similar to Mewis' goal in the 89th against Mexico.
Goals from Emily Sonnet and Mallory Pugh in the first half gave the US a comfrtable advantage going into the second 45. Ashley Sanchez shut the door in the fifth minute of stoppage time to seal the 3-0 win over Costa Rica.
It's all over from Estadio Universitario!! The US is on to the final of the CONCACAF W Champioship after defeating Costa Rica 3-0! Now we await the winner of Jamaica and Canada.
Sanchez with a run up the pitch and was fortunate to find the ball find her feet after Moran flicked on from the top of the box. Sanchez finished it calmly past the keeper for the third and final goal of the match.
Sanchez with a run up the pitch and was fortunate to find the ball find her feet after Moran flicked on from the top of the box. Sanchez finished it calmly past the keeper for the third and final goal of the match.
Bermudez comes back as strong as ever with a convincing punch away of a Rapinoe corner kick.
Bermudez is slow to get up after clearing the danger. She has been the one bright spot for the Costa Rican team.
There will be four more minutes of stoppage time from Monterrey.
Bermudez watches a cross sent in from Huerta bounce harmlessly past the face of goal. Good idea from Huerta, all it needed was a touch to be turned on frame.
The US has lacked luster on the attacking end in this second half. They have this match in the palm of their hands, but seem content to work the ball around without pushing too many bodies forward.
Costa Rica get into the attacking third for the first time in a while. When they are in that final third of the pitch they look a bit lost like they don't know where to go from there.
Costa Rica concedes another corner kick. That's number seven of the night. Rapinoe tried a cheeky curl from the flag with hopes of catching the keeper off guard, but Bermudez saw it sailing over the cross bar the whole way.
I don't have the stats with me at the moment, but I'd say the possession in the second half is probabaly 85%-15% in favor of the US. Costa Rica have to find a way to take possession and keep possesion while advancing up the pitch.
What a save from Bermudez who stifled the shot from Smith who had acres of space but the CR keeper was more than ready.
Ball over the top for Morgan is sent into the stands and another corner to come. That makes 6 for the night.
A big road around the stadium as Megan Rapinoe, recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient steps on to the pitch for the first time tonight.
Lavelle says "I'll have a go" from long range after provideing the assist of the tournament in the first half. Bermudez saw it coming all the way and easily scooped the save off the ground.
At the moment the US side's best defense is a good attack. They are keeping the ball, forcing Costa Rica to drop back and making life very diffiecult for the Costa Ricans.
Horan on the left side of the box had Morgan and Smith in the area. The cross was sent to the back post found the foot of Smith but the youngster who had a brace against Jamaica missed an empty net opportunity.
The US side is starting to knock the ball around inviting the Costa Ricans to chase.
Costa Rica is showing a bit more intent, but having trouble breaking through the back four of a rock solid USWNT side. Becky Saurebrunn is the vet in the middle of the defense, and while she hasn't had much to do, she has not made a single mistake tonight.
Mad scramble in the area after a lovely ball in from Smith comes to a stand still in front of the mouth of goal. A blockade of Costan Rica defenders were there to make sure the effort didn't find the frame.
Smith on the near side with the threatening ball across the middle of the area. Costa Rica able to deal with the danger by nodding it out for a corner. And the corners continute to pile up. Our wager from the pregame isn't looking too bad. That's five through 47 minutes.
The second half is underway from the Estadio Universitario. The US hold a commanding lead, and the Costa Rican's need goals against a defense that hasn't allowed a single one in th tournament to this point.
Expect the Costa Rican side to come out strong in the opening minutes of the second half. They need goals, so it's time to thrown caution to the wind.
Here it is! The moment we have all been waiting for. The Lavelle pass to Pugh for the second goal. You won't see many assists better than the one Rose Lavelle just laid on the laces of Mallory Pugh
Emily Sonnet waited for a special occasion to score her first goal for the USWNT. She buried the opener on a rebounded effort in the 34th minutes.
Can't wait until that goal is posted on Twitter so I can share with all of you. Until then, it's halftime from Monterrey!. USA in command after a late first half goal to put Costa Rica on the back foot from the start of the second half.
SPECTACULAR!!!! One of those times where the assist in even better than the goal!!! Lavelle with an amazing back heel right into the path of Pugh who tucks it past the keeper to double the advantage right before the halftime break.
Smith was in on goal, staring at the whites of the keepers eyes, but with pressure coming from her right she pushed an effort straight on which was easy for Bermudez to collect.
Casey Murphy almost gets her self into a mess after a gentile ball back bouces to her feet and she tries to clear it one touch but scuffed the effort and it almost fell to a Venegas infront of goal.
Since the Morgan goal was flagged offside, there has been little to nothing going for either side. We are into stoppage time now. Let's see if any surprises await.
It wasn't the prettiest goal of Emily Sonnet's life, but it was effective. Goal scoreres always sniff out a ball in front of the net, and Sonnet shows her killer instinct for the opener.
MORGAN'S GOAL FLAGGED OFFSIDE! Horan nodded on Morgan from the back post in to the middle of the small box and Morgan escorted the effort home, but the flag went up and the goal was wiped off the board.
Look for this game to open up now. Costa Rica can't afford to not attack, but they don't want to risk being exposed at the back.
GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!! The corner kick from the near side leads to a great opportunity for Lavelle to hit it home, but the defelecton off the post fell onto the foot of Sonnet who nudged it into the back of the net.
Costa Rica got a little too cute passing around in the back, and almost paid the price. The keeper Bermudez was able to spare the blushes of her defenders after playing a horrific ball back to the box.
Both teams will head to the touchlines for the cooling break around the half hour mark. It might be 7:30 but it's hot in Monterrey. The kick off temperature was 91 degrees.
Not much in terms of attacking soccer from Costa Rica, but they are holding on and staying in the game. They will have to hold strong in the back and make the most of their chances when they get the opportunity to move forward.
Beautful diagonal ball played from the back to Pugh who headed it through Horan. Horan gathered in the box drifting towards the end line, but by the time she got the shot off the angle was almost impossible to steer on goal.
Lavalle with a perfect ball smacked across the face of goal. Three attackers had a chance for the US side but all were just a step slow. Costa Rica survives another attack.
Clean run into the box from Pugh, but a cleaner tackle from the Costa Rican defender to concede a goal kick.
WHAT A CHANCE FOR MORGAN!!! Beautiful ball played in by Pugh, and the US forward had it on the laces, but couldn't steer the effort on frame.
Another corner kick for Costa Rica, and remember our wager from the pre game. We went over 10 corners on the night and there have already been three.
Costa Rica have done a good job of withstanding the opening 10 minutes of attacking soccer from the US. Jamaica knows all too well what they are capable of out of the gate. The US was up 2-0 before the 10 minute mark against the Reggae Girlz.
USWNT with the first effort steered toward goal. It was PUgh on the back post with a header, but the nod on was always going wide.
Pugh sent a ball across the face of the area on the US's first attack but it went skyward, and Costa Rica survives the opening charge up the pitch.
Costa Rica with the opening corner of the game. It stalled in front of goal and came to a standstill but the US defense cleared.
We are underway from Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico! The winner of tonight's match is on to the Final of the CONCACAF W Championship
Tongiht's Odds
The United States, as they have been all tournament come into tonight’s match as the heavy favorites. Costa Rica pays 34/1 to beat the US outright, while the US gives very little return. Instead of going for the Over/Under, lets do a prop bet with corners. 10 is the magic number, and the Over and Under pay just about even money.
The other semifinal
The other match tonight will be played an hour after the conclusion of this match, when Jamaica and Canada battle in the second semifinal. Canada swept through Group B earning all nine points available. Jamaica won two of their three group stages but got crushed by the US team 5-0 to finish group stages in second place.
Both teams qualified for World Cup
On their way to the semis, both Costa Rica and the USWNT qualified for World Cup 2023. The top two teams from each group get an automatic bid to New Zealand/Austraila next year, and the winner of the tournament will qualify for the Olympics.
Last time out Costa Rica
Costa Rica blitzed through the first two matches with a +7 goal differential. In the final match of group stages the Ticos were were defeated by Canada in a battle at the top of the group. Costa Rica settled for second in Group B, which means they would meet the top team from Group A, the USWNT.
Mewis got the lone goal to make it a perfect 9 points out of 9 to reach the semis and secure a World Cup spot.
Last time out: USA
It wasn’t as easy as many thought it would be last time the USWNT took the pitch against the hosts, Mexico. Having not won a game or scored a single goal in the first two matches, El Tri gave a gutsy performance but they let their guard down in the last minute of the 90 when Kristie Mewis knocked home a rebound to secure the 1-0 win in the 89th.
We are live from Monterrey
Hello everyone and welcome to Monterrey, Mexico where both of these teams will be fighting for a place in the Final on Monday night. The US side used it’s high potent offense and stifling back line to cruise to the semis, while Costa Rica dropped their last game to set up a date with the US side tonight.
USA vs. Costa Rica
It’s semifinal time in the CONCACAF W Championship from the Estadio Universitario as Group A winners USWNT take on the second place team from Group B Costa Rica with a spot in the finals on the line. AS English will be with you all night long providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s knockout match.