The United States women’s national team kicked off their Olympic gold medal victory tour, called The Fan Tribute Tour, with a 8-0 win over Costa Rica today in Rochester. In honor of the college football season kicking off, you could say the US won by touchdown and a two point conversion.
United States Vs. Costa Rica: US Kicks Off Fan Tribute Tour With a 8-0 Win
The US Women’s National Team began their Gold Medal Fan Tribute Tour with a 8-0 win over Costa Rica
Megan Rapinoe got the scoring started in the 13th minute with a curling free kick that took a slight deflection off the Costa Rican wall before hitting off the bottom of the crossbar and in to the goal. Not to be outdone in her home town, Abby Wambach put the US ahead 2-0 in the 23rd minute. Wambach was left all alone at the far post and easily headed home a cross from Rachel Buehler. Wambach ran over to the US bench after the goal and jumped in to the arms of head coach Pia Sundhage, who will be leaving after the next match.
Wambach got her second goal in the 31st minute, again off a header. Alex Morgan got in on the fun in the 38th minute, spinning off a defender and beating Costa Rica goalkeeper Erika Miranda. Rapinoe got her second of the match when her shot from distance bounced off Miranda's hands and trickled in to the goal. 5-0 at halftime.
The US took their foot off the gas a bit for most of the second half, but turned things back on late with goals from Sydney Leroux on a breakaway in the 77th minute, Carli Lloyd free kick strike in the 83rd minute and Heather O'Reilly cleaning up a cross from Leroux in the 88th minute.
The match itself was overshadowed just a bit by the news from earlier in the day that US head coach Pia Sundhage will be stepping down from the job to pursue new opportunities back in her home country of Sweden. The national team job there is currently open. Sundahge's final game in charge will be on September 16th in Los Angeles against Australia.
