USA vs. Colombia, 2015 Women’s World Cup: USWNT sneak by into quarterfinals

The United States women head into their World Cup quarterfinal match against China knowing that they’ll be forced into a couple of changes. Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe will both be suspended due to yellow card accumulation, and they’ve been key players in this tournament.

While Holiday has struggled, she’s very clearly first choice in midfield, to the point where Jill Ellis hasn’t tried anyone else in her spot. Rapinoe, on the other hand, has not struggled at all. She’s been by far the Americans’ most effective attacking player and will be a huge miss. She has no like-for-like replacement and other players will need to step up in her absence, because no one can replace her output. She’s been her side’s most dangerous and creative player while creating space for others by getting double- and triple-teamed.

For the fourth consecutive game, the United States women have failed to impress. And for the fourth consecutive game, they’ve avoided defeat. While their fans will continue hoping to see more attacking ideas from the USWNT, their 2-0 win over Colombia in the Round of 16 was certainly deserved.

Catalina Perez, in goal ahead of the suspended Sandra Sepúlveda for Colombia, was tested a couple of times early. Tobin Heath forced her into a good fourth-minute save, and Abby Wambach tested her again eight minutes later. In the 27th minute, she was called into action again, and tipped an Alex Morgan header over the bar.

Colombia is currently playing with 10 women after their goalkeeper was sent off with a red card. Abby Wambach missed a penalty kick off the red card, but in the 53rd minute, Alex Morgan was able to send one home to give the United States a second-half lead in their Round of 16 matchup.

This is what’s up:

And his staff tweeted support from the President’s second account as well:

The USWNT take on Colombia in the World Cup Round of 16 on Monday, and they should win the match. Colombia proved themselves to be a threat to anyone when they upset France earlier in the tournament, but on the evidence of their matches against England and Mexico, they’re worse than all of the Americans’ group stage opponents.

But as talented as the U.S. are relative to Colombia, there are ways that they can be exploited, as we saw in the group stage. Colombia aren’t great, but they’re good enough to steal a one-goal win and push the match to extra time if the USWNT play poorly enough and they get a few lucky bounces.

The USWNT kick off their women’s World Cup knockout stage campaign with a very winnable game against Colombia on Monday. Jill Ellis’ side may have not been at their best so far, but finishing atop their group has in theory given them one of the easiest round of 16 draws possible.

It’d take a big surprise for Colombia to record a win on what is their first foray into the WWC knockouts -- these sides met at both the last World Cup and the Olympics a year later, with the USWNT winning 3-0 on both occasions.