The U.S. forwards must improve if the women hope to win a medal at the Olympics.
Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett are two of the best in the world, but when neither can finish against non-Olympic teams such as Canada and Russia, in their second encounter, something is wrong.
The rest of the U.S. team certainly shares the blame for the poor finishing. With the exception of the 7-1 win over Russia, the scoreboard hasn’t lit up for the Americans recently.
Why do the U.S. women need tons of chances before they score? The United States outshot Canada, 31-5, and Russia, 19-2, but only produced a penalty kick in each game. That’s pathetic for a defending world and Olympic champion.
Coach April Heinrichs tried to defuse the finishing issue after the recent European trip, during which the United States scored only five goals in five games, all against Olympic medal contenders. She said the United States can’t be expected to blow out good teams as it slaughtered TFC minnows at the Gold Cup.
Canada and Russia aren’t China and Norway – and they aren’t the only examples of poor finishing against weak teams.
Earlier this year, the U.S. women outshot Australia, 19-4, but only scored off a penalty kick in a 1-0 win; Heinrichs’ team earlier outshot Iceland, 19-4, but had to settle for a 0-0 tie.
Heinrichs says her players are fatigued. They get some time off before the Sept. 1 friendly with Brazil.
When the Americans head to Melbourne, they can have no more excuses. If they need 20 shots to score one goal, they don’t deserve to win the gold.
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