American women zero in on spot in Tokyo Games
They finish qualifying atop their group and prepare for the semifinals in Carson.
U.S. 6, COSTA RICA 0
HOUSTON — Christen Press and Samantha Mewis each scored a pair of goals and the United States beat Costa Rica 6-0 on Monday night to finish atop its group in the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament.
The World Cup-winning U.S. team extended its unbeaten streak to 26 games. The Americans wrapped up the group stage with three shutouts and 18 goals.
Both teams already had earned a spot in the semifinals of the tournament this week at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. Eight teams are playing in the tournament, which will determine the region’s two berths in the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
The semifinal matchups will be determined Tuesday when Canada plays Mexico in Edinburg, Texas. The winner will avoid the top-ranked Americans.
Press extended her scoring streak to four straight games with a goal in the fourth minute. Lindsey Horan, who had a hat trick in Friday’s 8-0 victory over Panama, scored six minutes later.
Press, who plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League, added her second goal in the 36th minute.
Mewis scored on a free kick by Press in the 63rd minute and Jessica McDonald added a goal in the 77th before Mewis’ second goal, which appeared to just barely hit the line after deflecting down off the crossbar. The crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium was announced at 7,082.
Already eliminated, Haiti beat Panama 6-0 in the other group game earlier in the day.
Costa Rica rested top players Shirley Cruz and Raquel Rodriguez in anticipation of the semifinals Friday.
The U.S. has qualified for every Olympics since women’s soccer was introduced in 1996, and has won the gold medal four times.
The team has five consecutive titles in the qualifying tournament.
Six teams already made the field for Tokyo: Japan, Brazil, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and New Zealand.