The Americans play Trinidad and Tobago 7-0 in qualifying for the CONCACAF World Cup

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CARY, NC – This time was the match that preceded a World Cup qualifier between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago and that showed virtually nothing in 90 minutes .

And it was love at first sight at the CONCACAF women's championship that showed that when it comes to women's football in this part of the world, beating the American women remains one of the almost inaccessible goals.

The same night that Mexico was eliminated from the World Cup without even going to Texas for the next qualifying round, not to mention the big tournament held in France next summer, the United States signed their third victory in so many games with 7 -0 romping against Trinidad and Tobago.

In the American quest to find a more effective finishing touch and avoid anything that might resemble the fate that hit Mexico as his hopes faded under the weight of the attack on Panama – or who hit the Americans against Sweden in the last Olympic Games – the United States Women are looking for a solution of strength: put as many scorers as possible on the field at the same time.

And whether it is the precision or the constant hammering of 59 shots, the logic is as follows: the dam will eventually break.

This will certainly go against the CONCACAF parties not called Canada.

This is the formula that has ensured Crystal Dunn and Rose Lavelle on the ground. And they, in turn, helped to make Wednesday's goals drop like a well-placed slap on a bottle of ketchup, allowing the Americans to get closer to Sunday's semifinal and qualify for the World Cup with a victory.

"No one is looking for someone else to do the job," said Tobin Heath after setting the first two goals and finishing the score with a goal in itself. "Everyone knows that they can intervene and do it for the team, so I think it's great to have these options and enthusiasm, I think everyone is willing to contribute positively. and let no one fear a very good sign. "

Still, the positive energy seemed to have decreased during the first half. Indeed, after Alex Morgan gave the United States a 10-minute lead thanks to Heath's pass, Americans have long sought to verify how tight they are – at least they repeat their victory. 1-0 in turquoise against the same opponent in qualifying four years ago.

Despite the dominant game of the opening whistle, the pitch was cut in half as Trinidad and Tobago put all available bodies behind the ball. Americans have produced more frustration than celebration.

Odds piled up aimlessly. Heath said he remained confident that all chances – a Heath shot from the crossbar, back-to-back saves against Lindsey Horan, a goal from Julie Ertz annihilated by an offside and even a breach close to Becky Sauerbrunn – would eventually produce a second base goal. But at one point, even if the result had not been put in jeopardy, the mere frustration of the stubborn refusal of the ball to hit the bottom of the nets could have impeded the momentum that the United States wanted to pass on. in the semifinals.

The missed opportunities in the first half certainly haunted Mexico on Wednesday, shooting beyond the frame and a missed penalty kick opening the door for Panama, who were coming in to win and get closer to the Cup. of the world. It was at this point that Heath slipped a ball towards Lavelle, well past the top of the penalty area. Lavelle said that all she had heard at that time was that Kelley O'Hara nearby was shouting at her to take the shot. That's what she did using two delicate touches to prepare for a ball that whistled to the keeper.

The sky was already open at that time on a rainy night. The goal of Trinidad and Tobago followed.

Barely a minute later, Megan Rapinoe danced on the left side of the box and crossed a ball that Lavelle immediately skipped. Morgan helped put her on her way. The finish was easier this time around, but at a higher price, Lavelle cleaned by a defender while she was sending the ball home.

Dunn completed the half with his own loot from the top of the box and the United States led 4-0.

Although Lavelle left the game at halftime, replaced by Carli Lloyd, she said that she felt good physically, and US coach Jill Ellis said the change was actually a replacement planned.

The goals nearly doubled Lavelle 's career total during her 16th appearance in the United States, an impressive first against England at the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, followed by a succession of injuries that left her. have slowed down.

"I think I still do not feel comfortable," Lavelle said. "But I think my touch is there and that all that's there, it's more mentally, I'm not feeling there yet .It's good to have games like these." to build my self-confidence and take more steps to get there. "

She fights this battle on two fronts, trying to trust her body after a long fight against a hamstring and also trying to fit into the highest ranked team in the world.

"It's a very competitive environment, so every workout and every workout is super intense," Lavelle said. "And then, also coming back from an injury and having spent too much time outside, I have the impression of losing myself a little while coming back in. And I have somehow worked on trying to get there.

"I think I'm going there, but not really where I want to be again."

If necessary that these games reach the World Cup, they may seem like a waste of time. Scoring 18 goals against Mexico, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago does not seem to do much to help Americans prepare for Australia, England, France, Germany and the rest next summer. But if the representatives help Lavelle settle down or build chemistry between Dunn and Rapinoe on the left side, then maybe there is value.

"It's a very unpredictable player," said Heath about Lavelle. "So I think for us, when we try to dismantle teams, especially when they are seated, they can do that smart pass or dribble in. She's more of a creative player, can see things that others For us, having a player like that is important to break down teams. "

The American lineup is full of creative players with a goal goal these days.

As the game ended, Ellis again found a way to rack up the graduates when Mallory Pugh replaced O. Hara on the field, but Heath took over the role of O & # 39; Hara's background with Pugh. It would seem like a waste of Heath's skill to do so with regularity, but it must be particularly scary for an opponent to see Heath and Pugh overlap on one side and Dunn and Rapinoe to do the same.

Give so many talented players 59 shots and the result will come.

That alone will not help the United States to win a World Cup against a different caliber opponent, when a defender like Dunn will not be free to spend the entire game in the last third of his opponent, and that Lavelle could show her youth against equal defenders and more experience.

But there is still a lot for CONCACAF.