The sellout crowd in Chattanooga probably expected it to rain goals: after all, they were watching the world champions against a team they’d walloped 8-0 on Sunday. But the rain took a literal turn as a long match delay due to thunderstorms resulted in an unusual – and occasionally sloppy – 7-2 win for USA over Costa Rica.



The result was hardly a surprise, but a long, 84-minute weather delay just 15 minutes after the start, plus sub-par playing conditions, gave few insights for coach Jill Ellis.

Perhaps most importantly, Alex Morgan, the USA player with perhaps the most star power but also a long history of injuries, returned for her first match since minor knee surgery a month ago. She scored in the 81st minute, redirecting an Amy Rodriguez cross for her first goal since the second round of the Women’s World Cup against Colombia.

Morgan at full health is a relief for the Americans, with Olympic qualifiers coming in February. She spent much of the lead-up to the World Cup sidelined with an ankle injury, not even training with the team in the tune-up matches before Canada. She returned in time for the tournament and then underwent surgery to remove a plica in her knee shortly after.

But for the others hoping to impress Ellis as she prepares to shrink her roster from 23 players to 18 for the Rio Olympics, the slippery and at times chaotic conditions of Wednesday’s match did not help. Heather O’Reilly, a player that saw precious few minutes in Canada, scored a goal in clear weather before the match delay and another after, continuing a tear she started on Sunday. Her four goals in these two games took her to 45 overall for the national team.

After a quiet match on Sunday, the World Cup’s Golden Shoe winner, Carli Lloyd, made a strong return to form. She started off the scoring in the seventh minute on a free kick from 30 yards out – her shot took a slight deflection and nicked the underside off the crossbar before bouncing in. She scored again after the weather delay, lunging into a corner kick with the outside of her foot.

Although the scoreline certainly did not flatter Costa Rica, their two goals against the Americans were their first ever in 12 meetings dating back to 2000 – and they were nice goals at that.

Mariana Benavides and Karla Villalobos caught the US back line pressing high in the 69th minute and punished them on the counter. Benavides cut and floated the ball to a sprinting Villalobos, who beat goalkeeper Hope Solo with a long-range chip. Cristin Granados scored Costa Rica’s first ever goal against the US just before the break, knocking in a simple slip pass from Carolina Venegas in the six-yard box.

Defender Lori Chalupny captained USA in honor of her 100th cap, which came before the Americans departed for Canada. Earlier this week, she announced her plans to retire from international soccer, joining Lauren Holiday and Shannon Boxx as World Cup stars that will retire before the team begins Olympic qualification.

ESPN’s Julie Foudy asked Ellis about comments from 35-year-old Wambach and 40-year-old Christie Rampone, who have said they are willing to try for spots on the Rio roster. Ellis hinted her choice will come down to short-term goals versus a long-term vision.

“It’s great that they want to do it,” Ellis said. “It’s just the thought process of, what’s our investment? Is it just the Olympics or is it beyond that?”

The US women now will get a month-long break to finish play in the National Women’s Soccer League, where all players except an unattached Wambach compete. Some players were pulled away from their clubs for the two victory lap matches against Costa Rica, but will not be called for international duty again until the NWSL semi-finals wrap up on September 13.

The timing of the victory tour’s first leg has been questioned by some analysts and former players for interrupting the NWSL season whilst not directly promoting the NWSL, which is owned and operated by US Soccer.

“The NWSL needs to benefit from the Women’s World Cup win and from the USA victory tour. It needs to be a priority,” said former midfielder Aly Wagner, who has more than 100 caps with the US team, just before the match. “The future success of the national team depends upon a competitive, successful, sustainable home league, the NWSL.”

She added: “[I] don’t understand the scheduling of the victory tour at all.”

The victory tour will resume next month without interrupting the NWSL playoffs and it will likely transform from a victory lap into Olympic preparations as the difficulty level increases. Australia will come stateside for a pair of friendlies in September, followed by Brazil for two matches in October.

USA: Lloyd 7, 20, O’Reilly 13, 23, Wambach 18, Alvarado og 31, Morgan 81



Costa Rica: Granados 41, Villalobos 69

Attendance: 20,535