US Women’s National Team Close Out Rough 2016 With 5-0 Win Over Romania

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has had a tumultuous year: Hope Solo was suspended after the Rio Olympics,– which the team crashed early out of in the quarterfinals– lawsuits were filed over the expiring collective bargaining agreement, and Megan Rapinoe mirrored Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest by taking a knee.

US Women’s National Team Close Out Rough 2016 With 5-0 Win Over Romania

In their final match of 2016 in Carson, California on Sunday night, however, the USWNT bounced back to rout Romania 5-0.

Crystal Dunn, Christen Press, Morgan Brian and Samantha Mewis all scored for the U.S., and an own goal from Romania off Dunn’s cross opened the scoring for the Americans in the 20th minute.

Teodora Meluta chested Dunn’s cross into the net to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.

The U.S. fired 31 shots against Romania, whom they also defeated 8-1 in a friendly match on Thursday night, and did not allow a shot, but U.S. coach Jill Ellis was not content with her team’s wastefulness.

“I think we left a lot to be said,” Ellis said.

The same could be stated of a year during which the Americans went 22-0-3 in regulation play, scoring 92 goals and allowing 10, but failed to defend their Olympic medal after falling to Sweden on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals in August. Solo was suspended by U.S. Soccer for calling the Swedish women cowards for not playing more aggressively on offense. Nevertheless, the Americans ended 2016 on a mostly-positive note.

“I think we all reacted well to it and 2017 is going to be an intense year,” Dunn said.

After Meulta’s own goal, Dunn netted her 14th goal this year in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, racing past two defenders to take a pass from Press and fire a shot between Roxana Oprea’s legs.

Press made it 3-0 in the 55th minute, connecting with Tobin Heath on a give-and-go to score for the fourth straight game. Press had a hat trick in Thursday’s game in San Jose.

Brian scored on a penalty kick in the 88th minute and Mewis added a goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

Rapinoe wasn’t included on the U.S. roster for the second consecutive match.

Ellis is planning to hold camps for the national team and the Under-23s in January, following the assumption that they will be conducted under the current contractual structure. However, Ellis did not know the status of negotiations between players and U.S. Soccer.

“I don’t get involved in that,” Ellis said. “That’s between them and lawyers and all that good stuff.”

SAN JOSE, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Alex Morgan #13 of United States of America scores a goal against Romania at Avaya Stadium on November 10, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena