US Women's National Soccer Team

There's no way anyone can dispute that the United States Women's National Team is the most elite side in the world. On Wednesday night in East Hartford, Connecticut, the 2015 World Cup champions had another opportunity to flex their muscles against Colombia and did exactly that in a 7-0 victory. 

It was a clinical display from the United States offense as six different players combined for the seven goals.

Colombia's downfall was sudden and severe as it conceded four of its goals in a 12-minute span in the first half. The U.S. had to wait a while before its parade of goals, though, as Colombia's defense was a tough bean to crack in the first 25 minutes. 

Tobin Heath still wowed fans early on, via Fox Soccer:  

We 👀 you, @TobinHeath! #USWNT #USAvCOL https://t.co/FEO8xGOIW2

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 6, 2016

The Colombia defense cracked and subsequently burst open when Crystal Dunn opened the scoring in the 27th minute after Carli Lloyd finally found a way to thread a ball through the Colombia back line, via Fox Soccer:

Carli Lloyd dishes to Crystal Dunn, who slots home for her 12th goal in her last 18 matches for the #USWNT. #USAvCOL https://t.co/5mSrD0Znjc

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 7, 2016

Allie Long, who provided a brace on the night, and Mallory Pugh added two more in the 32nd and 33rd minutes, respectively. Pugh, who is just 17 years old, was sent in by Lloyd once again with a flawless ball she was able to one-touch past goalkeeper Catalina Perez. 

She needed quick reflexes, and Pugh's poise was impressive, as Fox Soccer showed:

Teenager Mallory Pugh scores her second goal of the year to make it 3-0, #USWNT. #USAvCOL https://t.co/HiWqre3p4w

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 7, 2016

Soccer.com was trying to come to terms that Pugh is still a teenager:

Mallory Pugh. So good. So quickly. #USWNT

— SOCCER.COM (@soccerdotcom) April 7, 2016

Pugh and Lloyd reversed roles six minutes later for the Americans' next goal as a Pugh cross set up Lloyd, creating an easy chance for the captain, via Fox Soccer:

Mal Pugh turns provider, squaring for Carli Lloyd, who extends the #USWNT's lead to 4-0 over Colombia. #USAvCOL https://t.co/g9gjHXj9FC

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 7, 2016

Portland Thorns coach Mark Parsons was impressed with the team's fourth goal:

That is an unreal team goal from the #USWNT beautiful!

— Mark Parsons (@mparsons_1) April 7, 2016

But Soccer Gods' Kevin Brown saw the U.S. team as bullies of the outmatched Colombians:

Does all the lunch money that USWNT collects from opponents get included in those income statements?

— Kevin Brown (@FriendlyFAUX) April 7, 2016

Much like the first half, the U.S. had to wait before it assaulted the scoreboard once again as Heath scored the fifth in the 63rd, while Long grabbed her second of the night two minutes later as the rout continued. 

Christen Press, who has had some difficulties breaking into the U.S. starting lineup since the World Cup, was subbed in and got on the scorecard with a 74th-minute goal.

It might have been the nicest of the night too, as she delivered a curling effort with pace into the goal with impeccable accuracy, via Fox Soccer:

Christen Press opens up her hips and dispatches a curling effort to make it 7-0, #USWNT. #USAvCOL https://t.co/kgnqtmzuAG

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 7, 2016

This kind of dominant performance might make it difficult for coach Jill Ellis to choose her team for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this summer. With a complete team effort and with a number of contributors, Ellis has a lot of good performances to sift through. 

Luckily for her, the U.S. has one more game against Colombia on Sunday and another against Japan on June 2 to find a perfect starting 11 before the Olympics start up. 

Post-Game Reaction

With such a difficult decision ahead of her, Ellis has a timetable set for the selection of her Olympic roster via Four Four Two's Jeff Kassouf:

Jill Ellis says she hopes to have USWNT Olympic 18 set in early July, and that NWSL form will factor. Also waiting on status of Rapinoe.

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) April 7, 2016

After Long's two-goal performance, that decision is going to be even tougher as Ellis spoke with the media fater the game, via EqualizerSoccer.com:

She did well. She had a good week of training. We’re still obviously making sure we’re looking for depth. She made some good decisions, obviously got a couple of goals, and was impactful.

Regardless of who Ellis chooses, the United States will be one of the favorites heading into Rio for the Olympics. A convincing win over Colombia, albeit a weak side, proves as a reminder to the world that the United States can come out on any given night and light up the scoreboard.

Rising United States women's national soccer team star Crystal Dunn—as well as Julie Johnston—is excited for her squad's upcoming games against Colombia as it prepares for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

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The United States women's national soccer team filed a wage-discrimination action against the U.S. Soccer Federation on Thursday in a push for equal pay.  

According to ESPN.com, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn attached their names to the suit after a 2015 financial report found that U.S. women's players made close to four times less than U.S. men's players despite having generated almost $20 million more in revenue last year.

Sauerbrunn revealed on Twitter that the decision to file the suit was made by the entire team:

Five players signed the complaint, but the decision to file was whole-heartedly supported by the entire team. #equalplayequalpay #thegals

— Becky Sauerbrunn (@beckysauerbrunn) March 31, 2016

The US Soccer Federation released an official response, tweeted by Jeff Carlisle of ESPN:

US Soccer statement re: today's developments related to #uswnt. pic.twitter.com/pqk1GinTCB

— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) March 31, 2016

Solo was among those who commented on the USWNT's decision to take legal action on NBC's Today on Thursday, per ESPN.com:

I've been on this team for a decade and a half, and I've been through numerous CBA negotiations, and honestly, not much has changed. We continue to be told we should be grateful just to have the opportunity to play professional soccer, to get paid for doing it.

In this day and age, it's about equality. It's about equal rights. It's about equal pay. We're pushing for that. We believe now the time is right because we believe it's our responsibility for women's sports and specifically for women's soccer to do whatever it takes to push for equal pay and equal rights. And to be treated with respect.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton weighed in on the lawsuit:

Wouldn’t want to face these women on the field or in the courtroom. Every woman deserves equal pay. https://t.co/RBuAFtgpDS

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 31, 2016

Winston & Strawn co-chairman Jeffrey Kessler—who is representing the USWNT—suggested the case is a difficult one, per a tweet from Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl:

USWNT lawyer emphasizes timing of wage discrimination action comes after US Soccer said women would not get equal pay to men in a new CBA.

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) March 31, 2016

He was also frank in his assessment of the USSF and where it stands in relation to similar cases in the past, per Andrew Das of the New York Times:

Kessler on USWNT filing: 'This is the strongest case of discrimination against women athletes in violation of law that I have ever seen.'

— Andrew Das (@AndrewDasNYT) March 31, 2016

US Soccer lawyer Russell Sauer responded to the news later on Thursday, via Wahl: "USSF never gave US women's players any indication that we would not pay them equally to US men's players."

USSF President Sunil Gulati also responded, via Wahl: "Revenue generation 'absolutely part of the equation' for player pay."

As seen in this graphic, courtesy of NWSL and MLS analyst Danny Page, the numbers show that the United States women's team has been far more profitable than the men's of late:

#USWNT & #USMNT game revenues USSF starting to see them as equals in budget. But not equal with the paycheck? 樂 pic.twitter.com/UCyhMfBCG7

— Danny Page (@DannyPage) March 31, 2016

Everton goalkeeper and USMNT international Tim Howard, who is joining the Colorado Rapids in the summer, supported the women's call for equal pay, per SportsCenter (via Joe Prince-Wright of NBC Sports):

We support the fact that the women should fight for their rights and fight what they think is just compensation. We, on the men’s side, have been fighting that battle for a long, long time and we certainly know what it feels like. We felt underpaid for a long time and we had to negotiate our way to a settlement.

Former USA international striker Landon Donovan questioned the argument:

Both #USMNT and #USWNT should be paid commensurate w/ the revenues they produce, not based upon what the other makes https://t.co/Di7yUzf4Te

— Landon Donovan (@landondonovan) March 31, 2016

The USWNT is the most dominant squad in women's soccer and is coming off a FIFA World Cup win in 2015.

While the men's team managed to make it out of the group stage at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it continues to struggle when it comes to reaching the upper echelon on the international stage.

Team USA has won gold in women's soccer at each of the past three Olympic Games and is likely to make it four in a row this summer in Rio de Janeiro.

It is unclear at this point if the USWNT's decision to take action against the USSF puts its participation in any type of jeopardy, but it could have a massive platform to further its cause if it is still playing under the current conditions during the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

The United States Women's National Team needed a win Wednesday to capture a title at the inaugural SheBelieves Cup, and it delivered just that as the reigning world champions secured a 2-1 triumph over Germany at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, behind a pair of late first-half strikes.     

Had things ended in a tie, Germany would have captured the SheBelieves title by virtue of its advantage in goals scored since both sides were tied in goal differential entering the evening.      

The United States is now 8-0-5 against Germany dating back to 2003, according to the national team's official website.   

Germany pressed forward early as it tried to apply pressure on the United States defense, but the Red, White and Blue were able to counterattack with relative ease. 

Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd both had solid shots on net over the game's first 10 minutes as the U.S. pushed past the German defense, but neither attempt resulted in tallies on the scoreboard, as Yahoo Sports' Graham Watson noted: 

https://twitter.com/Yahoo_Graham/status/707732351791464449

Christen Press also found some success playing up the right side of the field as she repeatedly worked into the penalty area and carved out space to operate, but her patient strategy didn't exactly pay off throughout the first 20 minutes, per Watson: 

https://twitter.com/Yahoo_Graham/status/707733607943577600

But just as the U.S. started to gain momentum in the attacking third, Germany struck back with a blistering shot from outside the box courtesy of forward Anja Mittag, who curled one on the ground around the outstretched arm of American goalkeeper Hope Solo. 

However, Germany's lead didn't last long. Morgan collected a deep pass from Meghan Klingenberg, calmly flicked it over her defender and slammed home a volley to knot things at 1-1 in the 37th minute following a tremendous show of skill. 

Morgan's goal evidently facilitated a boost in confidence, as the U.S. struck back just four minutes later to take a 2-1 lead after Samantha Mewis' shot took a deflection and slipped past German 'keeper Almuth Schult, who was caught off balance. 

Germany had to amp up its attacking pressure even more as it entered the second half facing a deficit, and the U.S. had no problem making runs that produced goalscoring opportunities. 

And while conversions weren't produced as a result of repeated runs into the box, the fact that the Americans were able to dictate pace and control possession allowed them to stave off a talented German side down the stretch. 

While it was impressive enough that the U.S. captured a SheBelieves title with top-notch countries such as Germany, England and France all vying for top honors, a win over the second-ranked squad in the world is yet another confidence-booster for a USWNT squad looking to make history. 

With the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro fast approaching, the U.S. is in position to become the first country in history to win a World Cup title and Olympic gold medal in back-to-back years, per ESPN.com's Graham Hays. 

Such an accomplishment would have sounded a tad optimistic five years ago after the U.S. fell short at the 2011 World Cup, but the sky seems to be the limit for this iteration of the Red, White and Blue.  

Postgame Reaction

"I think the intensity tonight was fantastic," U.S. coach Jill Ellis said, per the Sun Sentinel's Gary Curreri. "This tournament was essential for us to continue to grow and I saw a lot of players tonight, which was fantastic."

Ellis also praised Morgan, who nabbed SheBelieves Cup Golden Boot (top scorer) and Golden Ball (MVP) honors. 

"We started to see it in January," Ellis said, pe Curreri. "She's fit and healthy. She has a great mentality. A goal scorer wants to score goals and I thought she was dynamic and played a very complete game."

The United States' and Germany's women's national teams battle it out in the final group match of the 2016 SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday, with the Europeans needing only a draw at the FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, to win the tournament.

Both teams, considered the elite nations in the women's game, have collected wins in their fixtures with France and England, but the Germans edge the standings on goals scored and level on points and goal difference. 

The United States need to win in Boca Raton to claim the title to add to their recent World Cup crown.

England and France also complete their tournaments at the FAU Stadium, as they face off before the United States and Germany game, with their match scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.

Here's how you can catch the conclusion of the inaugural SheBelieves Cup:

Date: Wednesday, March 9

Time: 7.45 p.m. ET/ 2.45 p.m. GMT

Venue: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida

Live Stream: Watch ESPN (U.S.)

TV Info: ESPN 3

Match Preview 

The United States went into the World Cup in Canada as the dark horse of the competition, but they played like favourites, baring the responsibility of champions-in-waiting better than any other side.

The home SheBelieves Cup was always going to test their mettle with three of the world's greatest football nations on their doorstep. 

The Carli Lloyd-led team edged past England in their opening match, earning a 1-0 win after Crystal Dunn's 72nd-minute goal, and repeated the feat in spectacular fashion against a skillful and rapid France side, as Alex Morgan slotted away in injury time at the end of the game.

Both matches were expectantly tight, but the United States have proved they have an extra gear when previously they might have faltered.

Germany sit in second spot behind the USWNT in the FIFA World Rankings and are not the team they once were, when they appeared almost impervious to defeat.

However, at the SheBelieves Cup, they have shown their standards are still very high, beating France 1-0, and scoring twice in the final 14 minutes when trailing 1-0 to the English. 

The story of the tournament has been the rise of 17-year-old American wonderkid Mallory Pugh and the resurgence of Morgan after an injury-hit World Cup. The forward struggled with a knee injury in the buildup to the competition last year and never produced her vintage consistency in Canada, despite collecting a winners' medal.

However, Morgan is now back and firing, and looking stronger and fitter than ever. She has been supplemented by Pugh, who provided the last-gasp assist against France, and the pair have given the United States a fresh-looking forward line.

US Soccer shared the injury-time play that won the hosts the match:

Goalkeeper Hope Solo has also been at her best in the competition and repeatedly saved her side against a barrage of French goal attempts. 

Superstar captain Lloyd has lost a modicum of her impact since an incredible 2015, and Germany will be hoping she doesn't recapture her form on Wednesday.

German attacking pair Mandy Islacker and Dzsenifer Marozsan are not playing at their best, leaving coach Silvia Neid a selection quandary ahead of the final game.

Neid had to rely on her vastly experienced defender Babett Peter to rescue the victory against England from the penalty spot, and she will be debating how she is going to find the goals to beat the host nation.

As Pugh quickly develops into one of the United States' new superstars, it is unfathomable to think Germany will pick up their form and beat the world champions in their own backyard.

The Europeans are in a transitional phase after a hugely disappointing World Cup, in which they didn't make the final and placed fourth, and they do not look in the correct shape to beat the Americans.

However, they could turn the game into a war of attrition and grind out the draw, which would see them collect the first-ever SheBelieves Cup.

It would be scant consolation for their disappointments of the past 12 months but would serve as a building block ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio.

The United States women's national team face France on Sunday as they look to extend their winning start to the 2016 SheBelieves Cup in Nashville.

The tournament hosts travel to Tennessee on the back of a 1-0 win over England and currently head the table standings alongside Germany, who defeated Les Bleus in their opener, also by a 1-0 scoreline.

Manager Jill Ellis' side have won their last seven matches in all competitions and are in a confident stride as they head toward the Rio 2016 Olympics, but world No. 3 France will be no easy obstacle in front of a home crowd.

Read on for all the essential viewing information ahead of Sunday's encounter, complete with a rundown of the biggest headlines prior to the United States' next test.

Date: Sunday, March 6

Time: 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET

Venue: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Live Stream: Watch ESPN (U.S.)

TV Info: ESPN 3

Time	Fixture
8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET	United States vs. France
10:30 p.m. GMT/5:30 p.m. ET	Germany vs. England

Spotless Stars and Stripes Facing Tough Test

Despite scoring an impressive total of 29 goals during their recent winning run, it's the Stars and Stripes' defence that's provided the backbone for that streak, having failed to concede a goal in 2016 thus far.

Ellis' team haven't leaked a goal in more than 630 minutes of play, but the SheBelieves Cup has gathered together some of the best outfits in the world. The head coach is looking forward to the test, though, and told U.S. Soccer of her excitement prior to the tournament getting underway:

When I took this job, one of my main objectives was to play the best teams in the world during our preparation periods and you can’t ask for better matches. This is another sign of U.S. Soccer’s dedication to the women’s game to organize a tournament like this, which will bring some of the world’s best teams and players to the USA.

To get the chance to play these great teams on home soil is a treat for our fans and extremely valuable in the further evolution of our team. These are the kinds of games where you get tested all over the field and can really evaluate players and learn a lot about ourselves.

Before falling to Germany on Thursday evening, France were enjoying an impressive streak of their own and had failed to concede in their previous four games. In fact, that defeat was the first game since June 2015 in which they had failed to score.

The United States tend to thrive on their substantial talent pool, and after Crystal Dunn came off the bench to score the winner against England, American Soccer Now's John D. Halloran praised Ellis' tactical choices:

Credit where credit due: Thought it was genius of Jill Ellis to bring on Crystal Dunn when she did to run at tired legs. #USWNT

— John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) March 4, 2016

The substitutes will undoubtedly play a major hand against the French this Sunday, and it says a lot of Les Bleus that Germany, one of the best attacking teams in the world, could net just the one goal.

The USWNT will chase the result first and goals second, of course, as has been the tactic of choice in recent times, as they look to keep up the pressure at the top of the standings and prolong their unsullied defensive run.

Les Bleus Scrapping for Vengeance

Many players in this French squad will fondly remember beating the United States 2-0 in February 2015, but of the two meetings between these sides last year, it was the Americans who clinched the more important win.

Goals from Julie Johnston and Christen Press guided the USA to a 2-0 win of their own in the final of the 2015 Algarve Cup, which proved to be a valuable warm-up prior to their Women's World Cup triumph months later.

Press' goal came thanks to a piece of dribbling magic on that occasion, but Johnston's opener came as a result of France's set-piece weakness, one which Germany exploited again on Thursday, per Our Game Magazine:

Germany 1 – 0 France. Leonie Maier with the game-winner for Germany in the first game of the SheBelieves Cup. pic.twitter.com/ItHnqwAYu7

— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) March 3, 2016

If the motivation to notch a first win of the tournament wasn't sufficient enough, the urge to clinch revenge for that Algarve Cup loss will add another dimension for France's players in their bid to cause an upset.

Coach Philippe Bergeroo's side have the talent to do so with the likes of Eugenie Le Sommer and Marie-Laure Delie leading the attack, but their resolve will be challenged in the wake of their German defeat.

The United States women's national team earned a 1-0 victory Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, in its first match of the 2016 SheBelieves Cup.

Sixty-seventh-minute substitute Crystal Dunn scored the lone goal in the 72nd minute of the game to hand the Americans all three points. Dunn turned England defender Steph Houghton on the edge of the 18-yard box and cut inside on goal. From there, the Washington Spirit forward fired a right-footed shot into the top corner, via Fox Soccer:

"Well DUNN by Crystal!" Fantastic opening goal for the #USWNT in the #SheBelieves Cup. #USAvENG https://t.co/kmB1JRI3jj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2016

National team star Megan Rapinoe couldn't help but admire the impressive placement:

https://twitter.com/mPinoe/status/705577128155217920

Dunn's goal was one of the few highlights of a tedious affair.

This was the United States' first match since its 2-0 win over Canada in the CONCACAF Olympic qualification final Feb. 21. According to USSoccer.com, head coach Jill Ellis opted for almost the same lineup that picked up that victory. Emily Sonnett replaced Becky Sauerbrunn at center back, which was the lone change.

Continuity tends to breed fluidity on the pitch, but that wasn't the case for the U.S. as England stymied the team at every opportunity. The Three Lionesses applied constant pressure on the ball, and their level of physicality was unique in that few teams can match the United States in that regard.

The match bogged down in midfield as the two teams constantly exchanged possession. The ball rarely stayed in the final third. The Guardian's Caitlin Murray shared the first-half stats, which illustrated the physical nature of the half and both teams' constant struggles in attack:

https://twitter.com/caitlinmurr/status/705568822875455488

England argued it deserved a penalty kick in the first half after Sauerbrunn appeared to have handled the ball in the box. BBC Sport broke down the play frame by frame, and the pictures look inconclusive:

Loud calls for a penalty by @england but nothing is given by the referee - remains 0-0.https://t.co/9jdrr5Hbp7 pic.twitter.com/EobuJ3G3Mx

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 4, 2016

Sauerbrunn's hand might have hit the ball, but she may not have met the threshold of what is a deliberate handball. Referee Tatiana Guzman waved play on.

The United States started to pick up its play in the second half, especially after Dunn and Christen Press entered the game. Ben Jata of Upper 90 Soccer believes both players should factor more heavily into the national team, though he's not sure how Ellis will accommodate all of her attacking talent:

For me, Lloyd, Press, Dunn & Pugh are all starters. Don't care how it gets done, just figure it out. #USWNT

— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) March 4, 2016

In addition to Dunn, 17-year-old Mallory Pugh was a bright spot for the U.S. She showed pace and creativity on the ball, offering flashes of her massive potential. Pugh slowed down as the game went on, which wasn't surprising, given her age.

Top Drawer Soccer's Travis Clark feels sorry for the players who are going to encounter Pugh at the collegiate level:

Mallory Pugh is going to dominate at UCLA this fall. That will be fun.

— Travis Clark (@travismclark) March 4, 2016

While Thursday's match didn't offer much in the way of excitement, that wasn't the point for Ellis. This time is about the coach finding her preferred lineup and tactical plan ahead of the 2016 Olympics and the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

As Ellis is experimenting with her side, the United States is bound to experience some growing pains on the pitch, all of which should pay off down the line.

The U.S. will head to Nashville, Tennessee, to face off with France on Sunday in its next match of the tournament, and its final clash will be a rematch of the 2015 World Cup semifinal against Germany on March 9.

England won't be able to dwell on the result for too long since it will face the Germans, who are likely still smarting after losing to the Three Lionesses in the third-place match at the World Cup, on Sunday.

Post-Match Reaction

"England's [No. 5] in the world, bronze medalist in the World Cup, so you can't take that away," said Ellis after the match, per Graham Watson of FC Yahoo. "This is exactly what we need in these tight games. And they're a very physical team. And I think tonight we took a few knocks but we'll come through it."

For Dunn, the key to the win was being patient and waiting for just the right opportunity.

"We knew coming in that they're a hard-working team and for us it was about riding the waves," she said, per Murray. "We had really great moments in the game where they were a little bit tired and we were pinging the ball around. It was only a matter of time before we were going to get a chance."

England coach Mark Sampson wasn't entirely discouraged in defeat.

"We're satisfied with the performance, but disappointed with the result," he said. "It took an incredible goal from a US substitute with incredible ability to cost us this game. So we're disappointed because we really believed we could come in and win."

After a scoreless first half, Lindsey Horan's header in the 53rd minute was all the U.S. Women's National Team needed against Canada, winning the CONCACAF Women's Championship for the fourth straight time, 2-0, in Houston on Sunday afternoon.

Horan's goal came off a cross from Becky Sauerbrunn, who was honored by U.S. Women's Soccer before the match for playing in her 100th cap against the Canadians:

Huge congrats to #USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn. 100 games reppin' the red, white & blue. #TheBroon pic.twitter.com/pjonab3A7L

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 21, 2016

That assist from Sauerbrunn also made her the 11th different player from the U.S. team to record an assist during this year's tournament, per CONCACAF.

Tobin Heath scored once more in the second half to improve the United States' all-time record against Canada to 47-3-6, per USSoccer.com.

The United States already clinched a berth in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with its 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, as did Canada with its 3-1 win over Costa Rica. This meeting between the two countries was just to determine the winners of CONCACAF, and the U.S. women proved to be the best team on Sunday.  

Scoring chances for both sides were at a minimum in the early going of the match. Both teams played stellar defense, most notably Canada. The Canadians did a great job containing the United States, not allowing the Americans to cross the midfield line, as U.S. Women's Soccer noted:

Pretty even early on as both teams settle into the game. No quality chances for either side. USA 0, CAN 0 9'

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 21, 2016

Canada was also not at full strength coming into this match. Captain Christine Sinclair (calf) and goalkeeper Erin McLeod (knee) were ailing heading into this CONCACAF final, per Neil Davidson of CBC Sports. 

Despite its best goalscorer and veteran goalkeeper not in top form, Canada put on a strong display in the first half, per Jeff Kassouf of NBC Sports:

Canada has USWNT on their heels in opening five minutes, pressing high and swarming. Good start for a Canada team which is hardly 100%.

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) February 21, 2016

The United States finally found some scoring chances at the 22-minute mark. Meghan Klingenberg delivered a terrific cross toward Carli Lloyd, but the header from the sixth-best scorer in U.S. women's soccer history went wide of the net.

While continuing to dominate possession in the first half, the United States continued to put pressure on Canada at the net but failed to score. At the 39-minute mark, the U.S. received a corner kick. Lloyd went for the ball but was taken down by Canada's Melissa Tancredi, and the official called the foul on Lloyd.

It was a glimpse of how physical and intense of a game this was for two teams that already clinched their spots in the Olympics, per Kassouf:

Canada has USWNT on their heels in opening five minutes, pressing high and swarming. Good start for a Canada team which is hardly 100%.

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) February 21, 2016

Just under 10 minutes after Horan's second career goal, Heath found the back of the net for this goal to give the United States the two-goal lead, per CONCACAF:

Goal USA - No. 17 Tobin HEATH @TobinHeath | @CanadaSoccerEN @ussoccer_wnt #CWOQ2016 https://t.co/2RInEnebYe

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 21, 2016

Once the United States put goals on the board, it relied on defense to keep Canada away from the net. Canada recorded only one shot and possessed the ball for only 39 percent of the match. The U.S. had seven shots; five of them were off target, while the other two were the goals that resulted in the win.

The U.S. women have to be heading into Rio as the favorites to win gold for the second Olympics in a row. After a strong performance throughout in the World Cup, along with their performance in CONCACAF, it's clear the depth of talent goes beyond Hope Solo, Alex Morgan and Lloyd, thanks to Heath's and Horan's aid with the goalscoring.

Canada will head into Rio as a sleeper. The Canadians were moments away from upsetting the United States four years ago in the Olympics until Abby Wambach and Morgan won the match in overtime. But with a healthy Sinclair, Canada will have as strong of a chance as the United States to make a run at the gold.

Postmatch Reaction

U.S. men's soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann was one of the notable figures to congratulate the women on a well-played CONCACAF tournament, which included no goals allowed during the entire event:

Congrats to our #USWNT on winning another championship. On a roll !! #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/RsYk6MN3aw

— J_Klinsmann (@J_Klinsmann) February 22, 2016

When talking about stars on the U.S. team, Lloyd feels Heath needs some praise for what she brings to the group, per Caitlin Murray of the Guardian:

https://twitter.com/caitlinmurr/status/701557458309808128

Although it wasn't the outcome the Canadians expected, center back Shelina Zadorsky felt playing against the best of the best was "a good experience," though she would have liked to see her team improve upon its silver medal.

“We came here to win the CONCACAF final, so of course it’s disappointing,” said Zadorsky, per CanadaSoccer.com. “We are going to learn from it. It’s a good experience playing the world's No. 1 team, so we are going to move up from here.”

The USA and Canada women's soccer teams may both have qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but the two rivals will undoubtedly be looking to come out on top in what promises to be an exciting encounter in Houston on Sunday.

The pair will contest the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying final ostensibly for pride, as by reaching this stage both are already assured a place in Rio.

Canada were the first to book their place as they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over Costa Rica on Friday, while the United States thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 thanks to an Alex Morgan hat-trick.

Here are the viewing details you need to catch the showdown, and read on for a closer look at how both sides are shaping up:

Date: Sunday, February 21

Time: 5 p.m. ET

TV Info: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Preview

The U.S. were rampant against Trinidad as Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd got on the scoresheet amid Morgan's incredible third career hat-trick. Here are the highlights from their dominant win, per CONCACAF:

USA 5 - 0 TRI Highlights | @ussoccer_wnt @TTFootballAssoc #CWOQ2016 https://t.co/mDjaTFQasH

— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) February 20, 2016

Morgan's trio of strikes represented an impressive milestone for the forward, per SportsCenter:

Alex Morgan becomes just the 9th American to reach 60 international goals after hat trick vs Trinidad and Tobago. pic.twitter.com/HIazbEZBiP

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 20, 2016

NBC's Jeff Kassouf hailed the 26-year-old's importance to the team:

Big game and big tournament for Alex Morgan. Hat trick tonight and firing on all cylinders with confidence. That's HUGE for USWNT.

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) February 20, 2016

Indeed, following the retirement of the legendary Abby Wambach, the primary goalscoring responsibility for the team rests on Morgan's shoulders, so if she can carry her form into the Olympics the USA will stand a strong chance of winning their fourth consecutive gold medal.

What will also provide great encouragement is the emergence of 17-year-old Mallory Pugh, who made her fifth appearance for the national side.

Pugh started the semi-final with Trinidad and provided the assist for Heath's goal with a low cross from the left. Sports reporter Caitlin Murray noted her impressive performance against Trinidad, while Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl highlighted her as one to watch in Rio:

Olympic story to watch as we head toward Brazil: 17-year-old Mallory Pugh now starting must-win games for the US women's national team.

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) February 20, 2016

https://twitter.com/caitlinmurr/status/700861047318577153

With the likes of Pugh and Morgan Brian adding a youthful and energetic verve to the side, Canada will have a difficult time containing their opponents on Sunday.

Per Yahoo's Graham Watson, World Cup hero Carli Lloyd—whose goal was her 24th in 18 games—is anticipating an exciting clash: "I think it’s going to be a great game. I think you’ll see a lot of transition. I think both teams are going to go at one another, so it should be really good. We’ve got to be ready to play and take this one home."

Canada are also in good form having scored 24 goals in their last four outings, including the 3-1 win over Costa Rica. Christine Sinclair's second goal was a particular highlight:

CAN 3 - 1 CRC Highlights | @CanadaSoccerEN @Fedefutbol_CR #CWOQ2016 https://t.co/mT3WDrDrWG

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 20, 2016

The 32-year-old is steadily closing in on Wambach's international scoring record, per StatsCentre:

Christine Sinclair scored a pair for Canada, continues a pursuit to catch Abby Wambach's international goals record pic.twitter.com/ReHvJ1A5a7

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 20, 2016

According to Fox Sports' Laura Vecsey, Canada coach John Herdman believes his side is ready to take the game to their rivals:

It’s what these girls were really looking forward to coming in here. This group is ready and hungry to take on the U.S. We’re going to give them one hell of a fight as we always do and they’re looking forward to. All Canadians look forward to it. We’re ready for the fight.

With both teams playing well and full of confidence, the two sides should produce an exciting encounter with goals galore.

In the last Olympics, the pair played out one of the best matches in recent memory, with the Americans emerging on top 4-3 in a semi-final clash. Though this match may not matter in terms of qualification, it's a safe bet both teams will be desperate to win.

The United States women's national soccer team can book a spot at the summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympics with a win over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.

The Houston, Texas, clash is the second semi-final of this year's CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, with the finalists both being awarded a berth at the 2016 Olympics.

Team USA are the heavy favorites to advance, and the side go into the match at BBVA Compass Stadium on the back of a 10-0 group-stage victory over Puerto Rico.

Read on for a full preview of the crucial encounter, as well as full scheduling, television and live streaming information.

Date: Friday, Feb 19

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET/1:30 a.m. GMT

TV Info: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBC Live Extra

Preview 

Team USA have been gold medallists at each of the last three Olympics and, given their status as World Cup winners and the No. 1 ranked team on the planet, they are strongly fancied to repeat the trick in Brazil.

However, they have not even qualified yet, and head coach Jill Ellis will no doubt be telling her team that Friday's clash with Trinidad and Tobago is currently the only one that matters.

The U.S. team could hardly have had a better build-up to the semi-final; their group stage included a 1-0 win over Mexico and a 5-0 defeat of Costa Rica before the thrashing of Puerto Rico—highlights of which can be seen below:

Crystal Dunn netted five in the final group match, while 17-year-old Mallory Pugh also put in an eye-catching performance that pointed to a healthy future for the USWNT.

Ellis could afford to rest a number of regular starters for the Puerto Rico clash, per NBC Sports' Jeff Kassouf, and the second-string's impressive performance has given her an enviable selection headache ahead of the Trinidad clash:

Jill Ellis rotating players v. Puerto Rico. Naeher, Hinkle, Mewis, McCaffrey, Press, Pugh, O'Hara all starting. Krieger at CB. #USWNT

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) February 16, 2016

Given the need for victory, though, Ellis will surely field as strong a team as possible, with the likes of forward Alex Morgan and goalkeeper Hope Solo likely to return to the starting XI.

Trinidad and Tobago also come into the match in buoyant mood having beaten Guyana 5-1 to qualify for the semi-final.

They also beat Guatemala 2-1 in the group stage but were hammered 6-0 by Canada—an indication the USWNT are heavy favorites to advance to the final and claim an Olympic spot.

The last time the two sides met was in a friendly back in December when Christen Press netted a hat-trick in a 6-0 win for the U.S.

Prior to that, Trinidad and Tobago gave a much better account of themselves in a World Cup qualifier in 2014, but they were still downed by an Abby Wambach goal.

Anything other than a U.S. victory on Friday would be a huge upset, but it seems highly unlikely given the quality Ellis' side have shown of late.

Despite notable injuries to Christie Rampone and Megan Rapinoe, along with the absence of Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux because of pregnancy, the USWNT have continued to prove they are the best team in the world.

A place at the Olympics is the aim for the U.S.—and a final spot at the Qualifying Championship against either Canada or Costa Rica. Barring a complete disaster, they should confirm their spot on Friday.