‘Unpredictable’ Trinity Rodman sends World Cup message with brace for US against Wales
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Trinity Rodman (right) injected some energy and invention into the attack and provided the breakthrough in the 76th minute.
PHOTO: REUTTERS
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SAN FRANCISCO – Trinity Rodman turned up the tempo and scored twice as the United States beat Wales 2-0 in San Jose on Sunday in a pre-Women’s World Cup football friendly, making a timely push for a starting place.
Rodman, the daughter of former National Basketball Association star Dennis Rodman, came on as a substitute after the interval with the US struggling to break down a determined Welsh defence.
But the 21-year-old changed the course of the game, making a strong case for a starting spot when the US open their Group E campaign against Vietnam in Auckland on July 22.
US coach Vlatko Andonovski said Rodman had brought the team exactly what he wanted.
“Trinity came in and had a test to fulfil... to raise the pace and the tempo of the game a little bit and we saw that the tempo changed dramatically,” he said.
“Obviously, the goal that she scored, the second goal, I think that’s a world-class goal.”
Wales, ranked 30th in the world, have never qualified for a major tournament.
They had their backs against the wall for the opening half, with the home side enjoying 75 per cent possession but creating few openings.
Rodman, introduced in place of Alex Morgan, injected some energy and invention into the attack and provided the breakthrough in the 76th minute.
Sophia Smith, 22, got behind the Welsh defence down the left and then slipped the ball across into the path of Rodman, who slotted home the simple chance.
Rodman then made sure of the victory.
She won possession on the edge of the box with a physical challenge that was overlooked by the referee, before curling a superb shot into the top corner.
Trinity Rodman (far right) celebrating with teammates after she scored one of her two goals against the Wales.
PHOTO: AFP
Andonovski said Rodman gave him some interesting options in attack due to her and Smith’s ability to swop positions.
“It just makes it a little more unpredictable because of how they play, they play a lot by instinct as well,” he said.
“They understand the game and use their instincts. They have the freedom to roam from one to another position to impose themselves to the game.”
Rodman added: “It’s a younger roster this year, but the mix of the experience and the youth has been really good to learn from each other.
“Just as much as we can learn from them, they can also learn from us.”
Andonovski’s side, searching in Australia and New Zealand for an unprecedented third straight World Cup triumph, will also face Portugal and 2019 runners-up the Netherlands in Group E.
Co-hosts New Zealand broke their 10-game winless run on Monday with a confidence-boosting 2-0 friendly victory over Vietnam.
The Football Ferns shrugged off a miserable sequence of eight defeats and two draws dating back to last September by dominating the Vietnamese in Napier.
“We all stepped up and I’m proud of the girls. To get a clean sheet and a win was good,” said New Zealand captain and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ria Percival.
New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova added: “The first half was an incredible performance with a lot of good combination play... This result is very helpful with our confidence.” AFP, NYTIMES
