U.S. women begin World Cup victory tour with 8-0 rout of Costa Rica

The United States women made quick work of Costa Rica, 8-0, in their first friendly since winning the World Cup in July. In front of a raucous crowd of 44,028 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, the team’s Victory Tour began in a truly celebratory atmosphere.
U.S. women begin World Cup victory tour with 8-0 rout of Costa Rica
U.S. women begin World Cup victory tour with 8-0 rout of Costa Rica /

The United States women made quick work of Costa Rica, 8-0, in their first friendly since winning the World Cup in July. In front of a raucous crowd of 44,028 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, the team’s Victory Tour began in a truly celebratory atmosphere.

It didn’t take long for Heather O’Reilly to start the party, as the winger picked off a ball in Costa Rica’s defensive third and dribbled straight in to score in the fourth minute. Christen Press added a second on a shot from just inside the penalty area in the 29th minute, Julie Johnston scored her fourth U.S. goal in the 36th and Press tapped in again in the 45th to cap the first-half scoring.

The U.S. didn’t slow down in the second despite the plethora of substitutions typical of international friendlies. Additional goals by hometown hero Meghan Klingenberg, Whitney Engen, a second from O’Reilly and Press’ third sealed the final result.

Here are three thoughts on the U.S. women’s return to action after the World Cup:

It’s a celebration

Everything, from the in-stadium experience to the coverage on Fox, was geared toward celebrating the World Cup victory in this first match of the tour. The match was set up for a U.S. win from the start, playing against a nation the Americans have beaten every time they’ve played.

The U.S. Women's National Team Parade in NYC

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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Benjamin Norman for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Anthony Causi for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated
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Yana Paskova for Sports Illustrated

Even the setting, a pristine grass field in a big but fill-able stadium, pointed to a celebration. The result and performance matched it, with the Americans cruising to a win without ever straining themselves too much, and plenty of the players on hand saw the field.

The eight matches that follow the two against Costa Rica probably won’t be like this. The novelty of winning a trophy, even though it’s the World Cup, will eventually wear off as the team gears up for Olympic qualifying and the players, staff and fans work toward the next conquest.

It’s also an internal competition

As Australia and Brazil venture stateside for matches in September and October, the focus will shift. These games, along with whatever head coach Jill Ellis schedules in December and January, serve as build-up to Olympic qualifiers in February and the eventual tough decisions it will take to whittle the squad down to 18 players for the tournament in Brazil.

With new contract in tow, Jill Ellis looks forward as USWNT manager

Because of the reduced roster size, not all of the 23 players who won the World Cup will be able to travel.

Even taking away those retiring at the end of the year, competition will be fierce beyond the established group of 15 or 16 likely to be in the lineup rotation. Players such as O’Reilly, Engen, Kelley O’Hara, Lori Chalupny and Alyssa Naeher will be looking for any opportunity to impress Ellis in these 10 matches.

O’Reilly’s two goals in a rare start should help her cause in particular. Still, every player will want to seize each opportunity she is given, whether it’s in a celebratory exhibition or in training between matches, to give herself the chance to travel to Rio next summer.

Klingenberg rewarded for consistency with hometown goal

Before Sunday, the only U.S. women’s match in Pittsburgh drew just 6,386 spectators in the same cavernous stadium as the game against Costa Rica. The game against Costa Rica was the exact opposite, with fans turning up in droves, especially looking forward to watching Klingenberg, the team’s Pittsburgh native.

WATCH: Klingenberg celebrates goal with 'Terrible Towel'

Goals from fullbacks are fairly rare, but Klingenberg has a way of making hers memorable. After a long-distance rocket for her first international goal in World Cup qualifying, her third on Sunday will forever be notable for her next steps: running to the bench to wave the Pittsburgh Steelers’ trademark Terrible Towel in celebration.

It was the highlight of the game and personified the point of the exhibition, giving Klingenberg a just reward for her quiet consistency throughout the World Cup and earlier. After being named an alternate on the 2012 Olympic roster, she’s one who shouldn’t have to worry about her place in Rio.

GALLERY: Outtakes from USWNT's SI Cover shoot

SI's U.S. Women's World Cup title cover shoot - The Outtakes

Megan Rapinoe

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Megan Rapinoe

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Kelley O'Hara

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Abby Wambach

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Alex Morgan

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Alex Morgan

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Meghan Klingenberg

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Ali Krieger

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Tobin Heath

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Alyssa Naeher

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Sydney Leroux

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Christie Rampone

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Christie Rampone

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Heather O'Reilly

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Hope Solo

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Ashlyn Harris

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Lori Chalupny

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Whitney Engen

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Morgan Brian

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Julie Johnston

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Christen Press

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Amy Rodriguez

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Simon Bruty for Sports Illustrated

Published
Liviu Bird
LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).