US Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis made a controversial decision to start Christen Press over co-captain Megan Rapinoe in Tuesday’s semifinal match against England, and it paid off almost immediately.
The US scored to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute on a beautiful header from — you guessed it — Press.
CHRISTEN PRESS!
No Rapinoe, no problem! The USWNT takes the early lead again and has now scored in the first 15 minutes in every single game this #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/Xqu3u0m56V
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2019
Fans were stunned that Press got the start over Rapinoe, and the move even had an impact in Las Vegas. However, Press is known for her speed and is one of the fastest players on the US team. She’s also solid defensively, so Ellis may have felt she was a better matchup for England. It appears the coach was right.
