The U.S. women’s national soccer team will depart for the Paris Olympics this week with a new coach, fresh talent, a nine-game unbeaten streak and a renewed drive to play for a title after glum performances at recent major tournaments.
But the Americans will also arrive in Marseille, France, ahead of their July 25 opener against Zambia without an element vital to their gold-medal cause: a knack for scoring goals.
Tuesday’s send-off match at Audi Field against Costa Rica was one-sided by every measure, except on the scoreboard. After squandering countless opportunities, the Americans settled for a 0-0 draw against an opponent they had beaten in all 17 previous meetings by a 90-2 count.