How the U.S. WNT Can Win the 2019 SheBelieves Cup
Here's what needs to happen on March 5 for the USA to win the 2019 SheBelieves Cup title.
After a pair of 2-2 draws, vs. Japan on Feb. 27 and England on March 2 , the U.S. WNT will need some help to win the 2019 SheBelieves Cup. The USA has two points from the two draws and sits third in the standings behind first-place Japan and second-place England.
Japan drew its first game of the tournament vs. the USA, 2-2, and then defeated Brazil, 3-1, and heads into the final match day on four points, the same as England, which defeated Brazil 2-1 in the first game and then tied the U.S., 2-2.
Japan currently is ahead of England on the first tie-breaker, goal difference at +2, while England is at +1.
2019 SheBelieves Cup Standings
|
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts. |
|
Japan |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
|
England |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
United States |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
|
Brazil |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
-3 |
0 |
Nevertheless, the U.S. is still in the running to retain the tournament title it won last year but will need the England-Japan match to result in a tie, combined with a big win against Brazil, in order to claim its third SheBelieves Cup trophy. Brazil, after dropping its first two games, is out of contention for the tournament championship.
Here are the championship scenarios heading into the final SheBelieves Cup matchday on Tuesday, March 5 that will feature England taking on Japan (5 p.m. ET on ussoccer.com), and the USA facing Brazil (8 p.m. ET on FS1) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
- If there is a winner in the England-Japan match, that team will win the tournament title.
- If Japan draws with England and the USA fails to beat Brazil, Japan
will win the tournament.
- If England and Japan draw, the USA could take the tournament title IF it defeats Brazil AND comes out ahead of Japan on goal
differential.
- If England and Japan draw, 0-0, the USA would need to defeat Brazil 2-0, which would tie the USA in goal difference with Japan but put the USA head on the second tie-breaker, goals scored.
- If England and Japan draw, 1-1, the USA would need to win 3-0 to take the title, tying Japan on goal difference, but moving ahead on the second tie-breaker, goals scored.
- If England and Japan draw, 2-2, the USA would need to win 4-0 to take the title, trying Japan on goal difference, but moving ahead on the second tie-breaker, goals scored.