The U.S. women's soccer team played to a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in sweltering heat on Tuesday night in their final friendly before the Paris Olympics.
The temperature in Washington, D.C., at the start of the game was 98 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), tying the warmest temperature ever recorded in the nation's capital 104 hours earlier (40 degrees Celsius).
Manager Emma Hayes believes the match will be a good test for her players, with similar temperatures expected in the match against Marseille later this month.
“It's an added bonus,” Hayes said Monday. “It's the perfect preparation. It's pretty hot out there, so it's a great way to get some experience with the challenges we're going to be facing.”
Rose Lavelle was pulled from the game at the last minute after suffering leg cramps while warming up, after team staff decided it wasn't worth the risk given the circumstances. A team spokesman said Lavelle was OK.
Corbin Albert started for Lavelle in the game at Audi Field in front of 18,972 fans in a stadium that has recently been worn down by football, soccer and rugby matches.
The U.S. had numerous chances throughout the game, but they were repeatedly denied by Costa Rican goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez, who collided with Trinity Rodman at one point in the first half and both players went down and received treatment but remained on the field.
Costa Rica, which failed to qualify for the Olympics, often faltered and failed to find the target with just two shots on goal, while the U.S. attacked consistently.
Following a ceremony following the U.S. “send-off game,” they will fly to Paris on Wednesday for their Olympic opener against Zambia in Nice on July 25. The U.S. will finish out their group stage with games against Germany in Marseille on July 28 and Australia on July 31, looking to improve on their bronze-medal result in Tokyo three years ago.
Hayes, who has coached the U.S. since late May, took pride in Sunday's 1-0 win over Mexico in New Jersey but said Monday it was important for him to “have more possession and come out with the win.” More of the same continued against Costa Rica on Tuesday, with goals ruled out for offside and missed chances on corners and rushes.
With a mostly young and inexperienced squad, Hayes wanted to keep as many players in the game as possible, and she backed that up by making four substitutions in the 67th minute and one more late in the game.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
