They came to Heinz Field, 44,028 of them, to revel in World Cup afterglow, but many of them probably had another thought drift through their heads at some point prior to kickoff.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Meghan Klingenberg got a goal?
That notion wasn’t outlandish, since she had scored twice in 41 previous matches for the national team. However, Klingenberg recently made her name as part of a United States defensive unit that posted a World Cup-record five straight shutouts.
But special events have special rules, as the record crowd discovered when Klingenberg started the second half of Sunday’s friendly against Costa Rica in the midfield.
And so, 11 minutes after halftime, the native of Gibsonia and graduate of Pine-Richland High School first-timed a cross from Tobin Heath past besieged keeper Dinnia Diaz. It was the fifth goal in an 8-0 exhibition rout, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from Klingenberg’s celebration:
“I can’t remember what I did exactly,” Klingenberg said. “I’m sure there are pictures.”
Yes, that was a Terrible Towel she grabbed from coach Jill Ellis on the sideline.
“I’ve been watching the Steelers since I was this big,” the 27-year-old said, gesturing about a foot off the ground. “I love my Pittsburgh sports and (the Terrible Towel) is such an iconic thing.”
The genesis of the extremely Pittsburgh celebration goes back to earlier in the week, when Ellis discovered a Towel in her hotel gift bag. Being from England, she needed Klingenberg to explain the significance of the item, but she was on board with the handoff after the halftime position switch.
“I think Meghan’s wheels started turning on that a few days ago,” Ellis said.
Just as crucial as Klingenberg playing in a more offensive role was having her teammates fully behind the setup effort.
“Part of my halftime speech was that our only goal was to get her one,” said veteran forward Abby Wambach, who entered as a substitute two minutes before Klingenberg struck. “I was ready to tackle her like a Pittsburgh Steeler after she scored.”
Julie Johnston (right) tries to pry a loose ball away from a Costa Rican attacker during the first half. — GETTY
• Klingenberg’s goal was just the latest example of her climb to prominence in the soccer world. She’s played all over the field in her career, which progressed from a state title with the Pine-Richland Rams to the University of North Carolina and now the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League.
After gradually gaining the trust of Ellis on the back line, she made her World Cup debut this summer.
“She’s a 5-2 pitbull,” Ellis said. “Meghan had to come in and prove herself. I think that’s what she enjoys the most. She relishes the challenge. Flexible player in terms of position. She can play wide, she can play in the middle. She has good feet and a good brain.”
Those diverse attributes served her in the World Cup, where she had a signature moment with a goal-line clearance against Sweden, as well as during her second season in Houston.
“She’s embraced her role and done what she’s needed to do,” said Carli Lloyd, Klingenberg’s teammate with the USWNT and the Dash.
“The way I look at it, when you’re at the World Cup, it’s all about your performance and being 100 percent at your best,” Klingenberg said. “When you’re with your club, it’s about development.”
Here, Klingenberg discusses her youth days in Pittsburgh, college in Chapel Hill, N.C., and what the success of an event like this could signal for the growth of the game in the region:
• The crowd established a new record for a soccer match in Pittsburgh, blowing away last year’s Manchester City-AC Milan exhibition by nearly 10,000. It also was the 10th-largest turnout for a USWNT friendly in history — the biggest if not counting doubleheaders with the men’s national team.
“44,000 people screaming,” Klingenberg said. “What more could you want?”
A few players, Wambach most notably, warned about a potential World Cup letdown before Saturday’s training session. The adrenaline provided by the congregation helped alleviate that, as did the determination to put on a worthy show.
Heather O’Reilly‘s steal and score in the fourth minute indicated that there would be a minimal feeling-out period. It was 4-0 by halftime against a Costa Rica squad without several of its best players due to the imminent start of the NCAA season.
Christen Press finished with a hat trick and an assist, with O’Reilly adding another goal in the second half. The U.S. was dominant through the run of play, but particularly clinical on set pieces, scoring three times off corner kicks.
“We worked hard and moved the ball around,” Ellis said. “It’s being respectful to the game, a game that people pay money to come and watch. It’s on us to make sure we have a good professional approach.”
If anyone had an excuse to ease into the opener of this six-match ‘Victory Tour,’ it was Lloyd, she of the first-half hat trick in the World Cup final and winner of the Golden Ball for most outstanding player of the tournament. She didn’t factor in the scoring before being subbed off for Wambach, but struck a business-like tone afterward.
“For me personally, every game is one where I’m going to give 100 percent,” Lloyd said. “We know we’re not necessarily at our fittest and sharpest, but we want to give the fans a good product out there.”
Well, if entertainment is the objective, offense is a proven winner, whether we’re talking a record five in the World Cup final or eight on an hot August day in Pittsburgh.
“You’d have to ask the fans, but I think they like to see goals,” Ellis said. “So do I … a goal celebration is pure joy.”
Meghan Klingenberg in the aftermath of her third goal in 42 career USWNT matches. — GETTY
• At 35 years old and mulling retirement, Wambach seems to be in a retrospective mood these days — although maybe she’s just responding to the big-picture questions she’s receiving.
As for the here and now, FIFA’s all-time leader in international goals is heartened by the passionate response that the national team is inspiring in the wake of its third world championship.
“We’ve taken a step and put women’s soccer, I think permanently, on the map,” Wambach said. “It’s been a life’s work for me. No matter what I decide (on retirement), I want to stay involved somehow.”
As one of the longest-tenured members of the team, she could also speak to the vast difference between this USWNT match in Pittsburgh and the only other one in history, a 3-0 defeat of Iceland before fewer than 7,000 fans at Heinz Field in 2004:
• The euphoria of the day aside, it’s uncertain if this leap in popularity for women’s soccer will prove long-lasting, as Wambach suggests.
In a somewhat cryptic moment, she suggested that expansion plans might be in store for the NWSL, which is in its third year and features nine teams based mostly in Major League Soccer cities.
“There are some cool things happening behind the scenes,” Wambach said. “I can’t wait until things are unveiled, as it pertains to the women’s professional (game) in the United States. I can’t say what it is, but it’s exciting.”
OK, then.
Defender Ali Krieger, a Penn State grad who plays for the Washington Spirit, sees the NWSL’s success as necessary to further legitimize the women’s game, both worldwide and stateside.
“For future generations, that’s what we need, a sustainable league,” she said. “We need a lot of teams, a 10-month league. It’s growing, it’s getting to that point. That’s where it needs to be to have the best teams in our league, to have players want to come to our league from all over.”
For now, the U.S. team will play five more exhibitions before revving up for Olympic qualifying early next year.
“It helps in keeping the team out in front of people and it helps in building a fan base,” Ellis said of the tour, which stops in Chattanooga, Tenn., next for another match with Costa Rica. “Pittsburgh was all in today, and I loved to see it.”
I loved my sisters' reaction when they asked if that traffic they ran into was for the Pirates or Steelers. "Soccer? Really?" More impressed than anything. Good showing by the US women and the Pittsburgh crowd
Haha times are changing. Fun to be there for it all
Woomer
8-16-2015, 9:48 pm
I don't know what the tickets cost, but 44,000 in attendance is amazing to me. First of all, the article terms this an "exhibition" game. I can't even get my mind around 44,000 attending a women's exhibition game in Pittsburgh..
Obviously there is no other women's sport that could draw 44,000 for an exhibition game in Pittsburgh. I mean, I think the US Women's Open in Oakmont drew about 125,000 -- but that was all 4 days combined! And that wasn't an exhibition -- it was the biggest championship in the sport!
And other than the Steelers, I can't even think of a men's local team that could draw 44,000 for an exhibition game. Maybe if the Pens played an outdoor exhibition game -- but even that seems unlikely to me to draw 44,000.
I had a similar reaction. Not sure what I expected in terms of attendance, but this blew it away. I think the sport in general is getting more exposure, and this team continues to capture imaginations.
The atmosphere in the place was unreal. The attendance was no doubt helped by the proximity to the World Cup victory, but it's still stunning to see.
The towel moment was just spectacular - no other way to put it.
The one downside to the day was the starting time situation - announcing the starting time as 1:30 and promoting it that way for weeks when it was always a 2:00 start is a lousy way to treat your customers.
Agreed. Also, I realize that Costa Rica didn't have some of their best players but that was such a gross mismatch out there that surely they could have found a better opponent. It was like the Lions vs the Christians.
Still, it was a fun event and I was glad that my wife and I were able to be there.
Matt Gajtka
8-17-2015, 7:40 am
Us in the media were fooled, too. Or at least I was. Not a fan of a false start time, although I didn't mind the extra time to wander around the stadium and take in the atmosphere.
alantig
8-17-2015, 8:12 am
And that's just it, Matt - had we known we had the extra 30 minutes, we'd have wandered around the stadium and taken in some of the displays in the Great Hall. We could have soaked in a bit more of the experience rather than wondering why everything was "delayed". And it caused my daughter to give up plans for when she got back to Morgantown because she was going to get back too late to make it worthwhile.
Marc
8-16-2015, 11:08 pm
It was fun to watch on TV; I couldn't imagine being there in person! And what a happy coincidence that it wrapped up just as the Pirates rain delay ended. I got to see both!
Meghan Klingenberg hugs Tobin Heath while celebrating her goal Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field -- GETTY
August 16, 2015
Klingenberg cashes in, U.S. rolls at Heinz Field
20by Matt Gajtka • Coverage • Special
They came to Heinz Field, 44,028 of them, to revel in World Cup afterglow, but many of them probably had another thought drift through their heads at some point prior to kickoff.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Meghan Klingenberg got a goal?
That notion wasn’t outlandish, since she had scored twice in 41 previous matches for the national team. However, Klingenberg recently made her name as part of a United States defensive unit that posted a World Cup-record five straight shutouts.
But special events have special rules, as the record crowd discovered when Klingenberg started the second half of Sunday’s friendly against Costa Rica in the midfield.
And so, 11 minutes after halftime, the native of Gibsonia and graduate of Pine-Richland High School first-timed a cross from Tobin Heath past besieged keeper Dinnia Diaz. It was the fifth goal in an 8-0 exhibition rout, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from Klingenberg’s celebration:
“I can’t remember what I did exactly,” Klingenberg said. “I’m sure there are pictures.”
Yes, that was a Terrible Towel she grabbed from coach Jill Ellis on the sideline.
“I’ve been watching the Steelers since I was this big,” the 27-year-old said, gesturing about a foot off the ground. “I love my Pittsburgh sports and (the Terrible Towel) is such an iconic thing.”
The genesis of the extremely Pittsburgh celebration goes back to earlier in the week, when Ellis discovered a Towel in her hotel gift bag. Being from England, she needed Klingenberg to explain the significance of the item, but she was on board with the handoff after the halftime position switch.
“I think Meghan’s wheels started turning on that a few days ago,” Ellis said.
Just as crucial as Klingenberg playing in a more offensive role was having her teammates fully behind the setup effort.
“Part of my halftime speech was that our only goal was to get her one,” said veteran forward Abby Wambach, who entered as a substitute two minutes before Klingenberg struck. “I was ready to tackle her like a Pittsburgh Steeler after she scored.”
Julie Johnston (right) tries to pry a loose ball away from a Costa Rican attacker during the first half. — GETTY
• Klingenberg’s goal was just the latest example of her climb to prominence in the soccer world. She’s played all over the field in her career, which progressed from a state title with the Pine-Richland Rams to the University of North Carolina and now the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League.
After gradually gaining the trust of Ellis on the back line, she made her World Cup debut this summer.
“She’s a 5-2 pitbull,” Ellis said. “Meghan had to come in and prove herself. I think that’s what she enjoys the most. She relishes the challenge. Flexible player in terms of position. She can play wide, she can play in the middle. She has good feet and a good brain.”
Those diverse attributes served her in the World Cup, where she had a signature moment with a goal-line clearance against Sweden, as well as during her second season in Houston.
“She’s embraced her role and done what she’s needed to do,” said Carli Lloyd, Klingenberg’s teammate with the USWNT and the Dash.
“The way I look at it, when you’re at the World Cup, it’s all about your performance and being 100 percent at your best,” Klingenberg said. “When you’re with your club, it’s about development.”
Here, Klingenberg discusses her youth days in Pittsburgh, college in Chapel Hill, N.C., and what the success of an event like this could signal for the growth of the game in the region:
• The crowd established a new record for a soccer match in Pittsburgh, blowing away last year’s Manchester City-AC Milan exhibition by nearly 10,000. It also was the 10th-largest turnout for a USWNT friendly in history — the biggest if not counting doubleheaders with the men’s national team.
“44,000 people screaming,” Klingenberg said. “What more could you want?”
A few players, Wambach most notably, warned about a potential World Cup letdown before Saturday’s training session. The adrenaline provided by the congregation helped alleviate that, as did the determination to put on a worthy show.
Heather O’Reilly‘s steal and score in the fourth minute indicated that there would be a minimal feeling-out period. It was 4-0 by halftime against a Costa Rica squad without several of its best players due to the imminent start of the NCAA season.
Christen Press finished with a hat trick and an assist, with O’Reilly adding another goal in the second half. The U.S. was dominant through the run of play, but particularly clinical on set pieces, scoring three times off corner kicks.
“We worked hard and moved the ball around,” Ellis said. “It’s being respectful to the game, a game that people pay money to come and watch. It’s on us to make sure we have a good professional approach.”
If anyone had an excuse to ease into the opener of this six-match ‘Victory Tour,’ it was Lloyd, she of the first-half hat trick in the World Cup final and winner of the Golden Ball for most outstanding player of the tournament. She didn’t factor in the scoring before being subbed off for Wambach, but struck a business-like tone afterward.
“For me personally, every game is one where I’m going to give 100 percent,” Lloyd said. “We know we’re not necessarily at our fittest and sharpest, but we want to give the fans a good product out there.”
Well, if entertainment is the objective, offense is a proven winner, whether we’re talking a record five in the World Cup final or eight on an hot August day in Pittsburgh.
“You’d have to ask the fans, but I think they like to see goals,” Ellis said. “So do I … a goal celebration is pure joy.”
Meghan Klingenberg in the aftermath of her third goal in 42 career USWNT matches. — GETTY
• At 35 years old and mulling retirement, Wambach seems to be in a retrospective mood these days — although maybe she’s just responding to the big-picture questions she’s receiving.
As for the here and now, FIFA’s all-time leader in international goals is heartened by the passionate response that the national team is inspiring in the wake of its third world championship.
“We’ve taken a step and put women’s soccer, I think permanently, on the map,” Wambach said. “It’s been a life’s work for me. No matter what I decide (on retirement), I want to stay involved somehow.”
As one of the longest-tenured members of the team, she could also speak to the vast difference between this USWNT match in Pittsburgh and the only other one in history, a 3-0 defeat of Iceland before fewer than 7,000 fans at Heinz Field in 2004:
• The euphoria of the day aside, it’s uncertain if this leap in popularity for women’s soccer will prove long-lasting, as Wambach suggests.
In a somewhat cryptic moment, she suggested that expansion plans might be in store for the NWSL, which is in its third year and features nine teams based mostly in Major League Soccer cities.
“There are some cool things happening behind the scenes,” Wambach said. “I can’t wait until things are unveiled, as it pertains to the women’s professional (game) in the United States. I can’t say what it is, but it’s exciting.”
OK, then.
Defender Ali Krieger, a Penn State grad who plays for the Washington Spirit, sees the NWSL’s success as necessary to further legitimize the women’s game, both worldwide and stateside.
“For future generations, that’s what we need, a sustainable league,” she said. “We need a lot of teams, a 10-month league. It’s growing, it’s getting to that point. That’s where it needs to be to have the best teams in our league, to have players want to come to our league from all over.”
For now, the U.S. team will play five more exhibitions before revving up for Olympic qualifying early next year.
“It helps in keeping the team out in front of people and it helps in building a fan base,” Ellis said of the tour, which stops in Chattanooga, Tenn., next for another match with Costa Rica. “Pittsburgh was all in today, and I loved to see it.”