U.S. women play scoreless draw with South Korea in final World Cup tune-up

HARRISON, N.J. - As the national anthem concluded before the U.S. women's soccer team kicked off against South Korea, the American Outlaws fan club raised a giant banner in front of the stands at its end of the field.

It depicted the Women's World Cup trophy along with a simple message: "BRING IT HOME."

But Saturday's scoreless draw at a sold-out Red Bull Arena showed that there is still work to be done if the Americans are to accomplish that mission.

In part because stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were out injured, the attack lacked fluidity. There were a lot of long passes through the air, and few patient buildups through midfield.

U.S. coach Jill Ellis wasn't pleased.

"Mentally, some of the [players] were perhaps already in Canada," she said. "I don't think we moved the ball well enough, and I don't think our mobility off the ball was conducive to having a high-tempo passing game."

Morgan's absence was no surprise. She hasn't played in two months because of a bone bruise in her left knee. Rapinoe suffered a minor quadriceps injury in practice Friday and was held out as a precautionary measure.

Ellis said Rapinoe will be fine for the team's first game of the World Cup, on June 8 against Australia. Morgan, on the other hand, still has some work to do.

"In terms of minutes [for Morgan], that's something I think we're going to have to build through the early games," Ellis said. "We don't want to blow her up too early in terms of physically being ready."

Sydney Leroux, who started in Morgan's place, had the Americans' best scoring chance, a point-blank shot at South Korean goalkeeper Jungmi Kim in the 50th minute.

At the final whistle, what had been an enthusiastic crowd suddenly turned nervous. It was not lost on U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd.

"Now's the time to get everything out of our system," the Delran native said. "We're at crunch time - we've got to all be prepared and ready, and do everything to be our sharpest."