USWNT's Alex Morgan Criticized by Fans After Missed Penalty in Draw vs. Colombia

Another USWNT game, another disappointing result.

Granted, Thursday's scoreless draw against Colombia was only a friendly. The stakes weren't high. But after the disappointment at the World Cup, scrutiny is at an all-time high.

Under the microscope on this particular night was Alex Morgan, who failed to convert a penalty and saw her goalless streak continue.

Suffice to say, she wasn't free from criticism on social media after the contest:

An uninspiring draw doesn't come down entirely to Morgan, of course. But in a game when the United States held the advantage in possession (53 percent), shots (9-3, 2-2 on target) and corner kicks (9-1), it's natural to hone in on the point of the spear.

For years, Morgan was as sharp and dangerous as any woman in the world from her No. 9 position. Her runs were threatening; her finishing precise. She was the natural replacement for another USWNT legend, Abby Wambach, and combined with players like Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd to lead the USWNT through a period of true domination.

But now the American women find themselves at a crossroads between that generation and a collection of young, talented players itching for their chance. The USWNT continues to struggle making that transition.

And Morgan increasingly feels like a part of the USWNT's storied past rather than an instrumental part of its future.

Perhaps that feels harsh to say about a legitimate legend in United States soccer. But Morgan is also 34 and international goal droughts that last over eight months tend to speak for themselves.

The United States is stuck at the moment. There's no denying it. Thursday was just a friendly, but it illustrated many of the same issues that have gone unaddressed for the past year. To that point, Morgan's place atop the attack has earned an additional level of scrutiny.