Having tasted defeat for the first time in 44 matches, the USA regrouped themselves to best New Zealand 6-1. With Australia’s 4-2 loss today to Sweden, the USA are tied for 2nd with Australia in Group G, but sit atop them based off of goal differiential.
Coach Andonovski made several changes to the starting lineup, bringing in Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett on defense, Julie Ertz in the midfield, and Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe as forwards. While the Football Ferns wern’t quite as threatening as the Swedish, these subs earned their keep with Ertz earning two assists, Tierna Davidson saving numerous opportunities, and the rest contributing greatly to the tempo of the game.
The USA had several scoring opportunities in the first half which unfortunately were called offsides.
On her 100th career cap, Lindsey Horan scored her 23rd career goal to put the USA ahead by 2. She became the 41st player in USWNT history to reach this milestone. She has recently established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the US midfield. She has reached this accomplishment at age 27, the youngest player to reach 100 caps since Alex Morgan (26 yrs) in 2016.
Scoring Rundown:
USA – Rose Lavelle (Tobin Heath), 9th minute: Having a nice build-up of passes, Lindsey Horan passed the ball across the top of the box to Heath who one-touched through ball into the right side of the box for a streaking Lavelle. With her first touch she slid the ball past the keeper into a wide open goal. This was Lavelle’s first career Olympic goal. USA 1, NZE 0
USA – Lindsey Horan (Julie Ertz), 45th minute: Near the end of the first half, the U.S. doubled its lead off a Megan Rapinoe corner kick. Rapinoe sent a long cross to the back post and Ertz gave a near perfect header back into the scrum where Horan also headed the ball into the back of the net. This was Horan’s first career Olympic goal.USA 2, NZE 0
USA – Abby Erceg (Own Goal), 63rd minute: Lindsey Horan sent in a cross to Carli Lloyd in the box who headed the ball across to Heath. Erceg, who was attempting to clear the ball, instead accidentally owned goaled. USA 3, NZE 0
NZE – Betsy Hassett (Paige Satchell), 72nd minute: Being down 3-0, New Zealand fought for one back, sending a long ball down the field and taking advantage of a misclearance by Abby Dahlkemper. USA 3, NZE 1
USA – Christen Press (Julie Ertz), 80th minute: Ertz sent in a perfectly placed pass to Christen Press, who controlled the ball before quickly taking a shot past the Football Ferns keeper. This was Press’s first career Olympic goal.USA 4, NZE 1
USA – Alex Morgan (Christen Press), 87th minute: After coming in to sub for Megan Rapinoe, Press found her fellow substitute Alex Morgan to combine for the USA’s fifth goal. Coming down the left side, Press crossed in a ball narrowly missing Heath but making it’s way to Morgan, she took a containing touch before taking a right footed shot into the net. USA 5, NZE 1
USA – CJ Bott (Own Goal), 90+3 minute: Press once again came down the left side and was looking to cross, but CJ Bott, seeking a clearance, mistouched the ball right into the back of the next. USA 6, NZE 1
Game Notes:
- The USA is now 15-1-1 all-time against New Zealand and 4-0-0 in Olympic competitions against the Football Ferns.
- After scoring a goal during her 100th cap, Horan became the seventh USWNT player achieve this, joining Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, Tisha Venturini, Tiffeny Milbrett, Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan.
- Horan, Lavelle, and Press each scored their first Olympic goals.
The USA will be back on the pitch, Tuesday against Australia in an all-important matchup to determine 2nd place in Group G.