Match report: USWNT dominates New Zealand 5-0 in front of 30,596 fans!
USA Women’s National Team defeated New Zealand 5-0 with a dominant performance on Tuesday night in front of an electric crowd of 30,596 as Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Pugh and Lynn Williams scored at Nipper Stadium.
The USA put together an excellent performance on both sides of the ball, controlling possession and piling up a 19-5 shot advantage. With the win, the USA sweeps the two-game series against the Oceania champions.
Morgan scored in her third consecutive game, upping her 2017 total to four goals. The brace marked her 18th career multi-goal game. Morgan’s goals both came in the second half and sandwiched a strike from fellow substitute Lynn Williams. Horan and Pugh had staked the USA to a 2-0 halftime lead before the second half fireworks.
Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle got the start, playing in front of her hometown crowd as a professional for the first time. Lavelle left the game in the 33rd minute as a precaution after recovering from a hamstring injury. She almost delighted the crowd with a chance less than a minute into the game, but cut her left-footed shot wide right.
U.S. head coach Jill Ellis made three changes to the starting lineup from the first game between the teams on Sept. 15 in Commerce City, Colo., as well as moving Kelley O’Hara from left back to right back. Christen Press got the nod at center forward, Lavelle played in a three-woman midfield before being replaced by Lindsey Horan, and Casey Short started at left back.
The U.S. players will now return to their clubs to finish the NWSL season, while forward Crystal Dunn heads back to England to begin her season with Chelsea FC. Next for the USA will be two matches against the Korea Republic on Oct. 19 at the Superdome in New Orleans (7 p.m. CT on FS1) and on Oct. 22 at Sahlen’s Stadium at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. (2 p.m. ET on ESPN).
GoalScoring Rundown
USA – Lindsey Horan (Samantha Mewis), 36th minute: A terrific lofted cross from Mewis came from just past midfield and fell to Horan who looped a long-distance header from 16 yards out over goalkeeper Erin Nayler, who was caught off her line, and into the back of the net. USA 1, NZL 0. GOAL.
Was just a matter of time ⏰.@Lindseyhoran11 goes WAY up for her 4th career #USWNT goal! pic.twitter.com/MYlpafwsJM
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 20, 2017
USA – Mallory Pugh (Lindsey Horan), 44thminute: After one of many nice buildups from the USA, Horan slipped a pass to Pugh who was streaking down the right side. Pugh sprinted into the penalty area and curled a right footed shot inside the near, right post for her second goal of 2017. USA 2, NZL 0. GOAL.
Skills to pay the bills.
Come for the @MalPugh finish, stay for the @Lindseyhoran11 dime. pic.twitter.com/hVFBG1G0ic
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 20, 2017
USA – Alex Morgan, 46thminute: Morgan came on at halftime for Megan Rapinoe and wasted no time making an impact. Julie Ertz dropped a long ball over the defense on the left side and Mallory Pugh ran it down before playing a pass on the ground into the penalty box that was deflected by a New Zealand defender, but right into the path of Morgan. She found a bit of space and squeezed her shot between Nayler and the near, left post from close range just 28 seconds into the half. USA 3, NZL 0. GOAL.
*Scheduled tweet*@alexmorgan13 scores. Again. 3rd in her last 3 #USWNT games! ??? pic.twitter.com/2ew65CXuHI
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 20, 2017
USA – Lynn Williams (Kelley O’Hara), 55th minute: KelleyO’Hara sent a cross from the left side into the middle of the box where a leaping Williams came from the opposite side, ran straight past New Zealand captain Ali Riley to head the ball to the back of the net and score her second goal of the year. USA 4, NZL 0. GOAL.
Perfect placement ?.@lynnraenie with her second of the year and third of her #USWNT career. pic.twitter.com/nw5VIODy61
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 20, 2017
USA – Alex Morgan (Mallory Pugh), 69th minute: It was another beautiful run from Pugh on the left wing to find Morgan in the corner inside the 18-yard box. Morgan received the ball with her right foot, bringing it down to set up an incredible first-time, left-footed strike thundering off the underside of the crossbar into the net for her second goal of the match. USA 5, NZL 0. GOAL. FINAL.
How?!@alexmorgan13 is putting on a show in Cincinnati ??. pic.twitter.com/QWinl5znL3
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 20, 2017
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: USA 5-0 New Zealand
Date: Sept. 19, 2017
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Nippert Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Attendance: 30,596
Weather: 73 degrees; clear
Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 14-Casey Short, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (capt.) (22-Taylor Smith, 46), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 3-Samantha Mewis (6-Morgan Brian, 57), 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle (9-Lindsey Horan, 33); 15-Megan Rapinoe (13-Alex Morgan, 46), 23-Christen Press (12-Lynn Williams, 46), 2-Mallory Pugh (17-Tobin Heath, 72)
Substitutes not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Jill Ellis
NZL: 1-Erin Nayler; 7-Ali Riley (capt.), 5-Meikayla Moore, 6-Rebekah Stott, 2-Ria Percival (4-CJ Bott, 86); 11-Kirsty Yallop (16-Olivia Chance, 58), 14-Katie Bowen, 12-Betsy Hassett (22-Katie Rood, 90+3), 10-Annalie Longo (8-Daisy Cleverley, 80); 13-Rosie White (18-Aimee Phillips, 76), 17-Hannah Wilkinson (15-Martine Puketapu, 89)
Substitutes not used: 3-Anna Green, 20-Malia Steinmetz, 21-Anna Leat, 23-Victoria Esson, 25-Liz Anton, 26-Jane Barnett
Head coach: Tony Readings
Stats Summary: USA / NZL
Shots: 19 / 5
Shots on Goal: 9 / 0
Saves: 0 / 4
Corner Kicks: 9 / 4
Fouls: 2 / 10
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
NZL – Hannah Wilkinson (caution) 35th minute
Officials:
Referee: Christina Unkel (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Amanda Ross (USA)
4th Official: Crystal Sobers (TRI)
Budweiser Woman of the Match:
Alex Morgan
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