The USWNT played on Sunday and beat Spain 1-0. We have some back round information that we want to put out there before we talk about the rest of the game.
They were playing in Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, playing in front of a sold-out crowd. The starting line up was: Alyssa Naeher (1), Crystal Dunn (19), Abby Dahlkemper (7), Becky Sauerbrunn (4), Emily Sonnett (2), Julie Ertz (8), Rose Lavelle (16), Sam Mewis (3), Lynn Williams (13), Carli Lloyd (10), Megan Rapinoe (15). They were playing in a 4-3-3 formation. Crystal Dunn was honored for 100th cap before the game started even though she played her 100th cap on February 7th when they played Mexico. She was also wearing the captain's armband.
1st Half:
The US started the game off with kick-off and the game was on its way. In the 3rd minute of the game, Megan Rapinoe got the ball and shot but it was stopped by the keeper and as Lynn Williams tried to shoot the rebound but the defender stopped. The US was coming out blazing! The teams played each other in the Round of 16 in the world cup where the US beat Spain 2-1. Spain was keeping the US on their toes when in the 15th minute when Alyssa Naeher had to scoop the ball up. The US was playing very high press though. In the 22nd minute, Alyssa Naeher also had to clear the ball out after a Spanish player played the ball long. In the 24th minute, Spain hit the ball off the post, Wow was that close! And then right after Lynn Williams crossed the ball into the 18-yard box where Carli Lloyd chested the ball but it was just a tad too big and she and the goalkeeper collided. In the 28th minute, they showed the possession percentage for the teams and they showed that the US had 37% and Spain had 63% of possession. In the 31st minute Megan Rapinoe crossed the ball in and the goalkeeper was able to tip the ball over the crossbar. Not much happened and after the 1 minute of extra time, the score was 0-0 at halftime.
2nd Half
The second half started off with Spain kicking off. Then ten minutes into the second half Emily Sonette received the ball and attempted to cross it in but it deflected off a Spanish player. Five minutes later in the sixtieth minute, Samantha Mewis shot the ball but the Spanish goalkeeper was able to hit it out. Two minutes later in the sixty-seventh minute, the US Women's National Team subbed in Christen Press for Meagan Rapinoe. Then they made another sub, Tobin Heath was subbed in for Carli Lloyd. A few minutes later in the seventy-first minute, Lindsey Horan was subbed in for Samantha Mewis. Eight minutes later in the seventy-ninth minute Lindsey Horan served the ball into the eighteen-yard box but the ball was taken over by a Spanish player. Then a few seconds later Becky Sauerbrunn served the ball into the eighteen yard box and Lindsey Horan went up for the ball but the Spanish goalkeeper came out and punched the ball away. Then in the eighty-seventh minute, the US finally got their chance. The US had earned a free-kick. Christen Press lined up to take the kick, then she took it. She served it beautifully into the eighteen-yard box where Julie Ertz met the ball and headed it into the back of the net! Wow, was that a nice goal! A few minutes later in the ninetieth minute, the US made another sub, Jessica McDonald was subbed in for Lynn Williams. Then the referee announced three minutes of extra time. Even though those three minutes felt like a century, the US was able to hold on and get the win! That was a nail biter but the US pulled it out for the win.
Make sure you keep watching and supporting the US Women's National Team!
Drost, Eirk. USWNT v Japan. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/edrost88/27492626355/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2020.
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