SAN JOSE, California (Nov. 12, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s National Team finished its 16-game 2017 schedule on a high note with a 3-1 win against Canada in front of a near-sellout crowd of 17,960 at Avaya Stadium on Sunday night.
The U.S. WNT opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Megan Rapinoe whipped in a corner kick from the left side to the near post, where Julie Ertz flicked a header into the net, marking her sixth goal of the year, all of which have come on set pieces.
Similar to Thursday’s match in Vancouver, Canada came out strong in the second half and tied the game 1-1 in the 50th minute. This time, however, the U.S. regained the lead when Alex Morgan scored her team-leading seventh goal of 2017 to put the WNT up 2-1.
Carli Lloyd cushioned the lead with her 98th international score in the 80th minute, just five minutes after replacing Samantha Mewis.
The U.S. WNT finished its 2017 campaign with a 12-3-1 record, including results in its past eight games (7-0-1). The USA will regroup early next year for its annual January training camp before embarking on a full slate of games – including FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying – in 2018.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Julie Ertz (Megan Rapinoe), 11th minute: Rapinoe’s well-struck corner kick from the left side was directed to the near post where the diving Ertz sent a low, skidding header past Stephanie Labbé for the USA’s first goal of the game and her sixth of 2017. USA 1, CAN 0. GOAL.
CAN – Janine Beckie (Nichelle Prince), 50th minute: Prince made a nice run down the right side and evaded both Becky Sauerbrunn and Abby Dahlkemper, dribbling deep into penalty area, cutting a perfect cross on the ground to Beckie who slammed the ball into the net from the top of the six-yard box to equalize. USA 1, CAN 1. GOAL.
USA – Alex Morgan (Christen Press), 56th minute: Press won a tackle from Jessie Fleming about 35 yards out in Canada’s defensive third and hit a low skidding pass through the penalty area that found Morgan, who had stayed just onside. She collected with her left foot and finished her one-on-one chance to the back post with her right for the second U.S. tally of the game. USA 2, CAN 1. GOAL.
USA – Carli Lloyd (Alex Morgan), 80th minute: After a corner kick was cleared back to Megan Rapinoe, she re-served the ball into the middle and Alex Morgan, positioned at the top of the six-yard box, flicked it into the path of the on-rushing Lloyd who finished from close range for her 98th career goal. Lloyd entered the game just five minutes before scoring. USA 3, CAN 1. GOAL. FINAL.
