Megan Rapinoe
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT – The US Women’s National team has still not lost a match in 2018 with 15 matches overall in the streak after a 1-0 victory over the People Republic of China Women’s National team tonight at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Alex Morgan with the game winning header
The US team played a solid 90 minutes this evening in the friendly meeting with the People Republic of China. The US side led by Megan Rainpoe had plenty of chances in the first half, but couldn’t quit close things out in the first half.
The pace didn’t let up in the second half, with a climax in the 57th minute with a Mehan Rapinoe free kick found the head of Alex Morgan for the first and only goal of the match. China continued to keep pace with the US side but could never find the equalizer before the final whistle blew.
Amy Rodriguez with another cap under her belt
The home crowd was charged up tonight with 3 of the Utah Royals squad making the cut, Becky Sauerbrunn started the match, with Amy Rodriguez and goalkeeper Abbey Smith on the bench. Becky played a full 90 minutes with Amy Rodriguez subbing in for Alex Morgan in the 76th minute. Abbey Smith didn’t see any minutes tonight.
With the World Cup on the horizon the importance of these matches to pair down the squad is becoming more and more important. With 60 players called up for at least one practice and 29 of them seeing their first opportunity for an international cap, the drive to secure a slot on the World Cup squad is evident in the way the team has been playing. According to Amy Rodriguez each of these matches is viewed as “World Cup qualifying preparation matches.”
The US puts their 35-19-13 record on the line again when they meet up again with China next week in Cleveland.
Becky Sauerbrunn
Goals by Period 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
China 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
USA – Alex Morgan – 57′
Misconduct Summary:
CHN – Wu Haiyan – 71′ – unsporting behavior
Officials
Referee: Lucila Venegas
Assistant Referee: Stephanie Dale Yee Sing
Assistant Referee: Jennifer Garner
4th Official: Cardella Samuels
Attendence: 13,230
Lineups:
US Women’s National Team Starting XI
USA: Alysssa Naeher; Julie Ertz (Allie Long, 66); Becker Sauerbrunn; Abby Dahlkemper (Christen Press, 66′); Lindsay Horan (Samantha Mewis, 46′); Tierna Davidson; Alex Morgan (Amy Rodriguez, 76′); Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd, 66′); Crystal Dunn; McCall Zerboni; Savannah McCaskill (Sofia Huerta, 46′)
Substitutes Not Used: Abby Smith; Morgan Brian; Merritt Mathias
China Women’s Starting XI
China: Peng Shimeng; Liu Shanshan (Danyang Li, 47′); Wu Haiyan; Lin Yuping; Wang Shuang (Tingting Li, 85′); Li Ying (Xiao Yuyi, 90′); Wang Shanshan (Li Yang, 46′); Zhang Rui; Ren Guixin (Yan Jinjin, 68′); Lou Jiahui (Han Peng, 85′); Yao Wei
Substitutes Not Used: Zhou Li; Yang Yan; Tang Jiali; Lyu Yueyun; Xu Yanlu; Tan Ruyin Xiao Yuyi; Wang Yan; Yang Li