After two tough victories against Canada and Brazil to open the tournament, an offensive blast fueled the USWNT for a dominant vs. dominant display. La Albiceleste. The USA accumulated a 27-1 margin on shots and kept the ball in Argentina’s defensive midfield for most of the night.
The USA started the scoring on 16 minutes, when Rose Lavelle passed a ball over the Argentine defense to prepare Rapinoe for the first goal of the game. Lloyd would score Rapinoe’s second just 10 minutes later. It was Rapinoe’s third score in the 2021 tournament and the seventh of all time in the SheBelieves Cup, the highest in the competition’s history. Rapinoe’s two goals also marked her 56th and 57th international goals, taking her to the top 10 in scoring all time for the USWNT, passing Carin Gabarra.
Lloyd, who played his 299th game for the USWNT, scored a goal in the 35th minute after an assist from Mewis. The veteran striker’s next appearance will see her join Kristine Lilly and Christie Pearce Rampone in an extremely exclusive club as the only players in the USWNT and world history with 300 matches.
After a good game combination with Casey Krueger, Mewis also appeared on the scoresheet in the final minutes of the first half, making his first game for the USWNT since March 2014.
After a series of chances after the break, Morgan and Press placed exclamation points in the night at 84 and 88 minutes, respectively. Young striker Sophia Smith, the first player born in 2000 to play for the USWNT, recorded her first assist by scoring Morgan’s first goal as a mother and her 108th goal by the USWNT, overtaking Michelle Akers and taking fifth place. on the list of all-time top scorers in the US. The press ended an eventful night of threatening the Argentine defense with a corner goal after an assist from Lindsey Horan. Both have been incredibly productive for the US lately – Press’s goal scored his 11th in the last 13 games, while Horan participated in nine of the USWNT’s 19 goals in 2021.
Argentina played in a compact defensive block throughout the match, usually with all 11 players within the last 45 yards of the goal, and the US took a while to break the defense. But in the end, the WNT threatened and scored in various ways, in set pieces, building in the back, in the transition and bypassing the Argentine area.
United States coach Vlatko Andonovski used all six available substitutions, including five in the second half, after a pre-planned switch from defender Emily Sonnett to Kelley O’Hara in the 30th minute, while the veteran right back returns to fitness after a small injury. The two youngest players on the USWNT list, Jaelin Howell, 21, and Smith, 20, made their second and third full international appearances, respectively.
While the action was limited to goalkeeper Jane Campbell, she recorded her second career stoppage on her third start at USWNT. After entering the SheBelieves Cup 2021 without allowing a shot on goal in the last 302 minutes of play, the American defense did not allow Argentina to kick the goal and did not give up a goal in the last six games.
The USWNT is planning to return to action during the April international window.
SUMMARY OF GOAL SCORE
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Rose Lavelle), 16 minutes: From the edge of the central circle, Lavelle passed a ball well positioned over the Argentine defense line that leapt at Rapinoe’s feet, cutting between the defenders. She let the ball roll and then fired a low kick from the left foot on the right side of the net 18 meters away to open the scoring for the USWNT. USA 1, ARG 0
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd), 26 minutes: Christen Press started the streak before Rapinoe’s second goal, sliding a pass between Argentine defenders to Carli Lloyd near the top of the 18-yard area. The veteran striker dribbled for the goal, and when Argentine goalkeeper Solana Pereyra came out to challenge, he smoothly gave the pass to Rapinoe, who split two defenders and slipped for a single chance in the back of the net. USA 2, ARG 0
USA – Carli Lloyd (Kristie Mewis), 35 minutes: Tierna Davidson threw a beautiful ball on the left side of the edge of the center circle to Rapinoe, who coolly turned the ball and slid it down the legs of an Argentine defender to find Mewis running towards the end line. Mewis crossed to the six-yard area and while Pereyra tried to cut the pass, Lloyd came first and sent the goalkeeper into the left post from the top of the small area. USA 3, ARG 0
USA – Kristie Mewis (Casey Krueger), 41 minutes: After Argentina failed to clear the ball, Mewis won it with an aggressive move, taking Krueger out of the area. The left-back gave a few dribbles before hitting Mewis, who gave a touch to deflect an Argentine defender to the left side of the area and hit a shot about 15 meters from a difficult open angle on the other side of the goal and inside the post further to the right. He scored Mewis’ fourth international goal and third in the last six USWNT matches. USA 4, ARG 0
USA – Alex Morgan (Sophia Smith), 84 minutes: Winning the ball and moving quickly on the transition field, Becky Sauerbrunn played for Smith near the midfield line. The young striker made a beautiful cutting move in the Argentine midfield, maneuvering around several defenders before making a well-balanced pass to Morgan near the top of the area. When Pereyra left to make a stop, Morgan fired a shot over the goalkeeper who was diving into the net, scoring in his club’s stadium. USA 5, ARG 0
USA – Christen Press (Lindsey Horan), 88 minutes: Receiving a late corner kick from the right, Kristie Mewis sent a thunderous ball to the second post. Horan rose above the crowd to put his head on it and send it into the goal. Press was lurking unmarked in the opposite post and she neatly headed the near post for the final goal of the game. USA 6, ARG 0
ADDITIONAL NOTES
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The USA improves to 4-0-0 at all times against Argentina.
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The United States increased its unbeaten record to 37 games. The USA has been unbeaten for 53 home games: 48 wins and five draws. The race saw the US beat its opponents 188-27, including a 58-3 margin during the last 15 home matches.
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US coach Vlatko Andonovski has 16-0-0 in his first 16 games, extending the record for best game for a coach in USWNT history. Current Brazilian coach Pia Sundhage has the second best match for any coach in USWNT history, with 10 consecutive wins.
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The 6-0 win over Argentina marked the largest US margin of victory in the SheBelieves Cup and the highest scoring game in USWNT tournament history.
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Megan Rapinoe is the first player to score more than two goals in a single SheBelieves Cup tournament. Her three goals made her the top scorer in the 2021 edition.
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After scoring just one goal during the reduced USWNT schedule for 2020, Megan Rapinoe has already scored five goals in the first five games of 2021.
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The press was directly involved in 28 goals in his last 29 games for the USA, scoring 13 goals and assisting 15 more. She also took the free kick that led to Rose Lavelle’s victory against Canada on February 18.
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Midfielder Lindsey Horan participated in nine of the 19 goals for the USWNT in 2021. She participated in two goals and drew a penalty against Colombia on January 18, scored and participated in another goal against Colombia in January. 22, received assistance against Canada on February 18, two against Brazil on February 21 and one against Argentina tonight.
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Andonovski made seven changes to the starting lineup that faced Brazil on February 21: Jane Campbell replaced Alyssa Naeher in goal, Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson and Kelley O’Hara with Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper and Emily Sonnett at the bottom, Kristie Mewis for Lindsey Horan in midfield, and at the front line, Megan Rapinoe for Lynn Williams and Carli Lloyd for Alex Morgan.
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Kristie Mewis made her first start since March 10, 2014. The 2,543 days between games mark the second longest period in USWNT history. Keri Raygor spent 2,664 days between the beginning of 1994 to 2001.
– 2021 COPA SHEBELIEVES DEPARTURE REPORT –
Match: United States Women’s Team vs. Argentina Women’s Team
Meeting: February 24, 2021
Competition: 2021 SheBelieves Cup
Place: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 3,702 (limited capacity)
Beginning: 7:05 pm Eastern Time
Climate: 79 degrees, mostly sunny
Scoring summary: 1 two F
USA 4 2 6
ARG 0 0 0
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Rose Lavelle) 16º minute
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd) 26
USA – Carli Lloyd (Kristie Mewis) 35
USA – Kristie Mewis (Casey Krueger) 41
USA – Alex Morgan (Sophie Smith) 84
USA – Christen Press (Lindsey Horan) 88
Lineups:
USA: 18-Jane Campbell; 5-Kelley O’Hara (14-Emily Sonnett, 32), 12-Tierna Davidson, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Capt.), 2-Casey Krueger (20-Margaret Purce, 46); 8-Julie Ertz (3-Jaelin Howell, 62), 16-Rose Lavelle (9-Lindsey Horan, 46), 22-Kristie Mewis; 23-Christen Press, 10-Carli Lloyd (13-Alex Morgan, 46), 15-Megan Rapinoe (17-Sophia Smith, 62)
Unused substitutions: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 6-Lynn Williams, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 19-Crystal Dunn, 21-Casey Murphy
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
ARG: 1-Solana Pereyra; 21-Adriana Sachs, 4-Marina Delgado, 6-Aldana Cometti, 20-Daiana Falfan (10-Dalila Ippolito, 59), 15-Milagros Menendez (19-Mariana Larroquette, 51), 18-Romina Nuñez (3-Eliana Stabile , 46), 5-Vanesa Santana (Capt.), 11-Yamila Rodriguez (7-Yael Oviedo, 63), 8-Clarisa Huber (14-Miriam Mayorga, 52), 9-Soledad Jaimes (17-Valentina Camara, 75 )
Unused substitutions: 12-Laurina Oliveros; 2-Agustina Barroso, 13-Sophia Braun
Head coach: Carlos Borrello
Summary of Statistics: USA / ARG
Photos: 1/26
Shots on target: 11/0
Saved: 0/5
Corner Kicks: 7/0
Fouls: 6/10
Offside: 5/0
Summary of misconduct:
ARG – Romina Nuñez (Caution) 27º minute
ARG – Vanesa Santana (Caution) 72
ARG – Dalila Ippolito (Caution) 90
Employees:
Referee: Marianela Araya Cruz (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Shirley Perello (HON)
4th Official: Melissa Borjas (HON)
US Soccer Insider pitcher: Megan Rapinoe