Wednesday night, the United States Women’s National Team played its final match under head coach Pia Sundhage, defeating Australia 6:2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado. The USA opened the scoring halfway through the first half, but Australia scorwd two goals in three minutes and had a 2:1 lead for nine minutes in the first half, before the USA equalized.
The USA scored first, via a Heather O’Reilly goal in the 25th minute that took a deflection off an Aussie defender, but then Australia answered back with two quick counter-attack goals in three minutes by Lisa de Vanna (32′) and, the retiring Sara Walsh (34′). Alex Morgan tied up the match a few minutes before the break.
In the second half, however, it was all the USA. The game-winning goal (53′) came when Alex Morgan’s quick shot outside the box deflected off the foot of Abby Wambach and then looped high in the air, bounced at the top of the six-yard box, with the momentum and top spin sending the ball into the top left corner of the goal. The final three goals were all scored via headers: Alex Morgan off Heather Mitts (63′), Shannon Boxx off a Megan Rapinoe corner kick (69′), and Sydney Leroux off a Megan Rapinoe free kick (82′).
See Also: U.S. Soccer match report, U.S. Soccer post-game quote sheet
U.S. Soccer Highlights:
U.S. Soccer Post-Game Reactions:
The USA’s next scheduled friendlies will be against Germany on October 20th (Chicago) and October 23rd (Connecticut).
Women's Soccer Express 