U.S. WNT Edges Canada 2-1.
SANDY, Utah (June 30, 2012) – The U.S. Women’s National Team dominated play during a rough-and-tumble match against Canada, but found it difficult to score a goal.
The U.S. got a late goal from substitute Amy Rodriguez to earn a 2-1 victory in its final match before the 2012 Olympics. In front of 16,805 fans on a sun-splashed day at Rio Tinto Stadium, the U.S. took a 1-0 first-half lead on an own goal by Canada.
Despite only three shots on goal due to a well-organized U.S. backline and stellar goalkeeping from Hope Solo, Canada was able to pull even in the second half with a strike from Melissa Tancredi. Rodriguez provided the heroics with five minutes to play, finishing a loose ball in the box to give the U.S. their fifth straight win leading into the Olympics.
The U.S. players will head home for some well-deserved rest before traveling to the United Kingdom on July 10 to train at Middlesbrough for a week before making their way into Glasgow, Scotland, the location of their first match of the Olympics.
The U.S. will open Group G play on July 25 – two days before the Opening Ceremonies – against France (5 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET) at the famed Hampden Park, Scotland’s National Stadium in Glasgow. The USA will then face Colombia at Hampden Park on July 28 (5 p.m. local / 12 p.m. ET) and finish group play against Korea DPR on July 31 (5:15 p.m. local / 12:15 p.m. ET) at the legendary Old Trafford in Manchester, home to Manchester United.
“I think the first half was good,” said U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage. “It was exactly what we expected and worked on. The game plan worked. The second half was a little shaky, we made four changes and it’s hard for the players to adjust right away.
“Despite that, if you look at the last 15 minutes, when we changed to 3-4-3 and really wanted to get that goal, I am really proud of our players. They believe in what they are doing and do it well.”
Megan Rapinoe was the catalyst for a majority of the U.S. attack, finding space time after time along the right sideline to serve in dangerous crosses
Late in the match, Leroux almost added to the final score but her strike inside the penalty area was parried over the bar by McLeod.
The USA improved its record to 14-1-1 on the year.
The victory continued the USA’s impressive unbeaten streak against Canada to 26 games, dating back to 2001. Overall, the U.S. now holds a 43-3-5 all-time record against their northern neighbor. The U.S. WNT upped its domestic unbeaten streak to 57 games 51-0-6.
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Canada
Date: June 30, 2012
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Kickoff: 12 p.m. MT
Attendance: 16,805
Weather: 89 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 1 2
CAN 0 1 1
USA – own goal (Carmelina Moscato) 15th minute
CAN – Melissa Tancredi (Christine Sinclair) 57
USA – Amy Rodriguez 85
Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 6-Amy LePeilbet (2-Heather Mitts, 46), 3-Christie Rampone (capt.) (4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 46), 16-Rachel Buehler, 5-Kelley O’Hara (11-Sydney Leroux, 76); 15-Megan Rapinoe, 7-Shannon Boxx (10-Carli Lloyd, 46), 12-Lauren Cheney, 17-Tobin Heath (9-Heather O’Reilly, 46); 13-Alex Morgan (8-Amy Rodriguez, 51), 14-Abby Wambach
CAN: 18-Erin McLeod; 2-Emily Zurrer (9-Candace Chapman, 46), 4-Carmelina Moscato, 7-Rhian Wilkinson (5-Robyn Gayle, 71), 22-Lauren Sesselmann (19-Chelsea Stewart, 86); 6-Kaylyn Kyle, 8-Diana Matheson, 11-Desiree Scott (20-Marie-Eve Nault, 86), 13-Sophie Schmidt (16-Jonelle Filigno, 65), 17-Brittany Timko (14-Melissa Tancredi, 46); 12-Christine Sinclair
Statistical Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 19 / 4
Shots on Goal: 9 / 3
Saves: 2 / 7
Corner Kicks: 8 / 0
Fouls: 9 / 12
Offside: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Kelley O’Hara (caution) 29th minute
USA – Shannon Boxx (caution) 31
CAN – Kaylyn Kyle (caution) 61
CAN – Candace Chapman (caution) 67
Officials:
Referee: Kari Seitz (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Veronica Perez (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Marlene Duffy (USA)
Fourth Official: Margaret Domka (USA)
Bud Light Woman of the Match:
Megan Rapinoe