She’s Baccccccccck! Two goals to lead U.S. in East Hartford, Ct.
U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan scored her first international goals in seven months as she helped FIFA’s # 1-ranked USA overcome two deficits to earn a 2-2 draw against #4 France in front of 14,695 fans at Rentschler Field.
The U.S. WNT also extended its record home unbeaten streak to 84 games having posted a 74-0-10 record since Nov. 6, 2004.
Goal Scoring Rundown: FRA – Louisa Necib (penalty), 27th minute:France took a 1-0 lead on the 27th minute penalty kick ahen USA goalkeeper Ashley Harris was ruled to have made contact with Louisa Necib’s leg as they chased down a ball in the corner of the U.S. peanalty box. Necib shot down the middle as Harris guessed to her right to give France the lead
Alex Morgan, playing in just her second match this year, found her scoring touch in the 56th minute to tie the game and looked to be fully recovered from an ankle injury that kept her out for seventh months. Midfielder Allie Long, making just her second start, played threaded a pass to Morgan in the middle of the field. Morgan made space at the top of the penalty area and drilled a left-footed strike from 25 yards out that deflected off the inside of the left post and past France goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. Morgan then jumped over the signboards behind the goal to celebrate the equalizer with the fans. It was Morgan’s first goal of the year and first goal since she recorded a brace against Canada on June 2, 2013.
France dispossessed the USA in midfield and launched a lightning-quick attack up the middle which resulted in a goal and a 2-1 second-half lead. Ali Krieger broke things up, but her clearance wound up at the foot of Amandine Henry, who ran onto the ball a yard inside the box on the right side and fired just inside the right post past a diving Ashlyn Harris to retake the lead.
Morgan’s second goal tied the game with five minutes left in regulation, when second-half sub Tobin Heath took the quick throw-in from the left side to Morgan and the energetic forward weaved her way through two France defenders for a right-footed shot. France goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi got a foot on it, but did not do enough to prevent the ball from bouncing into the net.
Milestone Watch:
Alex Morgan scored her 45th and 46th goals, passing Julie Foudy (45 goals) for 10th on the all-time goal scoring list.
Heather O’Reilly moved into sole possession of seventh on the all-time caps list with her 205th appearance, passing Tiffeny Milbrett (204 caps from 1991-2005).
Carli Lloyd moved into a 13th-place tie in all-time caps with former U.S. WNT goalkeeper Briana Scurry with her 173rd cap.
With her second-half appearance, defender Christie Rampone reaches 294 caps. She is second all-time behind Kristine Lilly (352 caps from 1987-2010).
Next on the Schedule: No future international friendly matches have been announced at this time. The USA will be looking forward to CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying, which will take place in the United States in October.
Additional Notes:
The USA is 14-0-2 in the all-time series against France.
The U.S. WNT is now 8-2-2 in 2014.
U.S. WNT head coach Jill Ellis went with a starting lineup that featured Ashlyn Harris in goal as she made her first appearance of 2014 and third appearance of her career. Regular starting goalkeeper Hope Solo was unavailable due to a family commitment.
The back line featured two changes from the previous game against France, with Meghan Klingenberg at left back and Whitney Engen at center back. Right back Ali Krieger and center back Becky Sauerbrunn retained their starting roles.
The midfield trio in the 4-3-3 formation remained unchanged with Allie Long, Carli Lloyd and Lauren Holiday.
Carli Lloyd wore the captain’s armband.
The starting front three included one lineup change from the last game with Heather O’Reilly getting the nod. Sydney Leroux and Christen Press returned to the starting lineup.
All-time goal scoring leader Abby Wambach (167 goals) was once again unavailable for selection Thursday as she returns from a knee injury that occurred during a June 1 match in National Women’s Soccer League play.
At the start of the second half, Ellis made her first two substitutions as Christie Rampone entered for Engen and Alex Morgan replaced O’Reilly.
Tobin Heath replaced Long in the 60th minute.
In the 79th minute, Kelley O’Hara replaced Klingenberg and Amy Rodriguez joined the attack in place of Leroux.
O’Reilly, Press and Sauerbrunn are the only WNT players to have appeared in all 12 matches in 2014.
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. France Date: June 19, 2014 Competition: International Friendly Venue: Rentschler Field; East Hartford, Conn. Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET Attendance: 14,695 Weather: 78 degrees, humid
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 2 2
FRA 1 1 2
FRA – Louisa Necib (penalty) 27th minute
USA – Alex Morgan (Allie Long) 56
FRA – Amandine Henry 68
USA – Alex Morgan (Tobin Heath) 85
Lineups: USA: 24-Ashlyn Harris; 11-Ali Krieger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 6-Whitney Engen (3-Christie Rampone, 46), 25-Meghan Klingenberg (5-Kelley O’Hara, 79); 15-Allie Long (17-Tobin Heath, 60), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 12-Lauren Holiday; 9-Heather O’Reilly (13-Alex Morgan, 46), 2-Sydney Leroux (8-Amy Rodriguez, 79), 23-Christen Press Subs Not Used: 7-Morgan Brian, 18-Nicole Barnhart Head Coach: Jill Ellis
FRA: 16-Sarah Bouhaddi; 8-Jessica Houara, 2-Wendy Renard, 4-Laura Goerges, 24-Julie Soyer; 6-Amandine Henry, 15-Elise Bussaglia, 14-Louisa Necib, 12- Elodie Thomis; 9-Eugenie Le Sommer (10-Camille Abily, 84), 17-Gaetane Thiney (18-Marie Laure Delie, 89) Subs Not Used: 1-Celine Deville, 3-Laure Boulleau, 5-Sabrina Delannoy, 7-Viviane Asseyi, 11-Laetitia Tonazzi, 13-Pauline Crammer, 19-Marina Makanza, 20-Anaig Butel, 21-Laetitia Phiippe, 22-Amel Hamraoui, 23-Kheria Hamraoui, 25-Ines Jurena Head Coach: Philippe Bergeroo
Stats Summary: USA / FRA Shots: 11 / 8 Shots on Goal: 6 / 3 Saves: 1 / 4 Corner Kicks: 4 / 1 Fouls: 5 / 14 Offside: 1 / 5