The U.S. Women’s National Team opened Group D play at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win against Australia at Winnipeg Stadium.
Midfielder Megan Rapinoe scored two goals and forward Christen Press added one to propel the USA past the Matildas in its opening match of the tournament. Australia threatened frequently in the first half, but several world-class saves from U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo highlighted the first half.
The USA’s first came off a deflected shot from Rapinoe in the 12th minute, but speedy Australian striker Lisa de Vanna tied things up in the 27th minute. The USA attack came alive in the second half and the Americans dominated down the stretch with Press and Rapinoe scoring the game-winnner and clincher, respectively.
The goals were Rapinoe’s second and third in the World Cup after she scores against Colombia at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany. Additionally, Rapinoe’s first tally of the night gave her 30th international goals, making her the 13th U.S. female player to score 30 times and tally 30 assists. She currently has 31 goals and 32 assists.
In the other Group D match earlier in the day, Nigeria and Sweden played to an exciting 3-3 draw that saw Nigeria erase an 2-0 deficit in the second half and then equalize late in the game after the Swedes had made it 3-2. Following today’s matches, the USA sits in first place of Group D with three points, followed by Nigeria and Sweden with one apiece, and then Australia with zero.
The seventh edition of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup takes place from June 6-July 5 throughout Canada. The U.S. continues the tournament against Sweden June 12 in Winnipeg and then finishes Group D play against Nigeria on June 16 at BC Place in Vancouver. The USA, Nigeria and Sweden have competed in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Milestone Watch:
- With today’s first goal, Megan Rapinoe scored her 30th career goal, making her the 13th U.S. female player to score 30 goals and tally 30 assists. She currently has 31 goals and 32 assists. The two goals were also her first tallies of 2015.
- Morgan Brian, Meghan Klingenberg, Julie Johnston, Sydney Leroux and Christen Press all made their World Cup debut.
- Press’ goal in the second half was her first in the World Cup. Leroux’s assist on Press’ goal was her first at a World Cup.
- After tonight’s start, Hope Solo now has 171 caps with the USWNT, the second-most for a goalkeeper in U.S. history behind Brianna Scurry (173; 1994-2008.)
- Solo has the most starts by a WNT goalkeeper with a 165, surpassing Scurry’s 159 (from 1994-2008). Solo is also in ninth place on the WNT’s all-time starts list surpassing Carla Overbeck (161 games from 1988-2000).
- Solo got closer to becoming the all-time leader in wins for a goalkeeper in U.S. history, earning her 131st win. She is behind only Scurry who had 133.
Additional Notes:
- The last time a U.S. player had two goals in a World Cup game was Abby Wambach in 2007 vs. Norway in the Third-Place match. The last time the feat was accomplished during group play it was also Wambach in 2007 against Sweden.
- The WNT has now earned at least a point in each of its seven opening matches at a Women’s World Cup.
- The USA is now 5-0-2 all-time in its Women’s World Cup openers, drawing China 3-3 in 1995 and North Korea 2-2 in 2011.
- Defender Becky Sauerbrunn is the only player on the roster to start and play every game for the USA in 2015. She has played the most minutes (969) of anyone on the team.
- Lloyd earned her 196th cap and could hit the 200 mark during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She would become the 10th player in U.S. history to reach that mark and the fourth on the current roster. Christie Rampone, Wambach and Heather O’Reilly are the other three.
- Morgan saw her first minutes of action on the field for the USA since she last played against New Zealand on April 4 in St. Louis.
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Australia
Date: June 8, 2015
Competition: 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Group D
Venue: Winnipeg Stadium; Winnipeg, Canada
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local)
Attendance: 31,148
Weather: 73 degrees; Cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 0
USA 1 2 3
AUS 1 0 1
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Abby Wambach) 12th minute
AUS – Lisa De Vanna (Michelle Heyman) 27
USA – Christen Press (Sydney Leroux) 61
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd) 78
Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Kriger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Julie Johnston, 22-Meghan Klingenberg; 23-Christen Press (17-Tobin Heath, 68), 12-Lauren Holiday, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe (14-Morgan Brian, 86); 2-Sydney Leroux (13-Alex Morgan, 79), 20-Abby Wambach (capt.)
Subs Not Used: 3-Christie Rampone, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Whitney Engen, 7-Shannon Boxx, 8-Amy Rodriguez, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 16-Lori Chalupny, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 21-Alyssa Naeher
Head coach: Jill Ellis
AUS: 18-Melissa Barbieri; 6-Servet Uzunlar, 5-Laura Alleway (3-Ashleigh Sykes, 83), 7-Stephanie Catley, 9-Caitlin Foord; 10-Emily Van Egmond, 8-Elise Kellond-Knight, 19-Katrina Gorry (14-Alanna Kennedy, 81); 11-Lisa De Vanna (capt.), 23-Michelle Heyman (17-Kyah Simon, 69), 20-Samantha Kerr
Subs not used: 1-Lydia Williams, 2-Larissa Crummer, 4-Clare Polkinghorne, 12-Leena Khamis, 13-Tameka Butt, 15-Teresa Polias, 16-Hayley Raso, 21-Mackenzie Arnold, 22-Nicola Bolger
Head coach: Alen Stajcic
Stats Summary: USA / AUS
Shots: 11 / 9
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 0 / 3
Fouls: 15 / 14
Offside: 1 / 1