ALBUFEIRA, Portugal (March 6, 2013) – The U.S. Women’s National Team overcame a subpar first half to defeat Iceland 3-0 with all three goals coming in the second half. U.S. defender
Rachel Buehler tallied in her 100th career cap and forward Abby Wambach’s 154th goal moved her closer to Mia Hamm’s all-time international scoring record during a 3-0 victory to open Algarve Cup play. Those two scores were sandwiched around Shannon Boxx‘s 27th career goal.
It was the seventh year in a row the USA has won its Algarve Cup opener, but it was not easy against a physical Iceland team that played low pressure on the front line while pushing its backs high, which severely compacted the space in the midfield.
After a scoreless first half, Buehler gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute. Boxx scored in the 62nd minute and Wambach scored her goal 12 minutes later.
Former U.S. Under-20 star Crystal Dunn (UNC), who earned her first career cap at the senior level against Scotland on Feb. 13 in Nashville, Tenn., made her first career start, going the full 90 minutes at right back.
U.S. head coach Tom Sermanni made just one substitute in the game, sending on Christen Press for Carli Lloyd in the 64th minute.
The USA continues group play against China PR on March 8 back at the Municipal Stadium in Albufeira. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET and fans can watch the match on TV or online via Pay-Per-View.
Additional Notes:
- As is tradition on the U.S. team, Rachel Buehler wore the captain’s armband in her 100th cap. She earned her 100th cap in the same tournament and in the same stadium where she earned her first cap in 2008 against China.
- When Christen Press came on in the 64th minute for Carli Lloyd, she moved to left midfield and Lauren Cheney moved into the middle to take Lloyd’s spot.
- Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath, who arrived late into training camp due to a match with their French clubs and participated in just one training session, did not see action.
- The USA is riding a 26-game unbeaten streak since the last loss, which came to Japan on March 5 at the 2012 Algarve Cup in Portugal. The U.S. has scored 83 goals while allowing 20 in 23 wins and three ties.
- As U.S. head coach Tom Sermanni made just one substitute in the game, that sets the stage for possibly using a group of fresh players against China on March 8 in the USA’s next Group B match.
- Shannon Boxx’s 27th career goal came in her 183rd career cap.
U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report
- Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Iceland
- Date: March 6, 2013
- Competition: 2013 Algarve Cup
- Attendance: 500
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 3 3
Iceland 0 0 0
- USA – Rachel Buehler (Lauren Cheney) 48th minute
- USA – Shannon Boxx (Christie Rampone) 62
- USA – Abby Wambach (Alex Morgan) 74
Lineups:
USA : 21-Jill Loyden; 6-Crystal Dunn, 19-Rachel Buehler (capt.), 3-Christie Rampone, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 9-Heather O’Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd (23-Christen Press, 64), 12-Lauren Cheney; 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Abby Wambach
Substitutions Not Used: 2-Sydney Leroux, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 8-Kristie Mewis, 11-Ali Krieger, 14-Whitney Engen, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Yael Averbuch, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 22-Lindsey Horan, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Tom Sermanni
Iceland: 1-Thóra Helgadóttir; 2-Sif Atladóttir, 5-Hallbera Gudn‡ Gísladóttir, 13-Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, 10-Dóra María Lárusdóttir, 6-Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir (22-Sandra María Jessen, 64), 7-Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (capt.) (20-Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir, 83), 11-Katrín Ómarsdóttir (4-Edda Gardarsdóttir,73), 14-Dagn‡ Brynjarsdóttir (15-Gudn‡ Ódinsdóttir, 79), 9-Fanndís Fridriksdóttir (3-Rakel Hönnudóttir, 46), 18-Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir (23-Elín Metta Jensen, 73)
Substitutions Not Used: 8-Katrín Jónsdóttir, 12-Gudbjörg Gunnarsdóttir, 16-Birna Kristjánsdóttir, 17-Ólína Gudbjörg Vidarsdóttir, 19-Mist Edvardsdóttir, 21-Elísa Vidarsdóttir
Head coach: Sigurdur Eyjolfsson
Stats Summary: USA / Iceland
- Shots: 18 / 4
- Shots on Goal: 8 / 1
- Saves: 1 / 5
- Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
- Fouls: 12 / 16
- Offside: 7 / 2
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Heather O’Reilly