New Year, New Team
Yesterday’s U.S. Women’s National Team match against China saw many new faces – but it wasn’t the first time the “Stars and Stripes” have called the RioT home. In fact, since its inaugural groundbreaking in 2006, the fortress has welcomed five USWNT friendlies, hosting teams like Canada, Mexico, and Switzerland. Undefeated in Salt Lake, the U.S. side was again victorious this week, beating China PR 1-0 off of a header from FW Alex Morgan in the 57th minute.
USA also welcomed home some returning members, such as heralded URFC striker Amy Rodriguez, who subbed into the match in the 76th minute. A-Rod, who hasn’t worn the U.S. crest in over a year since rehabbing from her 2017 ACL injury, entered the field to a crowd of cheering fans and supportive teammates.
“It was everything I remembered, but it meant so much more,” said Rodriguez to the NWSL after the match. “You never know what kind of player you’re going to return to be, or if you’re ever going to be as good as you once were…I put a lot of tears – a lot of sweat in this.”
Alongside Rodriguez was Utah Royals FC teammate DF Becky Sauerbrunn, who has been a mainstay for the national team for years. Registering over 100 caps, Sauerbrunn started the match against China and played all 90 minutes. Playing out wide, Sauerbrunn was able to move into the attack more frequently than she usually can as a center back. It was a thrilling spectacle for fans to see URFC captain Sauerbrunn out on the field in USA blues.
One of the younger players on the squad, GK Abby Smith also dressed for the highly-anticipated friendly. The Plano native did not sub into the game.
Of Note:
- The USA is 6-0-1 in 2018, with wins over Denmark, Germany, England, Mexico (twice), and China PR, along with a tie against France
- The USA is unbeaten in its last 15 matches (13-0-2). The USA has outscored its opponents 47-12 over those 15 matches and has scored in all 15 games.
- Alex Morgan scored her 86th international goal tonight in her 141st cap. At age 28, she sits in sole possession of seventh place on the USA's all-time goal scoring list. She’s scored 13 goals over her last 14 WNT matches. This was Morgan's third consecutive game with a goal. It was also her fourth goal against China, and first since a brace on May 27, 2012.
- Megan Rapinoe made her 136th international appearance today. She has 36 career goals and leads the USA with six assists on the year, including tonight’s, and now has 50 for her career, tying Carli Lloyd and Shannon McMillan for seventh in U.S. history. Rapinoe’s 50 assists in 136 caps is the best assist to games ratio of anyone ahead of her on the all-time list except for Mia Hamm, who had a remarkable 145 assists in her 276 caps.
- Ellis made three more subs in the 66th minute, Carli Lloyd for Megan Rapinoe, Allie Long for Julie Ertz and Christen Press for Abby Dahlkemper. Press earned cap No. 99 tonight and is now one away from becoming the 37th woman in U.S. WNT history to reach the century mark.
- Amy Rodriguez came in for Alex Morgan in the 76th minute, making her first appearance for the WNT since April 6, 2017. Rodriguez made her NWSL debut this year on April 14, 2018 after missing almost two full club seasons due to coming back from the birth of her second son in 2016 and then tearing her ACL in the NWSL opener in 2017. She has 30 goals in her 131 caps, which include several notable scores in U.S. history.
- McCall Zerboni earned her second cap tonight and played all 90 minutes, while Savannah McCaskill earned her sixth and played the first 45. They both made their first U.S. WNT career starts tonight.
What do the numbers say?
Attendance: 13,230
USA / CHN
Possession 59% / 41%
Shots: 11 / 3
Shots on Target: 3 / 12
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 12 / 1
Fouls: 12 / 11
Offside: 5 / 6
What’s Next?
The friendly at Rio Tinto stadium is the first leg of a two-game friendly set against China PR this month. Amy Rodriguez, Abby Smith, and Becky Sauerbrunn will now head to Cleveland, Ohio, in preparation for their upcoming game on Tuesday, June 12. Head coach Jill Ellis has commented that these friendlies will be used as “preparation for the upcoming Tournament of Nations,” set to take place at the end of the July, as well as the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers in the fall.
