After a record-setting victory to open the World Cup on Tuesday, the U.S. continued their winning ways in Group F, taking down first time World Cup participants Chile, 3-0.
The U.S. made multiple changes to the starting lineup for the second match, likely to gauge the depth of the squad and to get some of the bench players more minutes and resting the starters before Thursday’s highly anticipated match against Sweden in the group stage finale.
2019 World Cup: Morgan Scores 5 Goals; USWNT Routs Thailand 13-0
Defender Becky Suaerbrunn returned to the starting lineup after sitting out the opener, while Carli Lloyd, Mallory Pugh and Christen Press – who all came on as subs in the first match – each got the start. 20-year old phenom Tierna Davidson got the start in her first career World Cup game, while veterans and 2015 champions Morgan Brian and Ali Krieger rounded out the changes.
Much like the Thailand match, the U.S. scored the first goal early, when a cross into the box was headed down by a Chile defender, finding a streaking Lloyd who smashed the ball into the back of the net for the lead.
WHAT A GOAL FROM CARLI LLOYD! ???
Dream start for the USA! pic.twitter.com/txYUkQTCTN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 16, 2019
The U.S. doubled the lead fifteen minutes later, when Tierna Davidson delivered a perfect cross off a corner kick that found the head of Julie Ertz, who whipped it in for the 2-0 advantage.
.@julieertz, back at it with the near post header goal.
Our set piece ? we stan. pic.twitter.com/j09xVgfvmG
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 16, 2019
Lloyd bagged another goal to increase the U.S. lead to 3-0 in the 35th, when another perfect cross by Davidson off a set piece found Lloyd in the box, who headed the ball down and into the goal.
I mean that’s her 10th #FIFAWWC career goal.
Lolz. How is @CarliLloyd even real.
?????????? pic.twitter.com/wCUnRAamsC
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 16, 2019
The three goals were enough for the U.S. to claim the victory, even though the lead could’ve been even bigger if not for the spectacular play of Chile’s goalkeeper Christiane Endler, who made six fantastic saves, including denying Christen Press a few times. Lloyd had a chance to increase the lead and register a hat trick via a penalty kick in the 81st, but she pushed the ball past the left of the near post. Despite the missed the chance, the U.S. took the victory and are now through to the knockout stages.
Lloyd keeps it rolling
With goals in the 11th and 35th minutes, Carli Lloyd scored in a World Cup record sixth straight match, while the latter strike was the 10th of her World Cup career, moving into third all-time on the USWNT list.
World Cup debuts
While Davidson started to register her first World Cup appearance, forward Jessica McDonald, midfielder Allie Long and defender Emily Sonnett each subbed into the match in the second half, recording their first World Cup minutes in their international careers.
Group F standings
Despite being even with Sweden on points (6) through two matches, the U.S. tops the group thanks to a pair of shutouts and a +16 goal differential. Sweden has also advanced through to the knockout stages, defeating Chile and Thailand.
Team W L GF GA GD Points
USA: 2 0 16 0 +16 (6)
Sweden: 2 0 7 1 +6 (6)
Chile: 0 2 0 5 -5 (0)
Thailand: 0 2 1 18 -17 (0)
Up Next
With two victories and six points, the U.S. has clinched a spot in the Round of 16. Their final group stage game will be against Sweden, who knocked out the U.S. in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games quarterfinals. With a win or draw against the Swedes, the U.S. will take the top spot in Group F, which will likely see them take on host and tournament co-favorites France in the quarterfinals.
The game against Sweden will take place on Thursday at the Stade Océane in Le Havre at 1 p.m. MT and can be seen on FOX.
