With goals from five different players, the U.S. women’s national team routed South Korea, 6-0, Sunday in North Carolina.
The U.S. came out in the same 4-3-3 formation as it did in its last outing last week against the Koreans, but made a few changes in the starting lineup by bringing in Christen Press and Lynn Williams to start at forward and replacing Andi Sullivan with Allie Long in the midfield. Sofia Huerta earned her first start at right back, while head coach Jill Ellis also gave Ashlyn Harris the start in goal for the U.S.
It didn’t take long for the U.S. to find a goal, as Abby Dahlkemper lofted a ball into the box off a corner kick that found an unmarked Sam Mewis, who headed the ball into the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the third minute.
Mewis scored again in the 20th minute, putting the ball in the back off the net off a poor deflection by the South Korean keeper, bagging a brace on her home field and increasing the U.S. lead to 2-0.
There's no place like home ?@sammymewy bags her first career multi-goal game at her club stadium! pic.twitter.com/evPMiuzzNa
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 22, 2017
The U.S. added to their lead in the 35th minute, when Alex Morgan found a streaking Christen Press, who fired a beautiful arcing shot over the keeper and into the net, giving the U.S. a 3-0 lead.
? P ? R ? E ? S ? S ?
Go on, @ChristenPress! pic.twitter.com/oEz5mDUzF0
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 22, 2017
South Korea nearly scored in the 41st minute, but a save by Ashlyn Harris kept them off the scoreboard.
Goals are fun, but we're here for the defense too. Hello, @Ashlyn_Harris! ? pic.twitter.com/pzHQUGHAtU
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 22, 2017
The U.S. added another goal in first half stoppage time, when Julie Ertz headed in a ball at the far post from Lindsey Horan into the net, Ertz’s fifth goal in six matches. The goal also put Ertz in a tie for the team lead in 2017 with Alex Morgan.
The Ertz family has a thing for Sundays.@julieertz ties @alexmorgan13 for the team goal lead at five! pic.twitter.com/JyHwsoG8rR
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 22, 2017
The U.S. remained in control to open half number two, and Lynn Williams added to the U.S.’s lead in the 61st minute, when a turnover by South Korea gave Megan Rapinoe the ball, who fired the ball to Williams for the goal.
When opportunity knocks ?, @mPinoe and @lynnraenie answer ? pic.twitter.com/iKwTZ4lRrD
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 22, 2017
The U.S. added their final goal in the 84th minute, when second half sub Allie Long scored off another Horan assist, punctuating a 6-0 win.
The ? on ?@ALLIE_LONG slots one home to put a bow on a 6-0 #USWNT victory! pic.twitter.com/SnQV1Eu25t
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 22, 2017
South Korea had a few chances to get on the board in the closing minutes, but Jane Campbell made a save in the 86th minute, and the resulting free kick sailed over the crossbar, preserving the USWNT’s shutout win.
Notes
McCall Zerboni made her first appearance and made it count as she registered her first cap for the red, white, and blue, subbing in at halftime. The 30-year old is the oldest player to register a first cap for the USWNT.
Up Next
The U.S. will take on Canada in a home-and-home series next month. The first is scheduled for November 9 at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN2, with the match taking place in Vancouver. The teams will then head to San Jose and play again November 12 at 6 p.m. PT, and can be viewed on Fox Sports 1.
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