USWNT defeats France 2-0 to win 10th Algarve Cup title

FARO, Portugal (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team earned its 10th championship at the Algarve Cup, defeating France 2-0 at Algarve Stadium.

Defender Julie Johnston’s first WNT goal proved to be the winner and Christen Press recorded her 20th international goal late in the first half. Budweiser Woman of the Match Hope Solo and the USA defense earned the shutout, with Solo coming up big with a diving stop on Amandine Henry’s 81st-minute penalty kick.

The title match was the USA’s 14th appearance in an Algarve Cup title game in 20 trips to the tournament. The USA and France had never faced each other in an Algarve Cup title game.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Julie Johnston (Lauren Holiday), 7th minute: Holiday took the free kick from 23 yards out to the left of the box and delivered a whipping right-footed ball that easily avoided France’s two-player wall and into the middle of the six-yard box. Johnston made a strong run, leaned to her left and headed the ball into the right side of the frame for her first WNT goal. It was Holiday’s team-leading third assist of the year. USA 1, FRA 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA – Christen Press (Amy Rodriguez), 41st minute: Hope Solo’s goal kick reached the midfield and Rodriguez deflected the ball toward Press. Romania referee Cristina Dorcioman allowed the USA to play advantage, and France’s defense stalled. Press played on and weaved her way through three scrambling France defenders before slotting her low shot just inside the right post for her first goal of the year and 20th of her WNT career. USA 2, FRA 0 (SEE GOAL) (FINAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Lauren Holiday, 2nd minute: France possessed well in the early going, with Eugenie Le Sommer lurking at the edge of the 18-yard box. Le Sommer attempted a right-footed blast but Holiday lunged in with an aggressive block.

USA – Hope Solo, 22nd minute: France’s Camille Abily geared up for a long range shot from outside the box that she drove past U.S. defender Julie Johnston. Solo needed to move slightly to her right to save the high-paced attempt and did well to prevent any rebound, leaning over to corral the shot.

USA – Hope Solo, 35th minute: France was awarded a free kick just to the left of the box, and Camille Abily’s right-footed ball was played to the edge of the six-yard box. Solo rushed off her line and punched it away with her left glove, directing the ball toward the sideline.

USA – Hope Solo, 40th minute: Kheira Hamraoui unleashed a low shot from distance, with Becky Sauerbrunn as the closest U.S. defender to the ball. Though Solo could have been partially screened, she was on top of the shot and punched it away. Julie Johnston then cleared the ball out of bounds.

USA – Hope Solo, 71st minute: France’s Laure Boulleau crossed in from the left side and the ball bent toward the goal. Solo needed to stretch to tip the ball as it almost simultaneously caromed off of the crossbar.

FRA – Sarah Bouhaddi, 79th minute: U.S. second-half sub Sydney Leroux hoped to get into the scoring act when the ball was played deep up the field. Bouhaddi read the play well and beat Leroux to the ball toward the top of the box.

USA – Hope Solo, 81st minute: U.S. outside back Meghan Klingenberg was whistled for grabbing Marie-Laure Delie’s arm in the penalty box. Amandine Henry took the penalty kick and Solo had it read the whole way. Even before Henry’s shot, Solo took a step to her right and then dove in that direction to parry the ball away. (SEE SAVE)

Milestone Watch:

• Goalkeeper Hope Solo earned her 81st shutout for the USA.
• Christen Press became the 26th player to record at least 20 goals during her WNT tenure.
• Abby Wambach made her 238th appearance and ranks sixth on the all-time WNT list. She is one game behind fifth-place Joy Fawcett (239 games from 1987-2004).
• Megan Rapinoe earned her 99th cap, and is now one appearance away from hitting the century mark. Thirty other WNT players have reached 100 caps.

Next on the Schedule:
The U.S. WNT hosts New Zealand at 2:30 p.m. CT on April 4 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where more than 30,000 tickets have been sold.
Broadcast information: FOX Sports 1

Additional Notes:

• The USA moved to 15-1-2 all-time and improved to 4-0-0 in the Algarve Cup against France.
• The U.S. is now 4-1-1 in 2015.
• U.S. head coach Jill Ellis’ lineup featured a 4-4-2, with Hope Solo in goal and a defensive line of Ali Krieger at right back, Meghan Klingenberg on the left and center back pairing Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston.
• In the midfield, Carli Lloyd wore the captain’s armband and played on the right. Christen Press was on the left and Lauren Holiday and Morgan Brian played centrally.
• Alex Morgan and Amy Rodriguez were paired up top, with Rodriguez earning her first start of the tournament.
• Kelley O’Hara replaced Rodriguez in the 68th minute for the USA’s first sub. Press moved up to forward and O’Hara played in the midfield.
• In the 75th minute, Sydney Leroux entered for Press.
• In the 85th minute, the USA made three subs. Shannon Boxx replaced Morgan Brian, Wambach for Klingenberg and Megan Rapinoe for Alex Morgan. Wambach played alongside Leroux up top, Rapinoe on the left side of the midfield and Boxx in central midfield. O’Hara dropped to left back.

– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report – 

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. France
Date: March 11, 2015
Competition: 2015 Algarve Cup – Championship Match
Venue: Algarve Stadium; Faro, Portugal
Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET; 4 p.m. local
Attendance: 1,500
Weather: 64 degrees; Sunny and breezy 

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                            2          0          2
FRA                             0          0          0

USA – Julie Johnston (Lauren Holiday)                     7th minute
USA – Christen Press (Amy Rodriguez)                    41 

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 26-Julie Johnston, 25-Meghan Klingenberg (20-Abby Wambach, 85); 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 12-Lauren Holiday, 14-Morgan Brian (7-Shannon Boxx, 85), 23-Christen Press (2-Sydney Leroux, 75); 8-Amy Rodriguez (5-Kelley O’Hara, 68), 13-Alex Morgan (15-Megan Rapinoe, 85)
Subs Not Used: 3-Christie Rampone, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 16-Lori Chalupny, 17-Tobin Heath, 19-Rachel Van Hollebeke, 22-Crystal Dunn, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Jill Ellis

FRA: 16-Sarah Bouhaddi; 8-Jessica Houara, 20-Anaïg Butel, 5-Sabrina Delannoy, 3-Laure Boulleau; 13-Kadidiatou Diani (7-Kenza Dali, 58), 6-Amandine Henry, 10-Camille Abily, 23-Kheira Hamraoui (11-Claire Lavogez, 58); 17-Gaëtane Thiney (18-Marie-Laure Delie, 78), 9-Eugénie Le Sommer
Subs Not Used: 1-Emmeline Mainguy, 2-Wendie Renard, 4-Sandra Toletti, 12-Elodie Thomis, 14-Aureli Kaci, 15-Elise Bussaglia, 19-Griedge M’Bock Bathy Nka, 21-Méline Gerard, 22-Amel Majri
Head coach: Philippe Bergeroo 

Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: 5 / 11
Shots on Goal: 2 / 7
Saves: 7 / 0
Corner Kicks: 2 / 7
Fouls: 13 / 6
Offside: 3 / 2 

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Morgan Brian (caution)                       33rd minute

Officials:
Referee: Cristina Dorcioman (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Petruta Iugulescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Sanja Rodak (CRO)
Fourth Official: Claudia Umpierrez (URU) 

Woman of the Match: Hope Solo