USWNT blanks Colombia 2-0, advances to World Cup Quarterfinals

EDMONTON, Canada (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team recorded its third consecutive shutout to blank Colombia 2-0 in the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and book its ticket to the tournament Quarterfinals.

Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd scored in the second half to give the USA the lead and lift the team past Las Cafeteras. It was Morgan’s and Lloyd’s first goals since they both scored at the 2015 Algarve Cup in March.

Hope Solo and the USA back line have now shut out opponents for 333 straight minutes in this year’s World Cup. Solo also earned her 174th cap, the most by a goalkeeper in U.S. history, surpassing Briana Scurry (173 caps; 1994-2008).

The USA dominated much of the match in the first half with a couple of good chances, but it was not until the second frame until it converted those chances to goals.

In the 47th minute, he referee showed Catalina Perez a straight red card and called a penalty kick in favor of the USA after Colombia’s goalkeeper took down Morgan at the top of the penalty area. Abby Wambach stepped up to take it but shot wide left and the score remained 0-0 until Morgan’s strike six minutes later. Lloyd then sealed the win with a cooly taken PK in the 66th minute.

The WNT continues it World Cup quest against China PR on Friday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Quarterfinal will take place at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa, Canada. The game will be broadcast live on FOX and NBC Universo.

In the other Round of 16 matchups, Germany beat Sweden 4-1, while China PR won 1-0 against Cameroon on Saturday. A day later, Australia eliminated Brazil with a 1-0 win, France advanced after a 3-0 win over Korea Republic and host nation Canada downed Switzerland 1-0. Earlier today, England came back to defeat Norway 2-1 and secure its spot in the Quarterfinals. Seven of the eight teams have now been decided with only the winner of Japan vs. Netherlands left to be determined.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Alex Morgan (Ali Krieger), 53rd minute: Ali Krieger was able to slip the ball past the defense to Alex Morgan, who was just outside the right side of the box. Morgan took a couple of touches and ran inside where she sent a right-footed strike toward goal. Colombia’s goalkeeper Stefany Castaño got a hand on it but deflected it up and into the goal for the USA’s first goal of the game and Morgan’s first World Cup goal since the 2011 tournament final against Japan. USA 1, COL 0

USA – Carli Lloyd (penalty), 66th minute: After Megan Rapinoe was fouled by Angela Clavijo inside the box, the referee pointed to the penalty spot in favor of the USA. Carli Lloyd stepped up to take the shot and sent a perfect attempt to the middle right of the net as Stefany Castaño jumeped the wrong way for the USA’s second of the game. SEE GOAL USA 2, COL 0 (FINAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
COL – Catalina Perez, 4th minute (save): The USA mounted an early attack when Tobin Heath got inside the box and fired a shot from eight yards out. Colombia’s Catalina Perez was alert however and leaned to her left to barely keep the ball out of the net with her palm. The ball wasn’t fully cleared out of danger and Abby Wambach tapped it in for a goal but the assistant referee had the flag up for offside.

COL – Catalina Perez, 28th minute (save): A ball played into the box by Lauren Holiday sailed over a group of players and right towards Alex Morgan, who was waiting in the middle. Morgan gave it a slight touch with her head to send it towards the top of the net but Perez jumped in time to tap it over the crossbar.

COL – Natalia Gaitan, 38th minute (save): Megan Rapinoe cut the ball to her right foot and whipped a pass towards the six-yard box. The U.S. was in great position to make a play but Colombia’s captain Natalia Gaitan got there first to clear it out with a great header.

COL – Stefany Castaño, 75th minute (save): Carli Lloyd had some nifty moves in the midfield and positioned herself at the top of the box, sending a missile shot straight for the net. Castaño was quick to the attempt and jumped on the ball to grab it and avoid any danger.

Next on the Schedule: The WNT will meet China PR on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa, Canada.
Broadcast information:  FOX; NBC Universo

Milestone Watch:

• Hope Solo recorded her 87th career shutout. It was the third straight World Cup clean sheet for the USA, and Solo’s eighth in World Cup play, the second most by a U.S. goalkeeper behind Brianna Scurry (10).
• Solo tied Briana Scurry for most wins by a U.S. goalkeeper with 133.
• Solo has the most starts by a WNT goalkeeper with 168. Solo is also in 10th place on the WNT’s all-time starts list and behind ninth place Carli Lloyd, who earned her 171st start in tonight’s game.
• Carli Lloyd earned her 199th cap today and could hit the 200 mark if she plays during the Quarterfinal match against China PR on June 26. She would become the 10th player in U.S. history to reach that mark and the fourth on the current roster. Christie Rampone, Abby Wambach and Heather O’Reilly are the other three.

Additional Notes:

• The U.S. WNT has now advanced to the quarterfinals of every Women’s World Cup it has participated in (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015).
• Since allowing a goal against Australia in its opening match on June 8 in the 27th minute, the U.S. has shut down opponents
• The U.S. now has a record of 3-0-0 against Colombia and has outscored the nation 8-0 in a span of three games. The two sides have now met once at the Olympics and twice in World Cup play.
• Alex Morgan scored her first goal since she netted one during the USA’s 3-0 victory against Switzerland on March 4. Morgan now has three goals in 2015 and 52 international goals in her career.
• Carli Lloyd scored her first goal since netting two goals in the USA’s 2-1 win against Norway on March 4, 2015. Lloyd now has three goals in 2015 and 64 for her career.
• Lloyd has scored in every match the WNT has played against Colombia.
• Defender Lori Chalupny made her first appearance of the 2015 World Cup when she came in for Ali Krieger in the second half. It was her seventh World Cup appearance of her career.
• Defender Becky Sauerbrunn is the only player on the roster to start and play every game for the USA in 2015. She has played the most minutes (1,239) of anyone on the team.
• Six U.S. players have played all 360 minutes of the tournament so far: midfielder Lauren Holiday, defender Julie Johnston, defender Meghan Klingenberg, midfielder Carli Lloyd, defender Sauerbrunn and goalkeeper Hope Solo.
• In its last 14 games, the U.S. has surrendered just three goals and has scored 26.
• So far, 17 of the 20 field players on the World Cup roster have seen action in the tournament.
• Holiday and Rapinoe each received a yellow card during the match. It was their second of the tournament and will cause both players to miss the USA’s Quarterfinal match against China PR.

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

Match:  U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Colombia
Date:  June 22, 2015
Competition:  2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Round of 16
Venue:  Commonwealth Stadium; Edmonton, Canada
Kickoff:  8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local)
Attendance:  19,412
Weather:  70 degrees; Partly Cloudy

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

USA – Alex Morgan (Ali Krieger)       53rd minute
USA – Carli Lloyd (penalty)               66

Lineups:
USA:  1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger (16-Lori Chalupny, 81), 19-Julie Johnston, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 22-Meghan Klingenberg; 15-Megan Rapinoe (23-Christen Press, 75) 12-Lauren Holiday, 10-Carli Lloyd, 17-Tobin Heath; 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Abby Wambach (capt.) (14-Morgan Brian, 69)
Subs Not Used: 2-Sydney Leroux, 3-Christie Rampone, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Whitney Engen, 7-Shannon Boxx, 8-Amy Rodriguez, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 21-Alyssa Naeher,
Head coach: Jill Ellis

COL : 22-Catalina Perez; 17-Carolina Arias, 14-Nataly Arias, 13-Angela Clavijo, 9-Orianica Velasquez; 3-Natalia Gaitan (capt.), 6-Daniela Montoya (19-Leicy Santos, 85); 4-Diana Ospina, 10-Yoreli Rincon (11-Catalina Usme, 72) 16-Lady Andrade; 7-Ingrid Vidal (1-Stefany Castaño, 49)
Subs not used: 2-Carolina Arbelaez, 5-Lina Granados, 8-Mildrey Pineda, 11-Catalina Usme, 15-Tatiana Ariza, 18-Yisela Cuesta, 19-Leicy Santos, 20-Laura Cosme, 21-Isabella Echeverri, 23-Manuela Gonzalez
Head coach: Fabian Taborda

Stats Summary: USA / COL
Shots: 15 / 10
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 21 / 12
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Lauren Holiday (caution)                     17th minute
USA – Megan Rapinoe (caution)                    42
COL – Catalina Perez (sent off)                     47
COL – Angela Clavijo (caution)                      65

Officials:
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Manuela Nicolosi (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Yolanda Parga (ESP)
Fourth Official: Abirami Apbai Naidu (SIN)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Carli Lloyd