U.S. WNT defeats Portugal 1-0 for 500th all-time win

LISBON, Portugal (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team won its 500^th game in program history by defeating an organized and physical Portugal side, 1-0, to move its record to 17-0-2 on the year. Forward Jessica McDonald scored the game’s lone goal near the end of the first half, her first for the USA.

The USA had most of the possession throughout the match, but Portugal was extremely solid defensively, consistently putting seven or eight players in its defensive third and the USA could only manage one goal on the night despite several good chances to extend its lead in the second half.

The WNT’s breakthrough came in the 42nd minute when McDonald scored her first international goal on a hard-working play in the box where she followed her shot to score the rebound given up by Portugal goalkeeper Patrícia Morais in her second career cap.

Up Next: The U.S. WNT heads north for a second European friendly where Women’s World Cup-bound Scotland awaits on Nov. 13. The match at The Simple Digital Arena in the Glasgow suburb of Paisley will kick off at 2 p.m. ET and be broadcast on FS1 and UDN.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Jessica McDonald, 42nd minute: The USA struggled to break down an organized Portugal defense, but finally breached the bunker after Dunn got free down the right flank via a pass from Mallory Pugh. She bent a hard cross in on the ground to the crashing McDonald who hit her first shot well but right at the ‘keeper. A Portugal defender tried to clear the ball, but McDonald blocked the clearance back into the net for her first career goal. USA 1, POR 0. FINAL. WATCH GOAL.

Additional Team Notes:

• The win marked the 500th victory in the history of the U.S. Women’s National which played its first match in 1985 and earned its first win in 1986.
• The USA is 17-0-2 in 2018, with wins vs. Denmark, Germany, England, Mexico (thrice), China PR (twice), Japan, Brazil, Chile (twice), Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Canada and Portugal; and ties against Australia and France.
• The USA is unbeaten in its last 27 matches (24-0-3), and has outscored its opponents 92-17 through that stretch, scoring in all 27games. Since the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, the USA has failed to score in just one game (vs. Australia at the 2017 ToN). That’s a 32-game span.
• The WNT hasn’t conceded a goal in 794 minutes in 2018, with the last concession coming against Brazil in a 4-1 win at the Tournament of Nations on Aug. 2.

Additional Player Notes:

• Jessica McDonaldscored her first career goal tonight in her second WNT cap and first start. She made her WNT debut vs. Romania on Nov. 10, 2016 in San Jose, Calif.
• Emily Fox and Danielle Colaprico both made their U.S. WNT debuts tonight. They are the 26th and 27th players, respectively, to earn a first cap under Jill Ellis.
• Alyssa Naeherearned her 21st career shutout today in cap No. 38 and her 15th of 2018.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Portugal
Date: November 8, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Estadio António Coimbra da Mota; Estoril, Portugal
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local)
Attendance: TBD
Weather: 57 degrees; clear

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

USA – Jessica McDonald       42^nd minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 25-Emily Fox (10-Carli Lloyd, 63), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Crystal Dunn; 6-Andi Sullivan (22-Danielle Colaprico, 46), 16-Rose Lavelle (8-Julie Ertz, 82), 9-Lindsey Horan; 11-Mallory Pugh (2-Emily Sonnett, 73), 21-Jessica McDonald (13-Alex Morgan, 46), 15-Megan Rapinoe (capt.)
Substitutes not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris, 3-Sam Mewis
Head Coach: Jill Ellis

POR: 12-Patrícia Morais; 5-Matilde Fidalgo, 4-Sílvia Rebelo, 15-Carole Costa, 2-Mónica Mendes; 17-Vanessa Marques, 11-Tatiana Pinto (13-Fátima Pinto, 86), 14-Dolores Silva (capt.); 16-Diana Silva, 18-Carolina Mendes (6-Adreia Norton, 63), 20-Jéssica Silva (10-Ana Leite, 86)
Substitutes not used: 1-Inês Pereira, 22-Rute Costa, 3-Diana Gomes, 7-Vânia Duarte, 8-Laura Luís, 9-Ana Capeta, 19-Ana Santos, 21-Monique Gonçalves, 23-Telma Encarnação
Head Coach: Francisco Neto

Stats Summary: USA / POR
Shots: 13 / 13
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 13 / 15
Offside: 4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Andi Sullivan (caution)            31^st minute
POR – Jéssica Silva (caution)            48
USA – Crystal Dunn (caution)            69

Officials:
Referee: Rebecca Welch (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Sian Massey (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Helen Byrne (ENG)
4th Official: Vanessa Gomes (POR)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Abby Dahlkemper