U.S. Women’s National Team defeats Ireland 3-0 at Rose Bowl
PASADENA, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s National Team began its Victory Tour with a 3-0 win against Ireland before 37,040 boisterous fans at the historic Rose Bowl in Southern California. Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan and Carli Lloyd scored first half goals to set the USA on the way to victory.
Fresh from winning the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, the match vs. Ireland was the USA’s first on home soil since claiming a fourth world title. The U.S. dominated possession throughout the match, attaining an 80-20 percent advantage while amassing a 30-2 disparity in shots.
The U.S. wasted no time putting the screws to Ireland as Lloyd flashed a header wide and smashed a volley over the bar in the early going. With Crystal Dunn and Kelley O’Hara providing big threats down the flanks as the U.S. laid siege to the Ireland penalty area. Dunn saw a shot cleared off the line after a post-corner scrum and then the damn finally broke in the USA’s favor.
In the 16th minute, Press lifted a cross to the back right post for Heath to run under and head home. Horan then doubled the lead a minute past the half hour mark, tapping in a low cross from Mewis at the back left post before Lloyd sent a sumptuous header arching over Marie Hourihan in the Ireland goal a few minutes ahead of the half time whistle.
U.S. head coach Jill Ellis, who moved a step closer to becoming the USWNT’s all-time winningest coach with the win, made three substitutions at half time bringing on Jessica McDonald for Heath, Emily Sonnett for O’Hara and swapped goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris for Alyssa Naeher in the U.S. goal.
The second 45 was nearly identical to the first with the USA controlling play and regularly creating goal-scoring opportunities as more WNT players joined the fray. Ali Krieger came on for Lloyd, Allie Long entered for Mewis, who was withdrawn after taking an elbow to the face and finally Rose Lavelle subbed in for Press with the crowd roaring support for the players at each substitution. At the final whistle, the USWNT took a lap around the field to salute the fans that lingered, cheering on their champions.
Next on the Schedule: The USWNT players return to their NWSL clubs before the Victory Tour continues with stops in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 29 (7 p.m. ET; FS1) and Minneapolis-St. Paul at Allianz Field on Sept. 3 (7 p.m. CT; ESPN2). Both matches will see the USA take on Portugal.
Social: Twitter, Instagram (@ussoccer_wnt) and Facebook
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Tobin Heath (Christen Press), 16th minute: Lloyd showed great strength to push through two defenders about 30 yards from the goal and poked the ball to Samantha Mewis, who spun with a few touches and then sent a pass wide left to Press. The Utah Royals forward lifted a first-time cross to the back post for the streaking Heath to run under and she headed home from closer range with the goalkeeper closing in. USA 1, IRE 0 [WATCH]
USA – Lindsey Horan (Samantha Mewis), 31st minute: Tobin Heath carried the ball from middle of the field into the right side of the penalty box before being turned back by a swath of defenders. She dropped the ball back to Mewis who drove a grass-cutter through the penalty area toward the left post where Horan beat her defender to tap the ball into the wide-open net. USA 2, IRE 0 [WATCH]
USA – Carli Lloyd (Kelley O’Hara), 41s minute: The U.S. worked the ball into the Ireland final third and then wide right to O’Hara. She created space against her defender to serve a cross into the middle of the box that Lloyd met between two defenders to loop an elegant header over the goalkeeper into the right side of the goal. USA 3, IRE 0 [WATCH] FINAL
Additional Notes:
- The WNT improves to 13-0-0 all-time vs. Ireland.
- Carli Lloyd’s goal was the 114th of her career. She has played in 282 games.
- Lindsey Horan’s goal was her 4th 2019 and 11th of her career.
- Samantha Mewis now has four assists in 2019, tying her for second on the team.
- Christen Press recorded her team-leading eighth assist of the year.
- Tobin Heath scored her sixth goal of 2019 and 31st of her career.
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Republic of Ireland
Date: August 3, 2019
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Rose Bowl Stadium; Pasadena, Calif.
Attendance: 37,040
Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT
Weather: 82 degrees; clear skies
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 0 3
IRL 0 0 0
USA – Tobin Heath (Christen Press) 16th minute
USA – Lindsey Horan (Samantha Mewis) 31
USA – Carli Lloyd (Kelly O’Hara) 41
Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher (18-Ashlyn Harris, 46); 5-Kelly O’Hara (14-Emily Sonnett, 46), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 19-Crystal Dunn; 8-Julie Ertz, 3-Samantha Mewis (20-Allie Long, 60), 9-Lindsey Horan; 23-Christen Press (16-Rose Lavelle, 62) 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.) (11-Ali Krieger, 56), 17-Tobin Heath (22-Jessica McDonald, 46)
Substitutes not used: 21-Adrianna Franch, 12-Tierna Davidson, 6-Morgan Brian, 2-Mallory Pugh
Not Available: 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe
Head coach: Jill Ellis
IRL: 1-Marie Hourihan; 2-Heather Payne (20-Eabha O’Mahony, 69), 3-Harriet Scott, 4-Louise Quinn (18-Claire Walsh, 80), 5-Niamh Fahey, 7-Diane Caldwell, 9-Amber Barrett (12-Rianna Jarrett, 46), 11-Katie McCabe (capt.), 13-Jess Gargan, 15-Claire O’Riordan, 17-Niamh Farrelly
Substitutes not used : 16-Grace Moloney, 6-Alex Kavanagh, 8-Megan Connolly, 10-Eleanor Ryan-Doyle, 14-Lauren Dwyer, 19-Emily Whelan
Head coach: Tom O’Connor
Stats Summary: USA / IRL
Shots: 29 / 2
Shots on Goal: 9 / 0
Saves: 0 / 6
Corner Kicks: 16 / 2
Fouls: 3 / 2
Offside: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
IRL – Harriet Scott 54th minute
Officials:
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
4th Official: Karen ABT (USA)
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Carli Lloyd
