USWNT begins SheBelieves Cup with 2-0 victory over England

ORLANDO, FLA. – The U.S. Women’s National Team began the 2020 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-0 victory against England in front of 16,531 fans at Exploria Stadium. Christen Press and Carli Lloyd each converted world class finishes to secure the USWNT the well-earned victory.

The triumph ties the USA (1-0-0, 3 pts) with Spain atop the tournament standings in points after the conclusion of the first matchday, but Spain is currently in first place based on more goals scored. In the first game of the night Spain (1-0-0, 3pts) defeated Japan (1-0-0, 3pts) 3-1.

The USA will face Spain next on March 8 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. The match will kick-off at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN and TUDN.

Julie Ertz put in a magnificent performance in the center midfield in earning her 100^th appearance for the USA. She became the 40th woman in U.S. history to hit the century mark and will be honored for the achievement at a match later this year.

2020 SheBelieves Cup Standings

The teams opened at a frenetic pace, pressing one another in a bid to win turnovers and convert them into offensive opportunities. The U.S. carved out the first truly dangerous chance on goal just after the 10^th minute when Rose Lavelle cut in from the left wing and unleashed a long drive that a sprawling England goalkeeper Carly Telford did well to push away.

England’s best chance came via a corner kick in the 26^th minute. The ball was whipped across the six-yard box and then flicked on by the head of an England player to Jill Scott, but her redirection skied over the bar.

The U.S. dominated the half, doubling up the Lionesses on shots (11-5) and shots on goal (4-2) and also saw a potential penalty kick waved away in the 38^th minute. Tobin Heath went one-on-one against Alex Greenwood in the England box, drawing contact as she tried to rush past the center back, but referee Jamaican referee Odette Hamilton waved play on.

On the other side of the break, Lloyd teamed up with Press to break the deadlock in the 53^rdminute. Lloyd spun to avoid a defender and then sent an incisive pass to the feet of Press, who turned towards goal and curled a beautiful shot past Telford into the top right corner.

Lloyd then doubled the U.S. lead two minutes later with a point-blank conversion after a deft chip pass from Lindsay Horan beat the England back line. The goal put the USA in the driver’s seat, but the Americans could have gotten a few more on the night with some crisper finishing.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher preserved the USA’s hard-earned advantage moments later with a sliding save on Nikita Parris. The brave stop at the feet of the England attacker was just one of Naeher’s three important saves on the night on the way to her 35^th career shutout and a solid win for the USA to open the 2020 SheBelieves Cup.

In the end, the USA out-shot England 22-8 and allowed just three shots on goal. This was the first time the USA has beaten England by two goals since the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup when the Americans won 3-0 in the quarterfinals. The previous seven matches had all been decided by one goal (or less) as the USA had four wins, England had two wins, and the teams drew once, a 2-2 contest at last year’s SheBelieves Cup.

Next on the Schedule: The USA heads north to Harrison, N.J. for a showdown against Spain on Sunday, March 8 (5 p.m. ET; ESPN, TUDN) at Red Bull Arena. Fans will also be able to watch the day’s first game between England and Japan on ESPN3 at 2:15 p.m.
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Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Christen Press (Carli Lloyd), 53rd minute: Facing away from goal, Carli Lloyd controlled the ball in the final third and with a defender on her back spun to her right before cutting a sharp angled pass into the middle of the field for Press, who was stationed just outside the box. Two silky touches later, Press had bought herself the space she needed to curl a magnificent shot beyond the diving Carly Telford into the top right corner of the England net. USA 1, ENG 0 [WATCH]

USA – Carli Lloyd (Lindsay Horan), 55th minute: A U.S. attack was repelled but England’s clearance only made it as far as Christen Press, who waited just outside the left side of the box. She volleyed a one-time pass to Horan outside the penalty arc and the crafty midfielder then lifted a perfect chip pass behind the England back line into the path of Lloyd, who brought the ball down and smashed a left-footed shot into the right side of the goal. USA 2, ENG 0 [WATCH] FINAL

Additional Notes:

• The USWNT is 12-4-2 all-time vs. England.
• The USA is 8-2-3 all time in SBC play with a 3-1-1 record vs. England.
• The U.S. is unbeaten in its last 13 matches in all competitions against European nations, winning the last 11 in a row by an aggregate score of 31-5.
• The USWNT is unbeaten on home soil over its last 46 matches, 41 wins and five draws.
• The USA is riding a 29-game unbeaten streak and has scored two or more goals in 26 of those games.
• Eight players have scored so far for the USA in 2020: Press (6), Horan (6), Mewis (4), Williams (2), Lavelle (2), McDonald (2), Lloyd (2), and Heath.
• Christen Press’ goal gave her six in 2020, tying her for the team lead with Lindsey Horan. She now has 57 career goals for the WNT.
• Carli Lloyd’s goal was her second of 2020 and the 123^rd of her international career. Her assist on Press’ goal was her third of the year.
• Crystal Dunn is the only player to start every game so far this year for the USA.
• Ten of the USA’s 11 starters also started the 2019 World Cup semifinal vs. England. Carli Lloyd in for Alex Morgan was the only change.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. England
Date: March 5, 2020
Competition: SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 16,531
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: 82 degrees, Partly Cloudy

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

USA – Christen Press (Carli Lloyd) 53^rd minute
USA – Carli Lloyd (Lindsey Horan) 55

Lineups:
USA :1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Kelley O’Hara, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Crystal Dunn; 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle (3-Samantha Mewis, 70), 9-Lindsey Horan; 17-Tobin Heath (13-Lynn Williams, 70), 10-Carli Lloyd (Capt.) (22-Jessica McDonald, 89), 23-Christen Press (15-Megan Rapinoe, 62)
Substitutes not used: 2-Mallory Pugh, 6-Andi Sullivan, 11-Ali Krieger, 12-Tierna Davidson, 14-Emily Sonnett, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 20-Casey Short, 21-Adrianna Franch
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski

ENG :1-Carly Telford; 14-Leah Williamson, 6-Millie Bright (11-Toni Duggan, 71), 5-Steph Houghton (Capt.), 3-Alex Greenwood; 16-Georgia Stanway, 8-Jill Scott (10-Jordan Nobbs, 65), 4-Keira Walsh; 7-Nikita Parris (22-Chloe Kelly, 89), 18-Ellen White (9-Bethany England, 73), 20-Lauren Hemp
Substitutes not used: 2-Rachel Daly, 12-Demi Stokes, 13-Ellie Roebuck, 15-Abbie McManus, 17-Lucy Staniforth, 19-Alessia Russo, 21-Sandy Maclver, 23-Grace Fisk
Head coach: Phil Neville

Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 22 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 6
Fouls: 8 / 14
Offside: 5 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Odette Hamilton (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Stephanie Fortin (CAN)
4th Official: Myriam Marcotte (CAN)

Player of the Match : Carli Lloyd