USWNT defeats China PR 2-0 in Arizona on Victory Tour

GLENDALE, Arizona (Via U.S. Soccer) – The 2015 World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team resumed its Victory Tour with 2-0 shutout of China PR at University of Phoenix Stadium in front of 19,066 fans, a record crowd to watch a WNT game in Arizona.

The meeting was the first between the teams since the June 26 quarterfinal at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, a match won 1-0 by the USA on a Carli Lloyd goal in Ottawa, Canada.

Despite attacking for a majority of the game, the USA did not find the net until Crystal Dunn finally broke through in the 39th minute following a poor clearance from China PR. She collected the rolling ball inside the box and fired a left-footed shot through traffic and into the right side of the net past the screened China goalkeeper. The goal was Dunn’s fourth international score.

+Read: U.S. U-20 WNT wins CONCACAF U-20 Championship 1-0 vs. Canada

Similar to the previous match against Trinidad & Tobago on Dec. 10, Christen Press came on as a sub and immediately impacted the game, scoring on her first touches with a blast from long range to seal victory for the USA. Press entered the game in the 79th and scored in the 81st.

Forward Abby Wambach made her 254th appearance as she came on in the 79th minute for Carli Lloyd. The USA will bid farewell to Wambach, the world’s all-time leading scorer, in the final game of the Victory Tour on Dec. 16 in New Orleans in a rematch against China PR.

With the win, the WNT extended its unbeaten home streak to 104 games (91-0-13). The last loss at home came to Denmark on Nov. 6, 2004, in Philadelphia.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Crystal Dunn, 39th minute: Alex Morgan ran deep into the attacking third down the right side and crossed the ball on the ground. China twice failed to clear and the ball rolled to Dunn, who took a touch and then blasted a shot with her left foot into the back of the net. USA 1, CHN 0 ( SEE GOAL)

USA – Christen Press, 81st minute: Another poor clearance from China inside the box led to substitute Christen Press scoring on her first touches of the game. She collected the ball, made space for a shot with a nifty dribble and drove the ball into the upper left corner her 10th goal of the year. USA 2, CHN 0. FINAL ( SEE GOAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
CHN – Zhao Lina, 54th – Second-half sub Heather O’Reilly ran with the ball on the left side, sending an excellent cross to Alex Morgan in the middle. Morgan got good contact on her half-volley but Lina was able to shuffle acorss the goal and made a great with her body to block the attempt.

USA – Alyssa Naeher, 90+4: On the very last play of the game, China PR took a corner kick that was perfectly sent to the middle of the box. Li Ying jumped up for the ball and placed an excellent header on frame, but Naeher secured the ball solidly on the dive to preserve the shutout.

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT concludes its Victory Tour in New Orleans on Dec. 16 (7 p.m. CT; FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports GO) with a rematch against China PR. The match in New Orleans will serve as the farewell game for retiring U.S. legend Abby Wambach.

Milestone Watch:

• Crystal Dunn scored her fourth international goal. All four goals have come during the Victory Tour.
• Christen Press notched her 10th goal of 2015, and is now one shy of her career-best 11 goals she scored last year. Her 10 goals are the second-most on the team behind Lloyd’s 18. Press now has 29 goals in her career. Eight of Press’ 10 goals this year have come during the Victory Tour.
• Tonight’s attendance was 19,066, which marks the largest crowd to watch a USWNT match in Arizona. The previous record was 18,482 (a 1-1 draw vs. Sweden on Nov. 19, 2011, also at University of Phoenix Stadium).
• More than 28,000 tickets have been sold for the final Victory Tour match in New Orleans, nearly doubling the previous WNT record in Louisiana of 15,074, set July 13, 2003 in a 1-0 victory over Brazil at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans (which was the only previous visit to Louisiana).
• Lindsey Horan got her third consecutive start for the WNT and earned her fifth cap. She scored her first international goal in the 92nd minute on Dec. 10 against Trinidad & Tobago in San Antonio and added two assists.
• The match marked Alyssa Naeher’s fourth cap and second start in goal for the USA. She earned her second career shutout.

Additional Notes:

• Mesa, Arizona native Julie Johnston played in front of her hometown crowd for the United States for the first time and saw the American Outlaws unveil a tifo in her honor before the match.
• The win today marks the 20th victory of the year for the USWNT (20-1-4). The USA has now won 20 or more games in a year on nine occasions.
• Forward Stephanie McCaffrey and defenders Jaelene Hinkle and Emily Sonnett all earned their third caps
• This was the USA’s third visit to University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the NFL’s playoff-bound Arizona Cardinals. The USA last played at the world-class facility in November of 2011 (1-1 tie with Sweden) and December of 2012 (2-0 win vs. Ireland). The USA also played two matches in Phoenix in 1995 to kick off the campaign for the 1995 Women’s World Cup, facing Australia twice at the Cave Creek Complex, and played at Bank One Ballpark, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Dec. of 2000.
• USA captain Christie Rampone will not be available for the final Victory Tour match due to ongoing issues resulting from a bone bruise in her left knee. Rampone has returned home, but will re-join the U.S. team for the final game of the Victory Tour in New Orleans.
• Nineteen different players have scored for the USA this year, led by Carli Lloyd with 18 goals (16 of which have come since the start of the knockout rounds at the Women’s World Cup).
• Lloyd’s 18 goals are a career high for her in a calendar year and eight more than her closest teammate. Press has 10 goals and Wambach and Alex Morgan have seven each. Lloyd’s previous high was 15 in 2014 and 2012.
• The 19 players to score for the USA in 2015 are: Kelley O’Hara, Morgan, Wambach, Amy Rodriguez, Press, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg, Megan Rapinoe, Morgan Brian, Lori Chalupny, Sydney Leroux, Lloyd, Lauren Holiday, Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly, Whitney Engen, Crystal Dunn, McCaffrey and Lindsey Horan.
• Alex Morgan could be the next U.S. player to hit 100 caps as she is currently at 98. Becky Sauerbrunn is next in line with 95.
• In 25 games played this year, the U.S. has surrendered 11 goals and has scored 74. The USA hasn’t lost a match since dropping its opening game of 2015 on Feb. 8 to France.
• While Wambach is the USA’s top scorer on the roster with 184 goals, Lloyd is next with 79 career international goals and Morgan has 56. Heather O’Reilly has scored 46.
• U.S. Soccer has announced the five nominees for the 2015 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. This year’s field features midfielders Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, defender Becky Sauerbrunn, and goalkeeper Hope Solo. All five played major roles in the USA winning the 2015 Women’s World Cup with Carli Lloyd winning the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament while Solo won the Golden Glove as the top goalkeeper. Lloyd, Solo and Sauerbrunn played every minute of the tournament. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 16, during the pre-game coverage of the USA vs. China PR match from NOLA on FOX Sports 1.
• With her goal against Haiti on Sept. 17, Press became the 22nd player in U.S. WNT history to score 25 or more goals. She currently has 29, which moves her past Shannon Boxx and Joy Fawcett into 20th on the USA’s all-time goal scoring list.
• Wambach’s appearance against Costa Rica on Aug. 16 marked her 250th cap. She’s one of only five U.S. players to hit that mark and now has 254 with one match left to play.
• Heather O’Reilly earned her 226th cap when she came on at halftime.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. China PR
Date: Dec. 13, 2015
Competition: International Friendly; Victory Tour
Venue: University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, Arizona
Kickoff: 5 p.m. MT
Attendance: 19,066
Weather: Indoors

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

USA – Crystal Dunn 39th minute
USA – Christen Press 81

Lineups:
USA: 21-Alyssa Naeher; 11-Ali Krieger (26-Jaelene Hinkle, 46), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Julie Johnston, 22-Meghan Klingenberg; 25-Crystal Dunn (9-Heather O’Reilly, 46), 31-Lindsey Horan (27-Emily Sonnett, 79), 14-Morgan Brian, 17-Tobin Heath (28-Stephanie McCaffrey, 79); 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.) (20-Abby Wambach, 79), 13-Alex Morgan (23-Christen Press, 79)
Subs Not Used: 1-Hope Solo, 2-Sydney Leroux, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Whitney Engen, 8-Amy Rodriguez, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 29-Samantha Mewis, 30-Rose Lavelle, 32-Danielle Colaprico
Head coach: Jill Ellis

CHN: 22-Zhao Lina; 2-Liu Shanshan, 14-Zhao Rong, 6-Li Dongna, 24-Xue Jiao; 9-Wang Shanshan, 11-Wang Shuang (10-Li Ying, 71), 15-Lei Jiahui (18-Han Peng, 46), 17-Gu Yasha (7-Xu Yanlu, 79), 35-Yang Man (23-Ren Guixin, 71); 19-Tan Ruyin
Subs Not Used: 5-Wu Haiyan, 12-Bi Xiaolin, 16-Lou Jiahui, 20-Zhang Rui, 21-Wang Lisi, 28-Jiang Meizi, 31-Ma Xiaoxu, 32-Miao Siwen
Head coach: Bruno Bini

Stats Summary: USA / CHN
Shots: 24 / 4
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 3 / 10
Offside: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Cardella Samuels (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Stacy-Ann Greyson (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Antonette Williams (JAM)
4th Official: Crystal Sobers (TRI)

Woman of the Match: Meghan Klingenberg