USWNT defeats Costa Rica 4-0 in Olympic tune-up

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Costa Rica 4-0 on the strength of an aggressive attacking performance before 12,635 fans at Children’s Mercy Park in its last tune-up match ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.

Crystal Dunn, Mallory Pugh, Carli Lloyd and Christen Press scored the goals for the USA, which was creative and convincing in attack throughout the match. On the defensive side, goalkeepers Hope Solo and Alyssa Naeher combined to help the defense pitch its third consecutive shutout and 13th overall in 2016.

The USA now heads to Brazil for the 2016 Olympic Games and will begin Group G play vs. New Zealand in Belo Horizonte on Aug. 3 (6 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBC Universo).

+Read: All USWNT group games at Rio Olympics to air on NBC Sports Network

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Crystal Dunn (Meghan Klingenberg), 15th minute: The USA gained control of the ball just inside Costa Rica’s half of the field and through a quick combination of passes worked the ball up the left flank through Alex Morgan to Meghan Klingenberg, overlapping from her left back spot. Klingenberg charged into the Ticas box and got her head up to pick out the run of Crystal Dunn at the back post. Klingenber’s low pass across the face of goal was perfectly timed to meet Dunn’s run and the versatile attacker easily tapped the ball into the back of the net to reach double figures (10) in goals scored in 2016. USA 1, CRC 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA – Mallory Pugh, 22nd minute: The 18-year-old attacker seized on a Costa Rica turnover in her defensive half the of the field and deftly pushed the ball past two Ticas while at full sprint up the left touchline. As she bore down on goal, Pugh employed a quick feint to get the last defender back on her heels before racing past and firing a wide-angle shot from seven yards out in between the near left post and Costa Rica goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz for her third goal in her debut year with the senior National Team. USA 2, CRC 0 (SEE GOAL)

USA – Carli Lloyd (Becky Sauerbrunn), 45+6: From a set piece 30 yards away from Costa Rica’s goal toward the right sideline, USA co-captain Becky Sauerbrunn picked out fellow captain Carli Lloyd, who was making a darting run into the heart of the Tica’s penalty area. Having lost her marker, Lloyd snapped an uncontested header inside the left post from 12 yards out for the 88th goal of her career. USA 3, CRC 0

USA – Christen Press (Allie Long), 79th minute: Tobin Heath’s high pressure caused a wayward pass out of the back from Costa Rica and the ball rolled right to Allie Long in the central channel about 25 yards away from goal. Instead of shoot, Long wearily picked out Christen Press’s slashing run across the top of the Tica’s box with a slick one-time pass. Press took one touch to control the ball before ripping a shot into the right side netting from near the penalty spot for her fifth goal of 2016. USA 4, CRC 0 (SEE GOAL) FINAL

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT returns to action for the 2016 Olympic Games and begins Group G play against New Zealand in Belo Horizonte on Aug. 3 (6 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBC Universo). The team then remains in Belo Horizonte to face France on Aug. 6 (4 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBC Universo) before taking off to Manaus for its final Group E game vs. Colombia (6 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBC Universo).

Additional Notes:

• The USA improved to 14-0-1 in 2016. The team has scored 52 goals and pitched 13 shutouts while allowing just four goals.
• Now with 10 goals in 2016, Crystal Dunn is the USA’s second leading scorer behind only Alex Morgan (11).
• Meghan Klingenberg’s assist on Dunn’s goal was her fourth in 15 games played this year. Coming into 2016, Klingenberg had only recorded one assist in her 50 caps.
• Becky Sauerbrunn’s assist on Carli Lloyd’s goal was the fourth of her career and second of 2016, which is the most she’s recorded in a calendar year.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: July 22, 2016
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas
Kickoff: 8 p.m. CT
Attendance: 12,635
Weather: 91 degrees; Clear

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 1 4
CRC 0 0 0

USA – Crystal Dunn (Meghan Klingenberg)   15th minute
USA – Mallory Pugh                                    22
USA – Carli Lloyd (Becky Sauerbrunn)          45+6
USA – Christen Press (Allie Long)                 79

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo (18-Alyssa Naeher, 46); 5-Kelley O’Hara, 8-Julie Johnston, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (6-Whitney Engen, 46), 7-Meghan Klingenberg (11-Ali Krieger, 46); 3-Allie Long, 9-Lindsey Horan (14-Morgan Brian, 78), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 2-Mallory Pugh (17-Tobin Heath, 77), 13-Alex Morgan (12-Christen Press, 63), 16-Crystal Dunn
Subs not used: 20-Samantha Mewis
Head Coach: Jill Ellis

CRC : 1-Dinnia Diaz (13-Noelia Bermudez, 46); 5-Diana Saenz (2-Carolina Angulo, 90+3), 3-Fabiola Villalobos (19-Fabiola Sanchez, 84), 4-Mariana Benavides, 12-Lixy Rodriguez; 15-Cristin Granados, 14-Maria Fernanda Barrantes, 10-Shirley Cruz (capt.) (23-Gloriana Villalobos, 82), 16-Katherine Alvarado, 7-Melissa Herrera (17-Karla Villalobos, 79); 11-Raquel Rodriguez (9-Carolina Venegas, 63)
Subs not used: 6-Maria Paula Elizondo
Head Coach: Amelia Valverde

Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 19 / 1
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 10 / 0
Fouls: 11 / 8
Offside: 5 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
CRC – Katherine Alvarado (caution)   10th minute
USA – Allie Long (caution)                24
CRC – Fabiola Villalobos (caution)     28

Officials:
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Amanda Ross (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan (USA)
4th Official: Margaret Domka (USA)

Woman of the Match: Allie Long