USWNT defeats Germany 2-1 to win SheBelieves Cup

BOCA RATON, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team scored two goals in a span of six minutes to defeat Germany 2-1 and win the 2016 SheBelieves Cup in front of a record crowd of 13,501 at FAU Stadium. The USA finished atop the tournament standings with wins against three of the top five teams in the world.

The crowd of 13,501 set a new record for an all-women’s soccer event in South Florida, breaking the previous mark of 12,031 that watched the USA play Norway in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 6, 2000.

After scoring a stoppage-time game-winner against France on Sunday and the game-tying goal tonight, Alex Morgan earned the tournament’s Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards, while Hope Solo was awarded the Golden Glove after she allowed just one goal over three matches.

With Germany needing just a draw or win to claim the tournament title, Anja Mittag’s long-range tally in the 29th minute left the USA needing two goals to win the competition and the response was almost immediate. Morgan evened the score with a sublime bit of skill six minutes after Germany had taken the lead.

Samantha Mewis scored the title-clenching goal just six minutes after that in her first start of the competition. Mewis dispossessed Germany’s Melanie Behringer in the midfield and unleashed a low left-footed shot that deflected off a defender and slipped under diving German goalkeeper Almuth Schult.

The U.S. WNT returns to action in April when it squares off against Colombia in a pair of East Coast on April 6 in East Hartford, Connecticut (7 p.m. ET, FS1) and April 10 in Chester, Pennsylvania (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Goal Scoring Rundown:
GER – Anja Mittag (Isabel Kershowski), 29th minute: Isabel Keshowski forced a U.S. turnover in its own territory and played a short pass to Anja Mittag. Mittag took three touches toward the center of the field and sent a low, driven shot from distance between a group of U.S. defenders that skipped past Hope Solo just inside the left post. USA 0, GER 1

USA – Alex Morgan (Meghan Klingenberg), 35th minute: Meghan Klingenberg evaded a defender and lofted a through ball into the left side of the Germany box for a sprinting Alex Morgan, who let the ball bounce twice before lifting it over a defender with her left foot and ripping a right-footed shot into the net in two fluid steps to haul the U.S. level. USA 1, GER 1 (SEE GOAL)

USA – Samantha Mewis, 41st minute: Samantha Mewis did well to steal the ball from Germany midfielder Melanie Behringer and pushed forward to the top of the Germany penalty box. Mewis then sent a left-footed shot from just over 20 yards out that deflected off a Germany defender and spun underneath German goalkeeper Almuth Schult to give the USA the lead and the eventually the tournament title. USA 2, GER 1 (SEE GOAL ) FINAL

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT will host Colombia for pair of friendlies on April 6 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Conn. (7 p.m. ET, FS1) and April 10 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Additional Notes:

• The USA is 9-0-0 in 2016, having scored 32 goals, good for an average of over 3.5 per match.
• The USA is now 20-4-7 in 31 all-time meetings with Germany, including a 2-0 win in the semifinal of the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
• Alex Morgan scored her eighth goal of 2016 passing Carli Lloyd and Crystal Dunn for sole possession of the team lead. It was her 64th career goal.
• Ali Krieger, Whitney Engen, Samantha Mewis, Christen Press and Cyrstal Dunn earned their first starts of the tournament. Engen recorded her first start since Jan. 24 against Ireland.
• Krieger played for FFC Frankfurt in Germany for five and a half years and speaks fluent German.
• The WNT used five subs: Lindsey Horan replaced Mewis in the 61st minute, while Tobin Heath replaced Dunn and Mallory Pugh replaced Press in the 62nd minute. Kelley O’Hara replaced Krieger in the 80th minute and Julie Johnston replaced Meghan Klingenberg in stoppage time.
• Mewis registered her second career goal in just her eighth cap and third career start. The defensive midfielder notched her first career goal in CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying against Puerto Rico on Feb. 15, 2016.
• Samantha Mewis’ goal moved her past older sister Kristie Mewis, who has one goal in 15 caps for the USA.
• Mittag’s goal was the first score allowed by the USA in 2016, snapping an eight-game shutout streak. The streak is the third longest by the WNT to start a season, behind 11 games without allowing a goal in 1991 and nine games in 2005. It was Mittag’s 40^thinternational goal.

Milestone Watch:

• Carli Lloyd earned her 220th cap tonight, while Hope Solo recorded her 193rd, extending her record for a U.S. goalkeeper.
• Solo recorded her 147th career win, improving her all-time U.S. record for a goalkeeper.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Germany Women’s National Team
Date: March 9, 2016
Competition: 2016 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: FAU Stadium; Boca Raton, Fla.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 13,501
Weather: 73 Degrees; Warm and clear

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

GER – Anja Mittag (Isabel Kerschowski)         29th minute
USA – Alex Morgan (Meghan Klingenberg)      35
USA – Samantha Mewis                                41

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger (5-Kelley O’Hara, 80), 6-Whitney Engen, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 7-Meghan Klingenberg (8-Julie Johnston, 90+1); 3-Samantha Mewis (22-Lindsey Horan, 61), 14-Morgan Brian, 12-Christen Press (2-Mallory Pugh, 61), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 16-Crystal Dunn (17-Tobin Heath, 61); 13-Alex Morgan
Subs not used: 9-Heather O’Reilly, 15-Emily Sonnett, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 19-Jaelene Hinkle, 20-Lauren Barnes, 21-Alysssa Naeher,
Head coach: Jill Ellis

GER: 1-Almuth Schult; 4-Leonie Maier, 3-Saskia Bartusiak (capt.), 14-Babett Peter, 22-Tabea Kemme (16-Svenja Huth, 74); 15-Anna Blässe, 10-Dzsenifer Marozsan, 7-Melanie Behringer (20-Lena Goeßling, 74), 17-Isabel Kerschowski (19-Lena Petermann, 84); 11-Anja Mittag (9-Mandy Islacker, 84), 18-Alexandra Popp
Subs not used: 12-Laura Benkarth, 21- Lisa Weiß, 2-Josephine Henning, 5-Annike Krahn, 6-Lina Magull, 24-Sara Doorsoun
Head Coach: Silvia Neid

Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 8 / 11
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 10
Offside: 4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
GER – Isabel Kerschowski (caution)       55th minute
GER – Leonie Maier (caution)                 76

Officials:
Referee: Carol-Anne Chenard (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Marie-Josee Charbonneau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
4th Official: Michelle Pye (CAN)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Alex Morgan
Golden Glove: Hope Solo
Golden Boot: Alex Morgan
Golden Ball: Alex Morgan

Final 2016 She Believes Cup Standings