USWNT defeats Mexico 4-0 in opening match of WNT Send-Off Series

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – A strong group effort led the U.S. Women’s National Team to a commanding 4-0 victory in its first match of the 2021 WNT Send-Off Series.

On a rainy night at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, the Mewis sisters combined for the first sister assist-goal in USWNT history to open the scoring, forward Christen Press bagged a brace to continue her red-hot run and forward Tobin Heath returned to the field with a bang, scoring just 52 seconds after entering as a second-half substitute. The USA out-shot Mexico, 29-9, with most of the U.S. shots coming in the second half.

The USWNT’s unbeaten streak now stands at 43 matches, tied for the second-longest in team history to match a mark from March 2012 to March 2014. The current run trails only a 51-match unbeaten streak from Dec. 2004 to Sept. 2007.

Playing its penultimate match before the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the game was open from the get-go as the USA was patient in possession while building its attack but Mexico was unafraid to venture forward as well. Samantha Mewis was dynamic as an attacking midfielder, and her efforts paid off in the 21st minute. Kristie Mewis teed up her younger sister for the sibling assist-goal combo and Mewis’ fifth goal of the year. The Mewis sisters have scored or assisted on 10 of the USWNT’s 33 goals thus far in 2021.

A driving rain blanketed the field shortly after the goal, making connecting passes a bit more difficult, but the USA still nearly doubled its lead when Megan Rapinoe sent in a well-placed cross from the left to Alex Morgan on the run towards goal, but she hit the post on her one-time effort.

Come for The Mewies chest bump, stay for the @ChristenPress brace and @TobinHeath screamer ? pic.twitter.com/rnC1Wfines

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 2, 2021

Mexico managed to threaten around the half-hour mark. Alyssa Naeher punched away a long-range effort from forward Maria Sanchez in the pouring rain while center back Abby Dahlkemper had an excellent one-on-one defensive effort to halt a dangerous opportunity for Sanchez, who was driving into the box on the left side.

As the rain got a bit lighter, Samantha Mewis catalyzed the second goal in the 39th minute. She did well to split the defense and slip a pass to Rapinoe running into the penalty area on the left side. Rapinoe then dribbled to the end line and played a short pass back to Press for her to touch home her 62nd career international goal. It was Rapinoe’s 69th career assist as she chases Abby Wambach (73 career assists) for third all-time.

With Press’ two goals tonight, she has now been involved in 36 goals in her last 36 games for the USWNT, scoring 18 and logging 18 assists. She also served in the free kick that led to Rose Lavelle’s game-winner in the SheBelieves Cup vs. Canada and drew the penalty kick which Lindsey Horan converted in the USA’s June 13 win over Jamaica.

After the break, goalkeeper Adrianna Franch replaced Naeher to pick up her sixth USWNT cap. The USA pressed on and nearly added to its lead seconds after the second-half whistle when Crystal Dunn drove down the left wing and teed up Morgan, but her header flew out of bounds. Dunn had a nice chance of her own in the 65th, forcing Mexico goalkeeper Emily Alvarado to make a leaping save, while Rapinoe hit the post on a shot from the top of the box in the 72nd.

Soon after, forward Tobin Heath delighted the crowd of more than 20,000 fans with her USWNT return, playing for the first time since Nov. 27, 2020 against the Netherlands. Less than a minute after entering the match, Morgan found Heath on the run down the middle of the field. She looked up and ripped a shot from 36 yards out that skipped off the wet turf, off the left post and in for her 34th international goal and first tally since Olympic qualifying in Jan. 2020.

Press put an exclamation point on things in the 85th minute, continuing her scoring streak by deftly deflecting a nice cross from substitute Tierna Davidson into the back of the net for her 63rd career USWNT goal.

Next up, the USA will face Mexico again on July 5 (5 p.m. ET; ESPN, TUDN) at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in its final match before departing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Samantha Mewis (Kristie Mewis), 21st minute: Megan Rapinoe jumped on a misplayed Mexico pass deep in attacking territory, dribbled towards the box and found Kristie Mewis near the 18-yard line. The elder Mewis centered the ball to her younger sister just behind the penalty spot, where Samantha took a touch to create some space and then hooked a shot past two defenders and goalkeeper Emily Alvarado into the right post for the game’s opening goal. USA 1, MEX 0

USA – Christen Press (Megan Rapinoe), 39th minute: Receiving a ball from Lindsey Horan, Samantha Mewis dribbled with pace at goal and then smoothly split two defenders with a well-weighted pass past to Megan Rapinoe, who then drove towards the left post. She dished to Press near the corner of the six-yard box and the red-hot forward coolly slotted it past Alvarado to double the American advantage. USA 2, MEX 0

USA – Tobin Heath (Alex Morgan), 74th minute: Just after entering the game, Morgan found Heath on the run in the center channel from near midfield. The pacey forward took a few touches to get an angle on the defense and then ripped a shot from 36 yards out which bounced just before the goal line, hit the left post and rolled into the back of the net. USA 3, MEX 0

USA – Christen Press (Tierna Davidson), 85th minute: Driving down the left wing, second half substitute Davidson served in a well-placed cross to Press near the left post. There, she met it with her right foot, deflecting it from close range past the outstretched Alvarado for the game’s final goal.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Tonight marked the 40th match between the USA and Mexico, the fifth-most common opponent in USWNT history. The USA improves to 38-1-1 all-time vs. La Tri.
• The USA has won its last 14 games against Mexico. After the lone defeat, in 2010 World Cup qualifying, the U.S. is unbeaten in its last 54 games vs. Concacaf opposition.
• The USWNT’s home unbeaten streak now stands at 57 games, which includes 52 wins and five draws. During that stretch, the U.S. has outscored its opponents 201-27, including a 67-1 margin during its last 18 matches.
• It’s the USA’s 19th-straight home victory, dating back to head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s first match in charge of the team in November of 2019.
• Andonovski is 21-0-1 in his first 21 games (two at the end of 2019, nine in 2020 and 11 so far in 2021), setting a record for the best start for a head coach in USWNT history.
• Samantha Mewis’ five goals in 2021 are good for second on the team this year, while Kristie Mewis picked up her fourth career assist.
• Tonight marked the third time overall and second consecutive match that the Mewis sisters have started together for the USWNT.
• Tobin Heath made her first appearance since Nov. 27, 2020 vs. the Netherlands and scored her first goal since Jan. 31, 2020 vs. Panama at the Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship. It was Heath’s 34 ^th career goal.
• Lindsey Horan and Carli Lloyd are the only players to appear in all 11 matches for the USWNT so far in 2021.

-U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match:  United States Women’s National Team vs. Mexico
Date:  July 1, 2021
Competition: International Friendly
Venue:  Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field; East Hartford, Conn.
Attendance: 21,637
Kickoff: 7:38 p.m. ET
Weather:  75 degrees, heavy rain

Scoring Summary:  1          2          F
USA                           2       2       4
MEX                           0       0       0

USA – Samantha Mewis (Kristie Mewis)  21st minute
USA – Christen Press (Megan Rapinoe)  39
USA – Tobin Heath (Alex Morgan)            74
USA – Christen Press (Tierna Davidson)  85

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher (18-Adrianna Franch, 46); 2-Crystal Dunn (12-Tierna Davidson, 78), 17-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Capt.), 5-Kelley O’Hara (14-Emily Sonnett, 73); 9-Lindsey Horan, 3-Samantha Mewis, 6-Kristie Mewis (19-Catarina Macario, 73); 11-Christen Press, 13-Alex Morgan (10-Carli Lloyd, 78), 15-Megan Rapinoe (7-Tobin Heath, 73)
Substitutes not used: 16-Rose Lavelle
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski

MEX: 1-Emily Alvarado; 5-Jimena López (18-Dania Pérez, 83), 2-Bianca Sierra, 3-Karina Rodríguez, 4-Jocelyn Orejel; 7-Daniela Espinosa (17-Lizbeth Ovalle, 57), 16-Nancy Antonio, 6-Rebeca Bernal (13-Reyna Reyes, 78), 10-Stephany Mayor, 11-María Sánchez; 9-Kiana Palacios (19-Katty Martínez, 73)
Substitutes not used : 8-Belén Cruz, 12-Itzel González, 14-Christina Ferral, 15-Nicole Soto, 20-Alison González, 21-Diana García
Head coach: Mónica Vergara

Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 29 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 5 / 3
Offside: 1 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials: 
Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alicia Messer (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Jennifer Garner (USA)
4th Official: Danielle Chesky (USA)

U.S. Soccer Insiders Woman of the Match: Samantha Mewis