USWNT defeats Sweden 3-2 in debut of new head coach Vlatko Andonovski

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Women’s National Team began the reign of new head coach Vlatko Andonovski with a 3-2 victory against Sweden in front of 20,903 fans on a chilly night at MAPFRE Stadium.

Carli Lloyd scored twice, and Christen Press tallied her 50^th career goal, to give Andonovski a positive start to his tenure against the No. 5-ranked team in the world in the USA’s penultimate match of 2019.

As was the case this summer’s World Cup when the USA needed only three minutes to score against Sweden in the teams’ final match of group play, the USWNT grabbed the early lead when Carli Lloyd, captaining the U.S. in her eighth start of the year, slotted home in just the sixth minute.

After a brief retaliation from Sweden that generated a few chances, one of which required a last-second tackle from Emily Sonnett, the USA broke the game open. Near the half-hour mark, Lloyd fed Press and she deftly rounded a defender for finishing for the 2-0 U.S. lead.

Lloyd then sent the WNT into the break in style with a world-class chip over Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

Up 3-0 to start the second half, Andonovski turned to his bench, bringing on Lynn Williams and Andi Sullivan for Press and Julie Ertz, respectively, as the USA continued to dominate the run of play while forcing Lindahl into three of her seven total saves inside the first 10 minutes.

At the hour mark, Andonovski wrung more changes, sending Mallory Pugh on for Tobin Heath and Samantha Mewis for native Ohioan Rose Lavelle. After generating a few more chances, the U.S. was stunned to give up a pair of goals as the final 15 minutes of the match.

Anna Anvegard stabbed home in the 75^th minute in one of Sweden’s few dangerous moments of the second half before a mix-up between U.S. center back Becky Sauerbrunn and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher gifted Anvegard a second just four minutes later, cutting the U.S. lead to 3-2.

The U.S. shook off the shock of conceding twice to seize control of the final 10 minutes. Casey Short’s determined run into the Sweden area in the 81^st minute drew a foul from Sofia Jakobsson that referee Ekaterina Koroleva whistled, handing the USA a late penalty kick opportunity.

Lloyd stepped to the spot to take the kick but put her shot over the bar. Determined to make amends and earn a hat trick, the two-time world player of the year nearly danced her way through the Sweden defense in the final minutes, only to be put off as she angled to shoot. In the end, her first two goals combined with Press’ strike were enough to see the USWNT earn a solid 3-2 victory to kick off the dawn of its latest chapter.

Next on the Schedule: The WNT ends its 2019 schedule on Nov. 10 against Costa Rica in Jacksonville, Fla. at TIAA Bank Field (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, TUDN).
Social: Twitter, Instagram (@USWNT) and Facebook

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Carli Lloyd (Christen Press), 6th minute: The USA moved the ball across the field from right to left near midfield, and Casey Short played the ball into space behind the Sweden defense for Press to run it down. Upon reaching the ball, Press sent a low cross through the box toward the back right post where Lloyd had drifted off the back shoulder of her defender for an easy tap-in goal. USA 1, SWE 0 [WATCH]

USA – Christen Press (Carli Lloyd), 28th minute: Tobin Heath broke up a Sweden passing sequence at midfield by winning a header, and Lloyd pounced on the loose ball, sending a well-weighted pass into the path of Press. Facing up two defenders, Press feinted a move inside before cutting past the defense into the left side of the box and snapped a low shot off the outstretched leg of Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl that settled into the right side of the net. USA 2, SWE 0 [WATCH]

USA – Carli Lloyd (Tobin Heath), 31st minute: Emily Sonnett chipped a ball forward for Tobin Heath to flick on – taking a hard challenge in doing so – and the ball landed at the feet of Lloyd. The two-time world player of the year saw Lindahl off her line and with a defender shadowing her lifted a perfectly-measured chip over the ‘keeper into the open goal. USA 3, SWE 0 [WATCH]

SWE – Anna Anvegard (Nathalie Bjorn), 75th minute: One-on-one against a defender at the top of the USA penalty area, young Sweden debutant Hanna Bennison lifted a pass through the USA defense for Bjorn to run on to and one-time a cross through the six-yard box. Anvegard was on hand in the middle of a scrum to redirect the ball into the center of the net. USA 3, SWE 1 [WATCH]

SWE – Anna Anvegard, 79th minute: A long ball forward by Sweden was shepherded by Sauerbrunn as it rolled toward the USA box, but she and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher got their wires crossed, allowing Sweden’s Sofia Jakobsson to dart in, steal the ball and center it for Anvegard. From the top of the box, the young attacker hit a one-time shot just out of reach of Abby Dahlkemper into the vacated net. USA 3, SWE 2 [WATCH] FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Plays:
USA – Emily Sonnett, 12th minute: Sweden was able to win a turnover deep in the USA defensive third, and Kosovare Asllani hit a low cross through the U.S. goal mouth that a crashing Lina Hurtig had teed up for a tap-in. At the last moment, Sonnett made a sliding tackle to clear the ball before the Swedish midfielder could get a touch.

SWE – Hedvig Lindahl, 56th minute: Rose Lavelle chased down a ball over top the Sweden defense and carried toward goal. Forced into a sharp angle of attack, the crafty midfielder tried to sneak a shot between the left post and the goalkeeper, but Lindahl was able to get a strong hand out to deflect the shot out for a corner.

Additional Notes:

• With the result, the USWNT is now 23-6-11 all-time vs. Sweden, which is currently ranked No. 5 in the world.
• With the victory, Andonovski is the sixth of eight USWNT head coaches to win their first match in charge of the team.
• Carli Lloyd, who captained the USA today scored her 14^th and 15^th goals of 2019 in her eighth start this year. She has scored the most goals on the team in 2019 and now has 120 in her career.
• Lloyd’s two goals gave her the 21^st multi-goal game of her career as she joined Heather O’Reilly as USWNT players to score under five different head coaches (of the nine total the team has ever had). Only Kristine Lilly scored for more USWNT coaches (six).
• Christen Press’ assist on the opening goal was her team-leading 11 ^th of 2019 and came in her 129^th career cap. Her goal was the 50^th of her career, making her the 11^th WNT player to reach the 50-goal milestone.
• At club level, Press played three-and-a-half professional seasons Sweden with Göteborg FC and Tyresö FF.
• This was the first cap for Lynn Williams since the final game of the 2018 SheBelieves Cup against England on March 7 when she played 1 minute.
• Andi Sullivan also returned to the pitch for the USA, earning her 14 ^th career cap in her third appearance of 2019.
• Six players from the training camp roster – Morgan Brian, Allie Long, Adrianna Franch, Jessica McDonald, Aubrey Bledsoe, Alana Cook – did not dress for the game.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Sweden
Date: Nov. 7, 2019
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: MAPFRE Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,903
Kickoff: 7:38 p.m. ET
Weather: 32 degrees; partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                         3 0 3
SWE                        0 2 2

USA – Carli Lloyd (Christen Press)           6^th minute
USA – Christen Press (Carli Lloyd)           28
USA – Carli Lloyd (Tobin Heath)                31
SWE – Anna Anvegård (Nathalie Björn)    75
SWE – Anna Anvegård                              79

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 14-Emily Sonnett, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Beckey Sauerbrunn, 26-Casey Short; 8-Julie Ertz (25-Andi Sullivan, 46), 16-Rose Lavelle (3-Samantha Mewis, 62), 9-Lindsey Horan; 17-Tobin Heath (2-Mallory Pugh, 61), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 23-Christen Press (27-Lynn Williams, 46)
Substitutes not used: 18-Ashlyn Harris, 28-Imani Dorsey, 30-Margaret Purce
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski

SWE: 1-Hedvig Lindahl; 2-Jonna Andersson (15-Jessica Samuelsson, 82), 6-Magdalena Eriksson, 23-Emma Kullberg (13-Julia Karlernäs, 72), 4-Hanna Glas; 5-Nathalie Björn, 16-Julia Zigiotti Olme (14-Hanna Bennison, 64), 8-Lina Hurtig (7-Madelen Janogy, 82), 9-Kosovare Asllani (capt.) (20-Loreta Kullashi, 64), 10-Sofia Jakobsson; 11-Stina Blackstenius (19-Anna Anvegård, 72)
Substitutes not used: 12-Jennifer Falk, 21-Zecira Musovic, 18-Pauline Hammarlund, 22-Michelle De Jongh
Head coach: Peter Gerhardsson

Stats Summary: USA / SWE
Shots: 16 / 7
Shots on Goal: 10 / 4
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 11 / 6
Fouls: 7 / 16
Offside: 1 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Lindsay Horan (caution)             37th minute
SWE – Julia Zigiotti Olme (caution)       44
SWE – Magdalena Eriksson (caution)   90

Officials:
Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Jennifer Garner (USA)
4th Official: Karen Abt (USA)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Carli Lloyd