USWNT overpowers Chile 3-0 in first of two late-summer friendlies

CARSON, Calif. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Chile, 3-0, in front of 23,544 fans on a wild night at StubHub Center in what was the first-ever match between the countries in women’s soccer.

The USA controlled the game from the start and got on the board early via an eighth minute set-piece goal from teenager Tierna Davidson. The U.S. added another after Chilean defender Carla Guerrero chested the ball into her own net after Julie Ertz had flicked on a corner kick service.

Chile’s captain, Christiane Endler, who plays professionally for Paris Saint-Germain, had a tremendous game in goal to keep the scoring down, making nine saves on the USA’s 11 shots on goal.

As the first half came to a close, Tobin Heath was taken down on the right side of the penalty box. Los Angeles native Christen Press, who was honored before the game for her 100^th cap that she earned on April 12, converted the spot kick. With the U.S. players nearly back at midfield waiting for the kickoff, confusion ensued as referee Katja Koroleva disallowed the goal, sending the U.S. to halftime with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the USA had another goal disallowed for a foul inside the penalty area that wiped away a bullet header from Carli Lloyd. Press did eventually get her goal – her first of 2018 – in the 59th minute to extend the USA’s lead to the final 3-0 result.

Chile will be a Women’s World Cup debutante next summer after qualifying for the tournament after finishing second in the 2018 Copa América Femenina.

Next Up: The USA will head to Northern California for the second of this two-game series vs. Chile on Sept. 4 (7 p.m. PT; ESPN2, UDN) at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. That match will be the final one for the U.S. WNT before entering World Cup qualifying, which the begins on Oct. 4 in Cary, N.C.

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Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Tierna Davidson (Tobin Heath), 8th minute : The first goal came off Tobin Heath’s corner kick from the right side. Heath’s cross flew into a pack of players in the middle of the box where Tierna Davidson leaped above her defender to redirect the ball off a Chilean defender and into the net. It was first international tally for the 19-year-old in her 11^th cap. USA 1, CHI 0. WATCH.

USA – Own Goal (Carla Guerrero), 32nd minute: From yet another corner, Tobin Heath’s cross went to the near post, where Julie Ertz flicked it with her head through the goal mouth. Chile’s Carla Guerrero tried to chest the ball away, but instead redirected the shot just across the line for the USA’s second goal of the night. USA 2, CHI 0.

USA – Christen Press (Mallory Pugh), 59th minute: Mallory Pugh received the ball from Morgan Brian on the right side and ran all the way to the end line before sending a low-cutter through the middle of the box. Carli Lloyd barely missed on the slide, but it rolled to Press, who found herself in the perfect spot to roof her shot from a tough angle and tally her 45^th career goal. USA 3, CHI 0. WATCH. FINAL.

Additional Notes:

• The USA is 10-0-2 in 2018, with wins against Denmark, Germany, England, Mexico (twice), China PR (twice), Japan, Brazil and Chile; and ties against Australia and France.
• Tonight’s attendance of 23,544 was the second-highest for the WNT in 2018 behind only the USA’s match vs. France on March 4 at Red Bull Arena (25,706).
• The USA is unbeaten in its last 20 matches (17-0-3). The USA has outscored its opponents 61-17 through that stretch, scoring in all 20 games.
• Alyssa Naeher earned her 16th career shutout tonight in what was her 33rd cap. She is the fifth goalkeeper in U.S. history to earn 30 or more caps.
• Tierna Davidsonscored her first international goal at the senior level tonight in what was her 11th start and cap. Davidson is the third teenager since 2013 to earn a first cap for the WNT. Mallory Pugh (17 in 2016) and Lindsey Horan (19 in 2013) are the most recent teenagers to debut for the WNT.
• Christen Press earned cap No. 104 tonight and scored her 45th international goal, her first of 2018. With tonight’s tally, she has now tied Julie Foudy for 13th place on the all-time goals scored list.
• Mallory Pugh earned her second assist of the year and 13th career assist. It was Pugh’s first appearance for the U.S. WNT since last playing and scoring on April 8, 2018 against Mexico.
• Tobin Heath earned her second assist of the year – her 31st career assist. Tonight’s game was her third consecutive start for the U.S. WNT after taking the field against Australia on July 29 and Brazil on Aug. 2. The start against Australia was her first since March 7, 2017. She earned cap No. 137 tonight.
• U.S. WNT head coach Jill Ellis made four substitutions at halftime: Carli Lloyd came on for Alex Morgan, Mallory Pugh came in for Tobin Heath, McCall Zerboni came in for Lindsey Horan and Morgan Brian came in for Rose Lavelle. Ellis then subbed on Samantha Mewis for Crystal Dunn in the 61st and Hailie Mace for Julie Ertz in the 74th. It was Mace’s second WNT cap.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Chile
Date: August 31, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: StubHub Center; Carson, Calif.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. PT
Attendance: 23,544
Weather: 70 degrees; Clear

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

USA – Tierna Davidson (Tobin Heath)      8^th minute
USA – Own Goal (Carla Guerrero)            32
USA – Christen Press (Mallory Pugh)       59

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 22-Emily Sonnett, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 12-Tierna Davidson, 19-Crystal Dunn (3-Samantha Mewis, 61); 2-Julie Ertz (26-Hailie Mace, 74), 16-Rose Lavelle (6-Morgan Brian, 46), 9-Lindsey Horan (25-McCall Zerboni, 46); 23-Christen Press (capt.), 13-Alex Morgan (10-Carli Lloyd, 46), 17-Tobin Heath (11-Mallory Pugh, 46)
Substitutes not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Jill Ellis

CHI: 1-Christiane Endler (capt.); 3-Carla Guerrero, 4-Francisca Lara, 7-Maria Jose Rojas (20-Daniela Zamora, 46), 8-Karen Araya (6-Claudia Soto, 69), 10-Yanara Aedo, 11-Yesenia Lopez, 13-Bárbara Santibáñez (21-Maria Jose Urrutia, 61), 14-Fernanda Pinilla (2-Rocio Soto, 46), 17-Geraldine Leyton, 18-Camila Saez
Substitutes not used: 9-Maryorie Hernandez, 12-Natalia Campos 15-Su Helen Galaz, 16-Ana Gutierrez, 19-Javiera Grez
Head coach: José Letelier

Stats Summary: USA / CHI
Shots: 24 / 1
Shots on Goal: 11 / 1
Saves: 1 / 9
Corner Kicks: 17 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Tobin Heath (caution)            38^th minute
CHI – Maria Jose Urrutia (caution)   74
CHI – Rocio Soto (caution)               80

Officials:
Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan (USA)
4th Official: Christina Unkel (USA)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Christen Press