USWNT storms past Russia 4-0 in first of two Texas friendlies

FRISCO, Texas (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team shut out Russia 4-0 behind two goals each from Crystal Dunn and Allie Long and some excellent play from Rose Lavelle and Mallory Pugh in its first friendly match of the year in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,191 at Toyota Stadium.

The USA came out swinging, hitting shot after shot in the first five minutes of the game to establish the game’s tempo and finally broke through in the 10th minute when a perfectly weighted pass on the ground from Carli Lloyd found the speedy Dunn to open the scoring.

Allie Long’s header eight minutes later after a Rose Lavelle corner found her in position near the right post doubled in the U.S. lead. Dunn once again found herself on the left side in the 41st minute and calmly finished again to the lower right corner after winning a long ball sent over the top. The goal marked Dunn’s second career multi-goal game, with the first coming last year on Feb. 15, also at Toyota Stadium.

Long also finished the night with a brace, adding a second goal in the 70th minute to record her second multi-goal game for the USA. Curiously enough, her first career two-goal performance came exactly a year ago on April 6, 2016, against Colombia in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Up Next: The USA will travel to Houston, Texas to play the second of its two-game series against Russia on Sunday, April 9 (1 p.m. CT; ESPN) at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Crystal Dunn (Carli Lloyd), 10th minute: Carli Lloyd slipped a perfectly-weighted pass on the ground to Crystal Dunn into the left side of the penalty box. Using her speed, Dunn outran two Russian defenders and finished nicely into the lower right corner off the hand of the Russia goalkeeper for her 19th international score and first of 2017. WATCH GOAL

USA – Allie Long (Rose Lavelle), 18th minute: Rose Lavelle took the USA’s first corner of the game from the right side and sent the ball into a pack of players at the near post. Allie Long got position on her mark and outjumped the defender to head home her fourth career goal and make it 2-0 for the United States. WATCH GOAL

USA – Crystal Dunn, 41st minute: A long ball sent over the top was brought down by a Russian defender who was then stripped by Crystal Dunn. Racing into the box on the left side, she once again shot into the lower right corner on an almost identical finish to her first goal of the game. WATCH GOAL

USA – Allie Long (Mallory Pugh) – 70th minute: Becky Sauerbrunn collected a ball at the top of the 18-yard box, sliding a pass to the left side. Mallory Pugh received the ball, took one touch and crossed it into the middle of the six-yard box where Long beat a pair of players to once again head the ball into the back of the net. WATCH GOAL

Additional Notes:

• The USWNT has not conceded a goal in a match played in Texas in any of their last 10 games played in the state, outscoring opponents 42-0 in those matches.
• Crystal Dunn notched her second career multi-goal game. The first one also came at Toyota Stadium, on Feb. 15, 2016 against Puerto Rico when she scored five goals in the match. Her brace tonight gives her 20 career international goals and two in 2017. Dunn is 25th player in U.S. WNT history with 20 or more goals.
• Allie Long scored her second career brace tonight. Her first came April 6, 2016, in East Hartford, Conn. All five of Long’s international goals have been headers.
• Midfielder Rose Lavelle earned her third cap and start for the WNT tonight. Lavelle played her first game for the senior team on March 4 against England, recording 90 minutes of terrific soccer in a widely-praised debut. She once again excelled on the field, displaying an ability to control the ball with poise and confidence and earning her first career assist on Allie Long’s first goal of the evening. Lavelle became the first player to earn a first cap in 2017 and the 14th player to earn a first cap from Ellis. Lavelle was the first overall pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft by the Boston Breakers.
• Becky Sauerbrunn has started all four games this year and is the only player to have played all 360 minutes. She earned her 123rd cap tonight.
• Alyssa Naeher made her 13th appearance for the USA and 11th start. She earned her eighth shutout.
• Megan Oyster, who came in for O’Hara in the second half, earned her first cap. She is the second player to earn her first cap this year and the 15th player to debut under Ellis
• On March 1 against Germany, Mallory Pugh played in her first game back for the WNT since the quarterfinal loss to Sweden in Brazil last August. Pugh came off the bench in the 58th minute, replacing Dunn. The 18-year-old earned her second start of the year tonight and her 21st cap. Her assist on Long’s goal is her first of 2017 and eighth of her career.
• Carli Lloyd, who earned her 236th cap, notched her 55th career assist tonight.
• Casey Short made seventh start in her seventh cap, playing all 90 minutes.
• Amy Rodriguez came into the match in the 80th minute in place of Pugh. The appearance was the first action for Rodriguez with the WNT since Oct. 25, 2015, vs. Brazil in Orlando.
• Megan Rapinoe also entered in the 80th minute, her first WNT action since Sept. 18, 2016 against the Netherlands.
• Kelley O’Hara earned her 93rd cap tonight, inching her closer to the century mark. She returned to the starting XI after being hampered by a minor groin injury during SheBelieves Cup, where she played only the final 12 minutes of the last game against France. She played 68 minutes tonight.
• After recovering from a back injury that sidelined her for most of the fall of 2016, Meghan Klingenberg made her return to the starting lineup for the WNT. Klingenberg earned her 71st cap, playing 45 minutes tonight.
• Samantha Mewis made her 10th career start and earned her 21st cap. She played all 90 minutes in her fourth start of 2017.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Russia
Date: April 6, 2017
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT
Attendance: 15,191
Weather: 71 degrees; Clear skies

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

USA – Crystal Dunn (Carli Lloyd)                  10th minute
USA – Allie Long (Rose Lavelle)                    18
USA – Crystal Dunn                                       41
USA – Allie Long (Mallory Pugh)                   70

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 2-Mallory Pugh (8-Amy Rodriguez, 80), 3-Samantha Mewis, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara (22-Megan Oyster, 68), 7-Meghan Klingenberg (11-Ali Krieger, 46), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.)(13-Alex Morgan, 46), 14-Casey Short, 16-Rose Lavelle (15-Megan Rapinoe, 80), 19-Crystal Dunn (23-Christen Press, 64), 20-Allie Long
Subs not used: 24–Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Jill Ellis

RUS: 12-Alena Belyaeva; 4-Tatiana Sheikina (22-Ksenia Kovalenko, 72), 6-Nadeshda Karpova, 8-Daria Makarenko, 9-Anna Cholovyaga, 10-Elena Terekhova (capt.)(17-Ekaterina Pantiukhina, 46), 11-Ekaterina Sochneva, 13-Anna Belomyttseva, 18-Elvira Ziiastinova, 20-Margarita Chernomyrdina, 23-Elena Morozova (15-Elena Danilova, 16)
Subs: 1-Tatiana Shcerbak, 2-Nelli Korovkina, 5-Ekaterina Lazareva, 16-Anastasiia Pozdeeva, 19-Ekaterina Morozova
Head coach: Elena Fomina

Stats Summary: USA / RUS
Shots: 33 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 16 / 2
Fouls: 10 / 19
Offside: 9 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
RUS – Elena Danilova (caution)                    55th minute
RUS – Tatiana Sheikina (caution)                  66
RUS – Anna Cholovyaga (caution)                74
USA – Christen Press (caution)                     90            

Officials: 
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nelly Alvarado (CRC)
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Ayala (SLV)
4th Official: Marian Leon (SLV)

Woman of the Match: Allie Long