After two hard-fought wins against Canada and Brazil to open the tournament, an offensive blowout fueled the USWNT to a dominant show vs. La Albiceleste. The US collected a 27-1 margin in shots and kept the ball in Argentina’s defensive half for most of the night
The US started the scoring in the 16th minute when Rose Lavelle threw a ball over the Argentinian defense to set up Rapinoe for the first goal of the game. Lloyd would set up Rapinoe’s second just 10 minutes later. It was Rapinoe’s third score in the 2021 tournament and seventh ever at the SheBelieves Cup, the highest score in the history of the league. Rapinoe’s brace also marked her 56th and 57th international goals, scoring to the top 10 all-time for the USWNT, overtaking Carin Gabarra.
Lloyd, who played for the USWNT in her 299th game, scored a goal herself in the 35th minute on assist from Mewis. On the veteran forward’s next appearance, she will join Kristine Lilly and Christie Pearce Rampone in an extremely exclusive club as the only players in USWNT and world history with 300 caps.
After a nice pairing game with Casey Krueger, Mewis also got on the scoresheet in the diminishing minutes of the first half when she made her first start for the USWNT since March 2014.
After a number of chances after the break, Morgan and Press put exclamation points on the evening in the 84th and 88th minute respectively. Young forward Sophia Smith, the first player born in 2000 to play for the USWNT, took her first assist when she scored Morgan’s first goal as a mother and her 108th for the USWNT, passing Michelle Akers and into the possession came fifth on the US all-time goalscorer list. Press closed a busy night in which he threatened the Argentinian defense with a goal from a corner via an assist from Lindsey Horan. Both have been incredibly prolific for the US lately – Press’s goal was her 11th in her last 13 games, while Horan played nine of the USWNT’s 19 goals in 2021.
Argentina played in a compact defensive block throughout the game, often with all 11 players within the last 45 yards in front of goal, and it took the US some time to break the defense. But in the end, WNT threatened and scored in various ways, on set pieces, building up from the back, in the transition and with the ball around the Argentinian penalty area.
US manager Vlatko Andonovski used all six available substitutions, including five in the second half after a scheduled change of defender Emily Sonnett for Kelley O’Hara after 30 minutes while the veteran right back made his way back to fitness after a minor injury. The two youngest players on the USWNT roster, 21-year-old Jaelin Howell and 20-year-old Smith, made their second and third full international appearances respectively.
While the action was limited for goalkeeper Jane Campbell, she booked her second career shutout in her third career start for the USWNT. After entering the SheBelieves Cup 2021 without allowing a shot at goal in the last 302 minutes of play, the American backline allowed Argentina no shot at goal and has not given up a goal in the last six games.
The USWNT plans to get back into action during April’s international window.
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Rose Lavelle), 16th minute: From the edge of the center circle, Lavelle hacked a well-placed ball across the Argentinian back line that bounced to Rapinoe’s feet and cut between the center backs. She let the ball roll, then fired a low, left-footed shot into the right side of the net from 18 yards to open the scoring for the USWNT. US 1, ARG 0
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd), 26th minute: Christen Press led to the run ahead of Rapinoe’s second goal, slipping a pass between Argentine defenders for Carli Lloyd at the top of the 18-yard box. The veteran striker dribbled towards goal, and when Argentine goalkeeper Solana Pereyra took up the challenge, he lost out smoothly for Rapinoe, who split two defenders and slid close to goal. US 2, ARG 0
USA – Carli Lloyd (Kristie Mewis), 35th minute: Tierna Davidson played a nice ball down the left wing from the edge of the center circle to Rapinoe, who coolly turned the ball and pushed it through the legs of an Argentinian defender to find Mewis fleeing to the back line. Mewis sent a rolling cross to the six-yard box and as Pereyra tried to cut the pass, Lloyd got there first and sent it from the top of the six-yard box to the left post to the goalkeeper. US 3, ARG 0
USA – Kristie Mewis (Casey Krueger), 41st minute: After Argentina failed to clear the ball, Mewis won the ball back with some aggressive play and got the ball just outside the box at Krueger. The left back took a few dribbles before returning to Mewis, who took a tap to kick an Argentinian defender to the left side of the box and a shot from about 15 yards from a difficult wide angle all the way over the goal and into the far right post. It was Mewis’ fourth international goal and third in the USWNT’s last six games. US 4, ARG 0
USA – Alex Morgan (Sophia Smith), 84th minute: Becky Sauerbrunn won the ball and quickly went to the field in the transition. He played for Smith at the midfield line. The young forward made a nice cut through the Argentine half, maneuvering around several defenders before playing a weighted pass forward to Morgan near the top of the box. When Pereyra came out to make a stop, Morgan fired a shot over the diving goalkeeper to the center of the net, landing right into her club’s home stadium. US 5, ARG 0
USA – Christian Press (Lindsey Horan), 88 minute: Kristie Mewis took a late corner kick from the right and sent a thumping ball to the far post. Horan rose above the crowd to put her head on it and send it over the target. Press lurked unmarked on the other post and she put a clean header into the front post for the last goal of the game. US 6, ARG 0
EXTRA NOTES
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The US improves to 4-0-0 all time vs. Argentina.
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The USA extended its unbeaten streak to 37 games. The US is now unbeaten in its last 53 home games: 48 wins and five draws. During this series, the US scored the opponents 188-27, including a margin of 58-3 in the last 15 games on home soil.
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US head coach Vlatko Andonovski is 16-0-0 in his first 16 games, setting a record for the best start for a head coach in USWNT history. Current Brazilian head coach Pia Sundhage has the second best start for any head coach in USWNT history with 10 consecutive wins.
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The 6-0 win against Argentina was the US’s biggest margin at the SheBelieves Cup and the USWNT’s highest scoring game in tournament history.
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Megan Rapinoe is the first player to have scored more than two goals in a single SheBelieves Cup tournament. Her three goals made her the top scorer of the 2021 edition.
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After scoring just one goal during the USWNT’s shortened 2020 schedule, Megan Rapinoe has already scored five goals in the first five games of 2021.
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Press was directly involved in 28 goals in her last 29 appearances for the US, scoring 13 goals and assisting 15 more. She also served in the free kick that led to Rose Lavelle’s game-winner vs. Canada.
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Midfielder Lindsey Horan had a hand in nine of the USWNT’s 19 goals in 2021. She played in two goals and played a penalty against Colombia on January 18, then scored and played a part in another goal against Colombia on January 1. 22, got an assist vs. Canada on February 18, two vs. Brazil on February 21 and one vs. Argentina tonight.
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Andonovski made seven changes from the starting line-up that faced Brazil on February 21: Jane Campbell replaced Alyssa Naeher in goal, Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson and Kelley O’Hara for Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper and Emily Sonnett in the back line, Kristie Mewis for Lindsey Horan in midfield, and for the forward, Megan Rapinoe for Lynn Williams and Carli Lloyd for Alex Morgan.
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Kristie Mewis made her first start since March 10, 2014. The 2,543 days between starts mark the second longest period in USWNT history. Keri Raygor went 2,664 days between starts from 1994 to 2001.
– 2021 SHEBELIEVES CUP MATCH REPORT –
Matching: United States women’s national team vs. Argentina women’s national team
Date: February 24, 2021
Contest: 2021 SheBelieves Cup
Event location: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Florida
Presence: 3,702 (limited capacity)
Kick-off: 7:05 p.m. ET
Weather: 79 degrees, mostly sunny
Score summary: 1 2 F.
USA 4 2 6
ARG 0 0 0
United States – Megan Rapinoe (Rose Lavelle) 16th minute
United States – Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd) 26
United States – Carli Lloyd (Kristie Mewis) 35
United States – Kristie Mewis (Casey Krueger) 41
United States – Alex Morgan (Sophie Smith) 84
United States – Christian Press (Lindsey Horan) 88
Lineups:
USA: 18-Jane Campbell; 5-Kelley O’Hara (14-Emily Sonnett, 32), 12-Tierna Davidson, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Capt.), 2-Casey Krueger (20-Margaret Purce, 46); 8-Julie Ertz (3-Jaelin Howell, 62), 16-Rose Lavelle (9-Lindsey Horan, 46), 22-Kristie Mewis; 23-Christian Press, 10-Carli Lloyd (13-Alex Morgan, 46), 15-Megan Rapinoe (17-Sophia Smith, 62)
Unused Substitutions: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 6-Lynn Williams, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 19-Crystal Dunn, 21-Casey Murphy
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
ARG: 1-Solana Pereyra; 21-Adriana Sachs, 4-Marina Delgado, 6-Aldana Cometti, 20-Daiana Falfan (10-Dalila Ippolito, 59), 15-Milagros Menendez (19-Mariana Larroquette, 51), 18-Romina Nuñez (3-Eliana Stabile , 46), 5-Vanesa Santana (Capt.), 11-Yamila Rodriguez (7-Yael Oviedo, 63), 8-Clarisa Huber (14-Miriam Mayorga, 52), 9-Soledad Jaimes (17-Valentina Camara, 75 )
Replacements not used: 12-Laurina Oliveros; 2-Agustina Barroso, 13-Sophia Braun
Head coach: Carlos Borrello
Statistics Summary: US / ARG
Shots: 26/1
Shots On Target: 11/0
Saves: 0/5
Corners: 7/0
Errors: 6/10
Offside: 5/0
Summary of misconduct:
ARG – Romina Nuñez (Caution) 27th minute
ARG – Vanesa Santana (Note) 72
ARG – Dalila Ippolito (Note) 90
Officials:
Referee: Marianela Araya Cruz (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Shirley Perello (HON)
4th official: Melissa Borjas (HON)
US Soccer Insider’s Woman of the Match: Megan Rapinoe