HOUSTON, Texas (April 8, 2018) - The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Mexico 6-2 in front of 15,349 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium in a match that included six first half goals: two from Alex Morgan and single strikes from Mallory Pugh, Lindsey Horan, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe. For Lloyd, the goal was the 100th of her international career as she joins an elite club of six players to have scored 100 or more times for the U.S. WNT.
Like in the first game of this two-game series against Mexico, the USA got off to a quick start with Lloyd blasting a loose ball at the net from close range less than a minute into the contest, but Mexico goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago made a brilliant reaction save.
It didn’t take long for the USA to get on the board as two minutes later Pugh ran onto an excellent pass from Rapinoe and rounded Santiago before rolling the ball into the open net.
Mexico climbed back into the game with two scores off Monica Ocampo corner kicks – one of them a Goal Olimpico that flew directly into the net – to take the lead.
The U.S. had an immediate response with Lindsey Horan equalizing in the 25th minute off a powerful header from a corner kick, setting the stage for Lloyd’s 100th career goal as she headed home from close range to put the USA ahead. Just before the break, Morgan scored off a sliding shot inside the six-yard box from a fantastic low service from Rapinoe to send the United States into half with a 4-2 advantage.
In the second frame, the USA continued its prowess, adding two more tallies with goals from Rapinoe – who had an excellent game which included four assists – and Morgan, who scored a brace for the second consecutive time after doing so three days ago in Jacksonville.
The U.S. WNT players will return to their NWSL clubs to resume the sixth season of the league. The USA will regroup in the summer for a pair of friendlies against China PR on June 7 (9 p.m. ET, FS1) in Sandy, Utah and June 12 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Mallory Pugh (Megan Rapinoe), 3rd minute: Rapinoe sent a perfectly-timed through ball to Pugh, who outran her defenders behind the Mexico defense. Mexico goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago came out of her goal to challenge, but Pugh easily evaded her, dribbling to the left before rolling her shot into the open net for the first goal of the game. USA 1, MEX 0. WATCH.
MEX – Monica Ocampo, 17th minute: Ocampo’s left-footed corner kick from the right side flew through the goal mouth traffic and stuck into the corner at the opposite post. It was her 17th international goal and classic Goal Olimpico. USA 1, MEX 1. WATCH.
MEX – Kiana Palacios (Monica Ocampo), 24th minute: Ocampo’s corner kick from the right side once again proved to be dangerous with her cross making its way to Palacios at the far post, where she pounded home a header from almost on the goal line to give Mexico the lead. USA 1, MEX 2. WATCH.
USA – Lindsey Horan (Megan Rapinoe), 25th minute: Rapinoe served a corner kick from the right side into the middle of the penalty box and Horan outjumped the pack to head the ball over Santiago and just under the cross bar to tie the game with her fifth career score. USA 2, MEX 2. WATCH.
USA – Carli Lloyd (Alex Morgan), 34th minute: Rapinoe worked her way free of a few defenders on the left flank and then crossed the ball. It flew through the goal mouth to the right side of the penalty area and was run down by Lindsey Horan, who lifted a cross back into the middle. Morgan got a good strike on the ball with a volley, but it hit off the hand of the diving Santiago and went straight up in the air. The ball came down almost on the goal line before Lloyd headed it home off the bounce for her 100th career score. USA 3, MEX 2. WATCH.
USA – Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe), 44th minute: The USA took a two-goal lead courtesy of Rapinoe as she ran onto a headed clearance from Becky Sauerbrunn that skipped through down the left wing. Rapinoe raced in on goal and unselfishly sent a cross on the ground into the middle for the sliding Morgan, who knocked the ball into the net for her 84th international goal. USA 4, MEX 2. WATCH.
USA – Megan Rapinoe, 64th minute: Campbell’s long kick landed at Rapinoe’s feet who sent a pass to Morgan up front. Santiago did a good job coming out to the top of the box to block the shot, but the ball rebounded back to Rapinoe’s feet who then sent a long shot over Santiago and into the back of the net. USA 5, MEX 2. WATCH.
USA – Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe), 68th minute: The USA got its sixth off a corner kick from the left side as Rapinoe picked up her fourth assist of the game. Rapinoe bent in a low, but driven cross that skipped through traffic to the far post where Morgan bundled the ball into the net with her hip for her 85th career goal. USA 6, MEX 2. WATCH. FINAL.
Additional Notes:
– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Mexico
Date: April 8, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. CT
Attendance: 15,349
Weather: 53 degrees; Cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 4 2 6
MEX 2 0 2
USA – Mallory Pugh (Megan Rapinoe) 3rd minute
MEX – Mónica Ocampo 17
MEX – Kiana Palacios (Mónica Ocampo) 24
USA – Lindsey Horan (Megan Rapinoe) 25
USA – Carli Lloyd (Alex Morgan) 34
USA – Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe) 44
USA – Megan Rapinoe 64
USA – Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe) 68
Lineups:
USA: 18-Jane Campbell (24-Ashlyn Harris, 67); 16-Emily Sonnett (14-Sofia Huerta, 75), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 17-Tierna Davidson (25-Hailie Mace, 59), 19-Crystal Dunn; 6-Morgan Brian (20-Allie Long, 29), 9-Lindsey Horan (26-Haley Hanson, 40), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 11-Mallory Pugh (27-Tegan McGrady, 58), 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe
Substitutes: 21-Savannah McCaskill
Head coach: Jill Ellis
MEX: 12-Cecilia Santiago; 2-Kenti Robles, 3-Bianca Sierra, 22-Greta Espinoza (5-Mónica Flores, 50), 23-Christina Murillo (13-Annia Mejía, 46); 6-Karla Nieto, 7-Cristina Ferral (4-Vanessa Flores, 79), 10-Stephany Mayor, 11-Mónica Ocampo (capt.) (17-María Sánchez, 60); 8-Ariana Calderón (9-Anisa Guajardo, 70), 18-Kiana Palacios (21-Renae Cuéllar, 74)
Substitutes: 1-Bianca Henninger, 14-Jocelyn Orejel, 16-Marcela Valera,
Head coach: Roberto Medina
Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 18 / 6
Shots on Goal: 14 / 2
Saves: 0 / 8
Corner Kicks: 9 / 6
Fouls: 4 / 10
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
None
Officials:
Referee: Karen Abt (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan (USA)
4th Official: Christina Unkel (USA)
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Megan Rapinoe