U.S. Women’s National Team Downs Colombia 2-0 In Final Preparation Match Ahead Of 2022 Concacaf W Championship

SANDY, Utah (June 28, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team beat Colombia 2-0 in their final tune-up ahead of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship. A Colombian own goal in the first half sparked by defender Sofia Huerta’s cross and a brilliant strike from defender Kelley O’Hara in the second half led the USWNT to victory despite a 50-minute weather delay at the 75^th minute and a gritty defensive effort from the Colombians in their second matchup in just three days. 

 

The USA looked sharp in the attack yet again during the first half, dominating the majority of possession in the attacking third with clever combination play. After creating a few dangerous chances, the USA bagged the opening goal in the 22^nd minute after a cross from Huerta from just outside the right side of the box was deflected off the head of defender Manuela Vanegas and into her own net.

 

The hosts nearly doubled the lead just before the halftime break after Huerta forced a turnover in Colombia’s defense third and sent a cross into the box, but forward Alex Morgan’s volley from point blank range smashed off the crossbar.

 

Just moments after the start of the second half, a moment of brilliance on the dribble in the right side of the penalty box by halftime substitute Trinity Rodman concluded with forward Megan Rapinoe heading a deflected shot over the ‘keeper and on target, but the ball was cleared off the goal line by Colombian defender Carolina Arias Vidal. After more dominant play by the USA, the match was paused in the 75^th minute due to a lightning strike close to the venue. After the delay, play resumed for the final 15 minutes.

 

The USA struck almost as quickly as the lightning did as O’Hara put her name on the scoresheet just two minutes after the match resumed. A chipped service from Ashley Sanchez into the right side of the penalty area was met with a header back across the goal from Rodman. A Colombian defender tried to clear, but the ball bounced to O’Hara in the right side of the penalty area and she fired a powerful, curling half-volley across the goal and into the left side-netting. The goal marked the defender’s first since 2016 and the third of her international career.

 

Colombia created more dangerous chances than in the first match, posting six shots and two shots on target, but USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was in top form as she came up with two big saves, first stretching to deny a curling shot from the top of the box with a one-handed save in the 55^th minute and then parrying out a powerful strike from just outside the box in the 86^th.

 

The USA will next head to Monterrey, Mexico for the 2022 Concacaf W Championship. The competition runs from July 4-18 and will serve as the region’s qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. New this year, the tournament champion will also secure its spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as well as a berth to the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup. The USA kicks off Group A action on July 4, taking on Haiti at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT (CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, ViX).

 

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

 

USA – Manuela Vanegas (Own Goal), 22nd minute – Sofia Huerta received a pass from Alex Morgan on the right side of the field and swung a cross into the box which was accidentally deflected by Vanegas into her own net on her attempted diving header clear. USA 1, COL 0

 

USA – Kelley O’Hara, 77th minute – As the USA overwhelmed the Colombian defense inside their box, Rodman headed an Ashley Sanchez service into the heart of the box from the right side. A poor clearance from the Colombian defense put the ball at O’Hara’s feet and she finished with a curling half-volley across into the left side-netting from about 12 yards out. USA 2, COL 0

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• With tonight’s own goal, the USWNT has forced their opposition into five own goals in 2022, the most in a calendar year in program history.

• After forcing tonight’s opening own goal, Sofia Huerta has now played a role in three goals in 2022, also helping force an own goal — and adding her first assist of the year — in the USA’s 5-0 win over New Zealand during the 2022 SheBelieves Cup

• Defender Carson Pickett earned her first cap for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Pickett, who was born without part of her left arm, is the first player with a limb difference to appear for the USWNT.

• Pickett is the fifth player to debut for the USA in 2022 and the 15th player to earn a first cap under head coach Vlatko Andonovski. At 28 years and 286 days of age, Pickett is the oldest field player to debut for the USA since McCall Zerboni made her international debut at the age of 30 in 2017, and is the oldest field player to ever start for the USA in her first cap.

• Prior to tonight, Kelley O’Hara’s last USWNT goal came on Feb. 19, 2016 vs. Puerto Rico.

• O’Hara also scored once at Rio Tinto Stadium during her time playing for Utah Royals FC. That came on May 5, 2018, in the club’s first ever win.

• Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher returned to the starting lineup for her 81st cap overall and her third appearance of the year. Naeher has tallied 47 career shutouts and ranks third in USWNT history in goalkeeper caps, wins (65) and clean sheets.  

• Alex Morgan made her first start for the USA since October 21, 2021, as she earned her 192nd cap overall. Morgan made her international debut in Sandy, Utah on March 31, 2010, in a snowy match against Mexico.

• With her appearance today, Morgan moved into a tie with Brandi Chastain for 14th on the USA’s all-time cap charts.

• Megan Rapinoe earned her 189th cap as she made her first start for the USWNT since October 21, 2021. Rapinoe returned to the field in Colorado for her first minutes of the year with the USWNT and assisted Taylor Kornieck’s goal in the 90th minute. Rapinoe now has 72 career assists, one shy of tying Abby Wambach for third on the USWNT’s all-time assist charts.

• The USA is 7-0-0 all-time when playing in Utah, outscoring the opposition by a combined margin of 23-1 during that span. The USWNT’s previous match in the Beehive State came on June 8, 2018, defeating China PR by a score of a 1-0.

• Head coach Vlatko Andonovski is 34-2-6 in 42 games (two at the end of 2019, nine in 2020, 24 in 2021, and seven so far in 2022).

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

 

Match: United States Women’s National Team vs. Colombia

Date: June 28, 2022

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah

Attendance: 16,077

Kickoff: 10:08 p.m. ET (8:08 p.m. local)

Weather: 83 degrees; partly cloudy

 

Scoring Summary:  1          2          F

USA                            1          1          2

COL                            0          0          0

 

USA – Manuela Vanegas (Own Goal)         22^nd minute

USA – Kelley O’Hara                                     77

 

Lineups:

USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 8-Sofia Huerta (5-Kelley O’Hara, 71), 14-Emily Sonnett, 12-Naomi Girma, 26-Carson Pickett; 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.) (22-Kristie Mewis, 46), 16-Rose Lavelle (20-Taylor Kornieck, 62), 2-Ashley Sanchez; 23-Midge Purce (6-Trinity Rodman, 46), 13-Alex Morgan (7-Ashley Hatch, 71), 15-Megan Rapinoe (9-Mallory Pugh, 62)

Substitutes not used: 18-Casey Murphy, 21-Aubrey Kingsbury, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Emily Fox, 25-Jaelin Howell, 27-Sam Coffey
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski

 

COL: 1-Catalina Perez; 17-Carolina Arias, 20-Monica Ramos, 19-Jorelyn Carabali, 2-Manuela Vanegas, 14-Nancy Acosta; 4-Diana Ospina (11-Catalina Usme, 74), 6-Daniela Montoya (Capt.) (21-Liana Salazar, 75), 5-Lorena Bedoya, 23-Elexa Bahr (18-Linda Caicedo, 46); 10-Leicy Santos (15-Tatiana Ariza, 90+2)

Substitutes not used: 12-Sandra Sepulveda, 13-Luz Katherine Tapia, 3-Daniela Arias, 7-Ana Gabriela Huertas, 8-Angie Castañeda, 9-Mayra Ramirez, 16-Maria Morales, 22-Daniela Caracas

Head coach: Nelson Abadía

 

Stats Summary: USA / COL

Shots: 18 / 6

Shots on Goal: 5 / 2

Saves: 2 / 3

Corner Kicks: 5 / 4

Fouls: 9 / 7

Offside: 0 / 0

 

Misconduct Summary:

USA – Rose Lavelle (Caution)         60^th minute

USA – Ashley Hatch (Caution)         90+3

 

Officials: 

Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Alicia Messer (USA)

4th Official: Natalie Simon (USA)

 

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Kelley O’Hara