AUCKLAND / TĀMAKI MAKAURAU, New Zealand (Jan. 21, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s National Team recorded its second win in as many games against New Zealand during its January training camp as the Americans took down the Football Ferns 5-0 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau in front of 12,721 fans, which was the largest crowd to ever to watch the New Zealand Women’s National Team on home soil.
Eden Park will serve as the USA’s venue for the first and third Group E matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
A brace from midfielder Rose Lavelle, who captained the USA after forward Alex Morgan was a late scratch during warm-ups due to lower leg tightness, led the way as forwards Ashley Hatch and Mallory Swanson as well as midfielder Taylor Kornieck also added goals.
As it did during its 4-0 victory on Jan. 18 in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-tara, the USA controlled the pace in the first half, owning 73 percent of possession while denying the hosts of any shots. After a handful of chances including an early warning shot from Swanson in the second minute, the USA opened the scoring in the 22nd after Rodman played Hatch in on goal with a great curling cross on the ground from the left wing. The ball eluded a retreating defender and rolled into the path of Hatch, who finished with a first-time shot into the lower right corner from about 12 yards out.
The USA nearly doubled their lead four minutes later, but New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler came up with a brilliant save to deny midfielder Ashley Sanchez from point-blank range. The USA continued knocking at the door until Lavelle finished off a great cross from defender Sofia Huerta from the right side of the field with a volley from 10 yards out to double the lead.
The U.S., which played fast and launched waves of attacks against the packed Ferns defenders for the entire 90 minutes, came out even stronger in the second half, creating some immediate threats in the hosts’ final third until Swanson added her name to the scoresheet in the 53rd minute, burying a rebound of Rodman’s shot that came off the leg of a New Zealand defender.
Just nine minutes later, Lavelle struck again as Kornieck played a clever ball over the top from near midfield to find forward Lynn Williams out wide on the left side. Williams sent a cross into the box for Lavelle to finish with a left-footed volley from five yards out. It only took six minutes for the 6-foot-1 Kornieck to add the finishing touch on the match as she headed home a corner kick from the right side from Lavelle.
The U.S. continued to apply pressure, creating a few more chances as New Zealand battled fiercely. When all was said and done, the USA posted 22 shots and 10 on target while denying the hosts of any shots at all.
Nayler played an excellent game in nets for the Ferns, making several spectacular saves late to keep the score down and have five total stops.
The USA get together next stateside for the February FIFA International window when it will host the eighth annual SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa®. This year’s tournament will run from Feb. 16-22 as Brazil, Canada and Japan join the USA for the four-team international tournament with games hosted in Orlando, Nashville and Frisco.
Fans will also be able to follow the action via Twitter (@USWNT), Instagram (@USWNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
USA – Ashley Hatch (Trinity Rodman), 22nd minute – During a sequence of quick ball movement around the field, Rodman received a pass on the left wing and sent a brilliant, curled ball around a defender to find Hatch inside the box where she buried a first-time shot from about 12 yards out to open the scoring. USA 1, NZL 0
USA – Rose Lavelle (Sofia Huerta), 39th minute – Mallory Swanson played Huerta out on the right wing and she sent a cross into the heart of the box for Lavelle to deftly first-time with her left foot from 10 yards out. USA 2, NZL 0
USA – Mallory Swanson, 53rd minute – Defender Emily Fox received the ball on the left flank and sent a cross into the box from deep near the end line. Trinity Rodman got a foot too it, but it was immediately blocked by a New Zealand defender. That ball landed at the feet of Swanson in the center of the box about 10 yards out and she smashed her shot into the right side of the net. USA 3, NZL 0
USA – Rose Lavelle (Lynn Williams), 74th minute – Midfielder Taylor Kornieck played the ball over the top to Williams on the left wing. From there, she sent a cross into the box to meet Lavelle on the run and the U.S. captain finished with a first-time left-footed redirection from five yards out. USA 4, NZL 0
USA – Taylor Kornieck (Rose Lavelle), 80th minute – Lavelle took a corner kick from the right side and found Kornieck on the back post. She used her height rise above the pack of players and bury a header off the grass and into the net from six yards out. USA 5, NZL 0
Match: New Zealand vs. United States Women’s National Team
Date: January 21, 2023
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Eden Park; Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 12,721
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. Local; 10:05 p.m. ET on Jan. 20
Weather: 77 degrees; Sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 3 5
NZL 0 0 0
USA – Ashley Hatch (Trinity Rodman) 22nd minute
USA – Rose Lavelle (Sofia Huerta) 39
USA – Mallory Swanson 53
USA – Rose Lavelle (Lynn Williams) 74
USA – Taylor Kornieck (Rose Lavelle) 80
Lineups:
USA: 18-Casey Murphy; 8-Sofia Huerta, 3-Alana Cook, 12-Naomi Girma (14-Emily Sonnett, 46), 19-Crystal Dunn (23-Emily Fox, 46); 17-Andi Sullivan (20-Taylor Kornieck, 62), 16-Rose Lavelle (Capt.), 2-Ashley Sanchez (22-Kristie Mewis, 61); 25-Trinity Rodman (6-Lynn Williams, 62), 7-Ashley Hatch (11-Midge Purce, 61), 9-Mallory Swanson
Substitutes not used: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn; 5-Hailie Mace, 15-Sam Coffey, 21-Adrianna Franch
Did not dress: Alex Morgan
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
NZL: 1-Erin Nayler; 24-Ally Green (30-Ashleigh Ward, 33), 7-Ali Riley (Capt.) (18-Mackenzie Barry, 69), 31-Anna Green, 19-Liz Anton; 25-Grace Jale (33-Grace Wisnewski, 46), 15-Daisy Cleverley (16-Emma Rolston, 69), 11-Olivia Chance, 28-Ava Collins (34-Tayla O’brien, 82); 9-Gabi Rennie, 13-Paige Satchell (36-Deven Jackson, 46)
Substitutes not used: 21-Murphy Sheaff, 23-Brianna Edwards, 20-Jana Radosavljevic, 22-Hannah Blake, 29-Jacqui Hand, 32-Aniela Jensen, 37-Rebecca Lake
Head Coach: Jitka Klimková
Stats Summary: USA / NZL
Shots: 22 / 0
Shots on Goal: 10 / 0
Saves: 0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 1 / 12
Offside: 3 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA - Lynn Williams (Caution) 71st minute
Officials:
Referee: Lara Lee (AUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Sarah Ho (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Lauren Hargrave (AUS)
4th Official: Kate Jacewicz (AUS)
Bud Light Woman of the Match: Rose Lavelle