U.S. Women Dominate Canada With 4-0 Win

The U.S. Women’s National Team headed to Canada and didn’t disappoint. The women took charge from the first whistle, earning a 4-0 win.

"I am happy about the performance and I am happy that we scored a goal on a corner kick,” U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage said. “That's something we are starting to work on and I believe that come 2011, when the games are so tight, that set plays will be very, very important. So, four nice goals and a pretty good game on turf.”

Shannon Boxx scored the first goal just 93 seconds into the game. Heather Mitts forwarded the ball to Boxx, who dribbled toward goal. Boxx sent a 20-yard shot into the left side netting for a 1-0 lead.

“We talk about coming out strong and not allowing teams to get confident against us,” Boxx said. “It’s great to get a goal early. It felt really good. Pia has talked about working on the offensive side for the midfielders, playing both sides of the ball. I’m usually on the defensive side so to get on the offensive side is really fun.”

Canada’s Kara Lang had a good opportunity in the 43rd minute. Lang rocketed a freekick toard goal. It sailed right of Hope Solo and the net.

Just before the half, the U.S. women jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Heather O’Reilly passed the ball to Megan Rapinoe on the left side of the penalty area. Rapinoe beat defender Brittany Timko and bent a shot into the lower right corner.

Second half the USA struggled a bit early. Canada took advantage, picking up the pressure. In the 54th minute, the home team came close to scoring, when a ball slipped through the U.S. defense. Jodi-Ann Robinson caught up with it and blasted the ball over the goal.

In the 77th minute Abby Wambach earned a corner kick. Wambach jumped over two defenders and headed the ball toward goal. It bounced off Canada’s Christine Sinclair and to the USA’s Lindsay Tarpley who snuck the ball into the net for a 3-0 lead.

Three minutes later, the Americans struck again. O’Reilly chased down a long ball and crossed it into the box. It deflected off a Canadian defender’s foot and remained in play.
Lauren Cheney, who entered the match in the 77th minute, got to the ball and redirected it, heading it into the net for a 4-0 lead.

“I think Canada is definitely playing some good soccer and they had some dangerous attacks at times, we just kind of got the momentum in the second half and started scoring and the game opened up for us,” U.S. defender Rachel Buehler said.

The Americans dominated in every aspect of the game. They had 19 shots, including seven on goal. U.S. goalkeepers Hope Solo and Nicole Barnhart stood strong in goal, earning the joint shutout.

Christine Nairn made her U.S. debut as a substitute for Angela Hucles. Carli Lloyd was unavailable for the match as she suffered a knee laceration in a scrimmage on Saturday.

Both Wambach and Canada’s Sinclair went into the match looking for goal no. 100. The players will have to wait until they meet again in July to reach the milestone. July 19th the U.S. will host Canada at Rochester Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, NY and July 22nd they will play again at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C.

Goal.com

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