WNT Shuts Out China 1-0 to Advance to 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Semifinal

OTTAWA, Canada (June 26, 2015) – The U.S. Women’s National Team recorded its fourth consecutive shutout to defeat China PR 1-0 in the Quarterfinals at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and advance to the tournament Semifinal. 

Carli Lloyd, starting as the team’s captain, earned her 200th cap and headed in the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute. Lloyd is the third WNT player to score on her 200th cap. Abby Wambach and Heather O’Reilly are the others to achieve the feat. 

Hope Solo and the USA back line have now held opponents scoreless for 423 straight minutes in this year’s World Cup, the longest clean sheet streak in U.S. World Cup history. The win was the 134th of Solo’s career, which moved her past Brianna Scurry and into first place on the USA’s all-time list. 

The USA is the only country to reach the Semifinal in all seven Women’s World Cups. The WNT continues it World Cup quest against Germany on Tuesday, June 30, at 7 p.m. ET. The Semifinal will take place at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. The game will be broadcast live on FOX. Fans can also follow in-game updates on Twitter (@ussoccer_wnt and @ussoccer_esp). 

Germany beat France 0(5)-0(4) in penalty kicks to earn its spot in the Semifinal. This will be the fourth time the U.S. has met Germany in Women’s World Cup play. The WNT holds a 2-1-0 record against the European nation. 

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Carli Lloyd (Julie Johnston), 51st minute: It all started from a free kick near midfield. Meghan Klingenberg raised her hand and sent it over to Julie Johnston who was waiting in the center of the pitch at the center circle. Johnston turned and pushed over to her right. With room Johnston drilled a long cross into the box, where Lloyd outjumped her defender and directed a perfect header into the bottom right corner. USA 1, CHN 0 (FINAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
CHN – Li Dongna, 4th minute: Kelly O’Hara played a high, looping ball into the box toward Julie Johnston, who was in China’s penalty area after a free kick. China’s ‘keeper Wang Fei, jumped to it and the ball bounced back out toward Amy Rodriguez, who was free for a shot on the rebound. Rodriguez quickly fired, but Dongna was there waiting and stepped in front of the shot, clearing it away to safety. 

CHN – Wang Fei, 37th minute (save): Carli Lloyd blasted a free kick from 28 yards out toward the upper left corner, but Wang Fei was able to make a leaping save and batted it away.

Next on the Schedule: The WNT will meet Germany on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.
Broadcast information: FOX, Spanish language TV TBD.
Social: Twitter (@ussoccer_wnt; @ussoccer_esp); Facebook; Instagram

Milestone Watch:

• Carli Lloyd became the ninth player to hit 200 caps in U.S. history and the fourth on the current roster. She is tenth on the USA’s all-time list. Heather O’Reilly (220) Abby Wambach (247) and Christie Rampone (307) are the only active U.S. players ahead of her.
• Hope Solo passed Briana Scurry and moved into first on the WNT’s all-time wins list with 134.
• Solo recorded her 88th career shutout. It was the fourth straight World Cup clean sheet for the USA, and Solo’s ninth in World Cup play, the second most by a U.S. goalkeeper behind Brianna Scurry (10).
• Lloyd is the third U.S. WNT player to score on her 200th cap, Wambach and O’Reilly did the same.
• The U.S. extended its unbeaten streak against China to 25 games. The teams have met 54 times and the USA holds a 33-8-13 all-time record against the Steel Roses, outscoring them 94-35.
• The U.S. extended its unbeaten streak to 32 games when scoring first at the Women’s World Cup (28-4-0).
• Julie Johnston’s assist on Lloyd’s goal was the first of her career. 

Additional Notes:

• The U.S. WNT has now advanced to the Semifinals in every Women’s World Cup it has participated in (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015).
• This will be the fourth time the U.S. has met Germany in Women’s World Cup play. Each of the three previous times the teams have met, the winner has gone on to win the tournament.
• Amy Rodriguez and Kelly O’Hara earned their first start of the tournament, respectively, while Heather O’Reilly made her debut appearance. O'Hara's appearance was also her first of the competition.
• Carli Lloyd has scored in back-to-back games for the WNT. Her goal in the second half was her fourth World Cup strike and her 65th overall. Lloyd has also scored in each of the last two matches between the U.S. and China. When the team’s last met in Dec. 2014, Lloyd scored the lone goal for the USA in a 1-1 draw.
• Since allowing a goal against Australia in its opening match on June 8 in the 27th minute, the U.S. has shut out Sweden, Nigeria, Colombia and China – a stretch of 423 consecutive minutes.  
• Defender Becky Sauerbrunn is the only player on the roster to start and play every game for the USA in 2015. She has played the most minutes (1,329) of anyone on the team.
• Five U.S. players have played all 450 minutes of the tournament so far: defender Julie Johnston, defender Meghan Klingenberg, midfielder Carli Lloyd, defender Sauerbrunn and goalkeeper Hope Solo.
• In its last 15 games, the U.S. has surrendered just three goals and has scored 27.
• So far, 19 of the 20 field players on the World Cup roster have seen action in the tournament.
• Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe were not eligible to appear in the match, serving suspensions for yellow cards earned. Both players will be eligible for the Semifinal game.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. China PR
Date: June 26, 2015
Competition: 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Quarterfinal
Venue: Lansdowne Stadium; Ottawa, Canada
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 24,141
Weather: 75 degrees; Partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                            0          1          1
CHN                            0          0          0

USA – Carli Lloyd (Julie Johnston)    51st minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 19-Julie Johnston, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 22-Meghan Klingenberg; 5-Kelley O’Hara (23-Christen Press, 61), 14-Morgan Brian, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.), 17-Tobin Heath; 8-Amy Rodriguez (20-Abby Wambach, 86), 13-Alex Morgan (9-Heather O’Reilly,81)
Subs Not Used: 2-Sydney Leroux, 3-Christie Rampone, 6-Whitney Engen, 7-Shannon Boxx, 8-Amy Rodriguez, 16-Lori Chalupny, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 21-Alyssa Naeher,
Not Available: 12-Lauren Holiday, 15-Megan Rapinoe
Head coach: Jill Ellis 

CHN: 12- Wang Fei; 5- Wu Haiyan (capt.), 14- Zhao Rong, 6- Li Dongna, 2- Liu Shanshan; 21- Wang Lisi, 19-Tan Ruyin (3-Pang Fengyue, 58), 16- Lou Jiahui (11-Wang Shuang, 35), 23- Ren Guixin, 18- Han Peng (13- Tang Jiali, 18); 9- Wang Shanshan
Subs not used: 1- Zhang Yue, 4- Li Jiayue, 7- Xu Yanlu, 8- Ma Jun, 10- Li Ying, 15- Lei Jiahui, 17- Gu Yasha, 20- Zhang Rui, 22- Zhao Lina
Head coach: Hao Wei

Stats Summary: USA / CHN
Shots: 17 / 6
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 11 / 10
Offside: 7 / 2 

Misconduct Summary:
CHN – Wu Haiyan (caution)               50th minute

Officials:
Referee: Carina Vitulano (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Michelle O’Neill (IRL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tonja Paavola (FIN)
Fourth Official: Salome di Iorio (ARG)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Carli Lloyd