WNT Blanks Germany 1-0 on Wintry Night in Columbus at 2018 SheBelieves Cup

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 1, 2018) – The U.S. Women’s National Team opened its 2018 SheBelieves Cup run with a strong 1-0 win against No. 2 FIFA-ranked Germany in front of 14,591 fans on a cold, rainy Thursday night at MAPFRE Stadium. The win against Germany was the USA’s third in as many SheBelieves Cup appearances, with the WNT previously defeating the Europeans 2-1 in the inaugural 2016 tournament and 1-0 in 2017.

Germany had some good opportunities early in the game, putting USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to work often. However, it was the USA that found its groove and struck first. Megan Rapinoe opened the scoring with a nice finish on an Alex Morgan assist in the 17th minute for the 1-0 lead early in the half. 

In the second frame, the USA controlled the match from the get-go, pushed forward and outshot Germany 9-3, shutting the European side out and closing the match with a win and an important three points ahead of its next game of the tournament.

Earlier today, England dominated France 4-1, scoring three goals in the first half, and adding one in the second to establish a new SheBelieves Cup record for most goals scored in a single game. France pulled one back late in the second half to avoid being shut out. The win was only England’s second against France since 1974, with the first coming last summer at the UEFA Women’s Euros in the Netherlands. 

Next, the U.S. WNT travels to Harrison, N.J. for the second leg of the SheBelieves Cup at Red Bull Arena, home of MLS’s New York Red Bulls. The USA will kick off against France on Sunday, March 4 at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2, while Germany faces England at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN3.

2018 SheBelieves Cup Standings

Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
England	1	1	0	0	4	1	+3	3
USA	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
Germany	0	0	1	0	0	1	-1	0
France	1	0	1	0	1	4	-3	0

Goal Scoring Rundown:

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Alex Morgan), 17^th minute: Alyssa Naeher’s long service made it to Alex Morgan, who was stationed just past midfield. Her tiny flick split the Germany backline and rolled towards the goal. Rapinoe outran her defender and beat Almuth Schult to the ball before hitting a shot between the German goalkeeper’s legs into the back of the net. USA 1, GER 0. WATCH. FINAL.

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Additional Notes:

• U.S. WNT head coach Jill Ellis used almost the exact same lineup that took the field against Denmark on Jan. 21. The one change was Carli Lloyd in for Andi Sullivan in the midfield.
• Ellis made all six subs; all in the second half: Morgan Brian came in for Carli Lloyd in the 65th, Savannah McCaskill earned her second WNT cap when she came in for Julie Ertz in the 72nd; Casey Short came in for Kelley O’Hara in the 79th; Emily Sonnett came in for Megan Rapinoe in the 86th; Lynn Williams came in for Mallory Pugh in the 90+1, and Allie Long came in for Alex Morgan in the 90+4. 
• Just two players in the USA’s starting lineup (Alyssa Naeher and Carli Lloyd) started against Germany at last year’s SheBelieves Cup.
• Megan Rapinoe earned her 131st international appearance today. She scored her 35th career goal, tying April Heinrichs and Sydney Leroux for 15th on the WNT’s all-time goals list. 
• With today’s assist on Rapinoe’s goal, Alex Morgan has now recorded four goals and four assists in her career against Germany. She has played them nine times, appearing in the USA’s starting XI on seven occasions. She earned her 136th cap tonight. 
• Alyssa Naeher earned her 25th cap tonight and 13th career shutout. She and is the seventh goalkeeper in U.S. history to earn 25 or more caps. 
• There were two teenagers in the USA’s starting XI tonight in 19-year-olds Mallory Pugh and Tierna Davidson, both of whom are age-eligible for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The pair also started together in the USA’s first game of the year on Jan. 21 in San Diego, where they combined for two goals and two assists. Before that match in San Diego, the last time two teenagers were in the U.S. WNT starting lineup was June 30, 2001 against Canada in Toronto. Aleisha Cramer (18) and Cat Whitehill (19) both played the entire game. Tonight, Davidson played all 90 minutes, while Pugh played 89.
• Morgan Brian entered the match in the 65th minute, to see her first WNT action since playing the final 16 minutes against New Zealand on Sept. 15, 2017. Brian was hampered by injuries last year and played in just six games, starting two. She is just 25-years-old and has 70 caps putting her in 44th place on the all-time caps list.

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

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Germany
Date: March 1, 2018
Competition: SheBelieves Cup
Venue: MAPFRE Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Attendance: 14,591
Weather:  37 degrees; mixed rain/snow, windy

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

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Alex Morgan)            17^th minute

Lineups:
USA:  1-Alyssa Naeher; 22-Taylor Smith, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 17-Tierna Davidson, 5-Kelley O’Hara (2-Casey Short, 79); 8-Julie Ertz (21-Savannah McCaskill, 72), 9-Lindsey Horan, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.) (6-Morgan Brian, 65); 11-Mallory Pugh (12-Lynn Williams, 90+1), 13-Alex Morgan (20-Allie Long, 90+4), 15-Megan Rapinoe (16-Emily Sonnett, 86)
Substitutes: 3-Andi Sullivan, 14-Sofia Huerta, 18-Jane Campbell, 19-Crystal Dunn, 23-Christen Press, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head coach: Jill Ellis

GER: Germany: 1-Almuth Schult, 3-Kathrin Hendrich, 4-Leonie Maier (23-Hasret Kayikci, 76), 5-Babett Peter (8-Lena Goeßling, 54), 10-Dzsenifer Marozsan (capt.), 11-Alexandra Popp, 13-Sara Däbritz, 16-Linda Dallmann (20-Lina Magull, 68), 17-Verena Faißt, 19-Svenja Huth, 22-Tabea Kemme
Substitutes: 12-Laura Benkarth, 21-Carina Schlüter, 2-Johanna Elsig, 7-Jacqueline Klasen, 9-Mandy Islacker, 14-Anna Blässe, 15-Sara Doorsoun, 26-Sharon Beck, 27-Lea Schüller
Head coach: Steffi Jones

Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 14 / 7
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 4
Fouls: 6 / 13
Offside: 0 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
GER – Alexandra Popp (caution)                                    75^th minute
GER – Tabea Kemme (caution)                                      83

Officials:
Referee: Melissa Borjas (HON)                                                                                                               
Assistant Referee 1: Shirely Perello (HON)                                                                                                                           
Assistant Referee 2: Yudilla Briones (MEX)                                                                                                                           
4th Official: Karitza Guerra (HON)                               

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Alyssa Naeher