Megan Rapinoe gave the U.S. all the scoring it needed. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. women’s national team opened its SheBelieves Cup run with a 1-0 win against SECOND-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 team defeating the Europeans 2-1 in the inaugural 2016 tournament and 1-0 in 2017.

Germany had some good opportunities early on, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to work often. However, it was the Americans who found their groove and struck first. Megan Rapinoe opened the scoring with a nice finish on an Alex Morgan assist in the 17th minute.

In the second half, the USA was attacking against the wind, but still pushed forward and out-shot Germany 9-3, 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, England dominated France 4-1, tallied three goals in the first half, and adding one in the second to establish a 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.

The USWNT travels to Harrison, N.J. for the second leg of the SheBelieves Cup at Red Bull Arena. The USA will kick off against France Sunday at noon ET on ESPN2, while Germany faces England at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN3.

 

Scoring Summary:     

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Alex Morgan)            17th 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: 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)            75th 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)

Woman of the Match: Alyssa Naeher

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.