The USA celebrates Mallory Pugh’s goal. (Photo by Matthew Levine)

By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

HARRISON N.J. — When it comes time for the U.S. women’s national team to make a 2018 season review video, Sunday’s 1-1 draw with France probably won’t be used at all.

While the Americans recorded a point in the tournament before a crowd of 25,706 at Red Bull Arena, their performance fell short of their own expectations.

“Not much was working,” said Megan Rapinoe, whose free kick set up Mallory Pugh’s goal off a scramble in the penalty area in the 35th minute. “A lot of turnovers. Just mental mistakes, too. Not just technical errors, sort of tactical thinking errors. Just pretty bad all-around for where we are and where we want to be going, the progression that we should be making. Its not good enough. It’s bad.”

The result gave the U.S. a 1-0-1 mark entering Wednesday’s third and final game in Orlando against England (1-0-1), which played Germany (0-1-1) to a 2-2 tie in the second game of the doubleheader. France is 0-1-1.

Only three minutes after the Americans grabbed the lead, they conceded the equalizer.

Mbock Bathy sent a long ball into the box for Eugenie Le Sommer, who fought past defender Abby Dahlkemper and dribbled around goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for a 1-1 deadlock.

The gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team was honored prior to the match.

Scoring Summary:   

USA – Mallory Pugh                                                                 35th minute
FRA – Eugénie Le Sommer (Griedge Mbock Bathy)                    38

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 22-Taylor Smith (2-Casey Short, 44, 23-Christen Press, 76), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 17-Tierna Davidson, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 3-Andi Sullivan (10-Carli Lloyd, 73), 6-Morgan Brian, 9-Lindsey Horan (21-Savannah McCaskill, 46); 11-Mallory Pugh (19-Crystal Dunn, 73), 13-Alex Morgan (capt.), 15-Megan Rapinoe (12-Lynn Williams, 46)
Substitutes: 8-Julie Ertz, 14-Sofia Huerta, 16-Emily Sonnett, 18-Jane Campbell, 20-Allie Long, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head Coach: Jill Ellis 

FRA: 16-Sara Bouhaddi17- Marion Torrent, 19-Griedge Mbock Bathy, 2-Aïssatou Tounkara, 7-Amel Majri; 18-Viviane Asseyi, 23-Grace Geyoro, 6-Amandine Henry, 9-Eugénie Le Sommer; 13-Valérie Gauvin (20- Kadidiatou Diani, 86), 12- Gaëtane Thiney
Substitutes: 1-Karima Benameur, 3-Eve Perisset, 4-Laura Georges, 5-Estelle Cascarino, 8-Maeva Clemaron, 11-Ouleymata Sarr, 15-Marie-Charlotte Leger, 22-Sakina Karchaoui
Head Coach: Corinne Diacre

Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: 11 / 13
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 13
Offside: 4 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
FRA – Viviane Asseyi (caution)                         30th minute
FRA – Marion Torrent                                      33
FRA – Eugénie Le Sommer                               90

Officials: 
Referee: Lucila Venegas (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Enedina Caudillo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Karen Diaz (MEX)
4th Official: Tatiana Montes (PAN)

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.