Megan Rapinoe’s cross set up the own goal for the U.S. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

ORLANDO, Fla. – An own goal lifted the U.S. women’s national team to a 1-0 victory over England to win its second SheBelieves Cup crown in three years at Orlando City Stadium Wednesday night.

The Americans, who also won the inaugural edition of the cup in 2016, finished this competition at 2-0-1.

A tight defensive affair in the opening minutes, the U.S. out shot England 3-0 in the first half with the most dangerous chances coming late in the frame. In the 43rd minute, Megan Rapinoe passed a ball into the middle of the penalty area, but no one could get to it as England cleared it out of danger. A minute later, Mallory Pugh made a run and set herself up on top of the box but her shot hit off the outside of the left side.

After knocking at the door from the start in the second half, the Americans pressure on England finally got to the Three Lionesses in the 58th minute when a cross from Rapinoe deflected in for the game winner after hitting England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley’s leg.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned the shutout.

Captaining the U.S. was Carli Lloyd, who earned her 250th cap, becoming the sixth player to reach that plateau. She has 98 goals, two away from becoming the sixth player to score 100 or more for the USA, and the first since 2009 when Abby Wambach scored her 100th.

Rockville Centre, N.Y. native Crystal Dunn earned her 59th career cap and made her first start since July 30, 2017 against Brazil. She played the game as an outside back, a position she played during the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, and at the beginning of her USWNT career.

In the first game of the doubleheader, France defeated Germany, 3-0, in what was the final match for both teams at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup. The French tallied via a first-half screamer from Amandine Henry and second-half scores from Eugenie Le Sommer and Valerie Gauvin.

The win cemented a third-place finish for France – a year after winning the world’s most elite four-team women’s soccer tournament – behind England, both of whom earned 1-1-1 records. Germany rounded out the final standings with an 0-2-1 finish.

The USWNT will host two friendlies against Mexico on April 5 (7 p.m. ET; FS1) in Jacksonville, Fla. at EverBank Field and on April 8 (1:30 p.m. ET; FOX) in Houston, Texas at BBVA Stadium.

 

Scoring Summary:     

USA – Own goal (Karen Bardsley)                              58th minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 16-Emily Sonnett, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 17-Tierna Davidson, 19-Crystal Dunn; 20-Allie Long (14-Sofia Huerta, 74), 9-Lindsey Horan (6-Morgan Brian, 74), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 11-Mallory Pugh (12-Lynn Williams, 90+2), 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe (21-Savannah McCaskill, 80)
Substitutes: 2-Casey Short, 3-Andi Sullivan, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 8-Julie Ertz, 18-Jane Campbell, 22-Taylor Smith, 23-Christen Press, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head Coach: Jill Ellis

ENG: 1-Karen Bardsley; 2-Lucy Bronze, 15-Abbie McManus, 6-Millie Bright, 3-Demi Stokes (12-Hannah Blundell, 87); 22-Keira Walsh (8-Jill Scott 86), 16-Izzy Christiansen; 19-Mel Lawley (11-Toni Duggan, 52), 10-Fran Kirby (17-Rachel Daly, 75), 18-Ellen White; 9-Jodie Taylor (7-Nikita Parris, 52)
Substitutes: 4-Fara Williams, 13-Siobhan Chamberlain, 14-Alex Greenwood, 20-Georgia Stanwood, 23-Gabby George
Head Coach: Phil Neville

Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 8 / 6
Shots on Goal: 2 / 0
Saves: 0 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 13
Offside: 0 / 7

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials: 
Referee: Carol Anne Chenard (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Stephanie-Dale Yee Sing (JAM)
4th Official: Odette Hamilton (JAM)

U.S. Soccer Woman of the Match: Tierna Davidson

 

2018 SheBelieves Cup Standings

Team GP W L T GF GA GD Pts.
USA 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 7
England 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 4
France 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
Germany 3 0 2 1 2 6 -4 1

 

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.