Christen Press scored for the U.S. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

CLEAN SHEET: U.S. women blank Chile, 3-0

CARSON, Calif. – The U.S. women’s national team defeated Chile, 3-0, in front of 23,544 fans on a wild night at StubHub Center in what was the first match between the countries in women’s soccer.

The Americans controlled the game from the start and got on the board via an eighth-minute set-piece from teenager Tierna Davidson. The U.S. added another after Chilean defender Carla Guerrero chested the ball into her own net after Julie Ertz had flicked on a corner kick service.

Chile captain Christiane Endler, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, had a tremendous game in goal to keep the score down, making nine saves on the 11 shots on goal.

As the first half came to a close, Tobin Heath was taken down on the right side of the penalty box. Los Angeles native Christen Press, who was honored before the game for her 100th cap that she earned April 12, converted the spot kick. With the U.S. players almost back at midfield waiting for the kickoff, confusion ensued as referee Katja Koroleva disallowed the goal, sending the U.S. to halftime with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the U.S. had another goal disallowed for a foul inside the penalty area that wiped away a bullet header from Carli Lloyd.

Press did eventually get her goal – her first of the year – in the 59th minute to extend the U.S. lead to 3-0.

Chile will be a Women’s World Cup debutante next summer after qualifying for the tournament after finishing second in the 2018 Copa América Femenina.

The U.S. will head to Northern California for the second of this two-game series vs. Chile on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UDN) at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. That match will be the final one for the USWNT before entering Women’s World Cup qualifying, which the begins in Cary, N.C. Oct. 4.

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.