USA Shuts Out Russia in 4-0 Victory

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) ended its two-game losing streak by defeating Russia 4-0 on Thursday night behind two-goal performances from Crystal Dunn and Allie Long in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,191 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The result came after the second-ranked Americans finished last in the four-team SheBelieves Cup.

The USA started the match strong, creating multiple scoring chances out of the gate and got on the scoreboard in just the 10th minute. Carli Lloyd played a well-paced pass between the Russian defense and into the path of sprinting Dunn, who timed her run perfectly to get behind the back line. Her first touch continued her momentum towards goal and her second was a left-footed strike into the right side netting.

Eight minutes later, the USWNT extended its lead off a header from Long. Rose Lavelle took a corner from the right side of the field, and Long muscled her way through three defenders to flick the ball backwards with her head into the back of the net.

Dunn would once again score before the end of the half, taking advantage of a poor touch made by Daria Makarenko just outside the box and calmly finishing with her left foot in the 41st minute. The goal marked Dunn’s second career multi-goal game, with the first coming last year on Feb. 15, also at Toyota Stadium.

Long also finished the night with a brace, scoring her second goal with her head in the 70th minute off a perfectly placed cross from Mallory Pugh. This was the second multi-goal game for Long, her first being exactly one year ago on April 6, 2016 against Colombia in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Sky Blue FC’s Kelley O’Hara, who was recently announced as an allocated player for the 2017 season, earned a starting role for the match. She played a total of 68 minutes before being replaced by Boston Breakers’ Megan Oyster.

The USWNT will travel to Houston, Texas to play the second of its two-game series against Russia on Sunday, April 9 (2 p.m. ET, ESPN) at BBVA Compass Stadium.

U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Russia

Date: April 6, 2017

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT

Attendance: 15,191

Weather: 71 degrees; Clear skies

Scoring Summary: 1 2 FUSA 3 1 4

RUS 0 0 0

USA – Crystal Dunn (Carli Lloyd) 10th minute

USA – Allie Long (Rose Lavelle) 18

USA – Crystal Dunn 41

USA – Allie Long (Mallory Pugh) 70

Lineups:USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 2-Mallory Pugh (8-Amy Rodriguez, 80), 3-Samantha Mewis, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara (22-Megan Oyster, 68), 7-Meghan Klingenberg (11-Ali Krieger, 46), 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.)(13-Alex Morgan, 46), 14-Casey Short, 16-Rose Lavelle (15-Megan Rapinoe, 80), 19-Crystal Dunn (23-Christen Press, 64), 20-Allie Long

Subs not used: 24-Ashlyn HarrisHead coach: Jill Ellis

RUS: 12-Alena Belyaeva; 4-Tatiana Sheikina (22-Ksenia Kovalenko, 72), 6-Nadeshda Karpova, 8-Daria Makarenko, 9-Anna Cholovyaga, 10-Elena Terekhova (capt.)(17-Ekaterina Pantiukhina, 46), 11-Ekaterina Sochneva, 13-Anna Belomyttseva, 18-Elvira Ziiastinova, 20-Margarita Chernomyrdina, 23-Elena Morozova (15-Elena Danilova, 16)

Subs: 1-Tatiana Shcerbak, 2-Nelli Korovkina, 5-Ekaterina Lazareva, 16-Anastasiia Pozdeeva, 19-Ekaterina Morozova

Head coach: Elena Fomina

Stats Summary: USA / RUSShots: 33 / 5

Shots on Goal: 7 / 1

Saves: 2 / 3

Corner Kicks: 16 / 2

Fouls: 10 / 19

Offside: 9 / 1

Misconduct Summary:RUS – Elena Danilova (caution) 55th minute

RUS – Tatiana Sheikina (caution) 66

RUS – Anna Cholovyaga (caution) 74

USA – Christen Press (caution) 90

Officials:

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Nelly Alvarado (CRC)

Assistant Referee 2: Linda Ayala (SLV)

4th Official: Marian Leon (SLV)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Allie Long