U.S. Women's National Team Soars 4-1 Over Mexico In First Of Two April Friendlies

The U.S. Women's National Team scored three goals in four minutes early in the second half to secure a 4-1 victory against Mexico on April 5th at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. The match was the first of two friendlies between these two nations, with the second match taking place on Sunday, April 8th at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Team USA took an early lead in this match-up after Mallory Pugh scored her team-leading 4th goal of the year in the sixth minute of action. The scoring sequence started with Alex Morgan passing a ball into the lefthand side of the box behind the Mexico defense and into the path of Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe beat goalkeeper Bianca Henniger to the ball and slid it to Pugh in the center of the penalty area, who smashed it into the top part of the net from close range while under pressure.

The score would remain the same at halftime, and it didn't take long for the U.S. WNT to find the net in the second half.

In the 51st minute, Morgan was pulled down inside the box and awarded a penalty kick. She converted her attempt, and scored again just two minutes later, but this time in the run of play. Midfielder Lindsey Horan slipped a great through ball to Morgan who was making a diagonal run from the center of the field towards the left side. She then fired a shot towards the opposite side of the goal, and the ball bounced off the right post before rolling into the back of the net to complete the brace.

On the next possession, the USA struck again to take a 4-0 lead. In the 54th minute, Pugh crossed the ball from the right side of the field to the left where Horan settled the ball with no pressure. She then played another great ball into the middle to set up Sky Blue FC's Carli Lloyd for a one-time finish. The goal marked the New Jersey native's 99th career international goal.

Mexico responded in the 64th minute to avoid being shut out on the night. Sky Blue FC forward Katie Johnson chased down a header by Ariana Calderón, and Johnson chipped the ball over USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher before Naeher could collect. Johnson's chip bounced into the open net for her fourth career international goal and first against the USA.

At the final whistle, the score would remain 4-1 in favor of the U.S WNT. The U.S. also finished the match with a 20-9 shot advantage.

Next, the U.S. WNT travels to Houston, Texas, for the finale of the two-game set of friendlies against Mexico. The nations will meet on Sunday, April 8 (12:30 p.m. CT; FOX) at BBVA Compass Stadium, home of the NWSL’s Houston Dash and MLS’s Houston Dynamo.

U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report

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

Date: April 5, 2018

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: EverBank Field; Jacksonville, Fla.

Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. ET

Attendance: 14,360

Weather: 64 degrees; Partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:

USA 1 3 4 MEX 0 1 1

USA - Mallory Pugh (Megan Rapinoe) 6^th minute

USA - Alex Morgan (penalty kick) 51

USA - Alex Morgan (Lindsey Horan) 53

USA - Carli Lloyd (Lindsey Horan) 54

MEX - Katie Johnson (Ariana Calderón) 64

Lineups:

USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 16-Emily Sonnett, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 17-Tierna Davidson, 19-Crystal Dunn; 3-Andi Sullivan (10-Carli Lloyd, 53), 6-Morgan Brian (20-Allie Long, 71), 9-Lindsey Horan; 11-Mallory Pugh (4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 77), 13-Alex Morgan (capt.) (22-Ashley Hatch, 80), 15-Megan Rapinoe (21-Savannah McCaskill, 71)

Substitutes: 18-Jane Campbell, 25-Hailie MaceHead coach: Jill Ellis

MEX: 1-Bianca Henninger; 2-Kenti Robles, 13-Annia Mejía (23-Christina Murillo, 57), 3-Bianca Sierra, 5-Mónica Flores (22-Greta Espinoza, 46); 7-Cristina Ferral (8-Ariana Calderón, 46), 6-Karla Nieto (4-Vanessa Flores, 78), 19-Katie Johnson (21-Renae Cuéllar,76); 11-Mónica Ocampo (capt.) (17-María Sánchez, 76), 10-Stephany Mayor, 18-Kiana Palacios

Substitutes: 9-Anisa Guajardo, 12-Cecilia Santiago,14-Jocelyn Orejel, 16-Marcela ValeraHead coach: Roberto Medina

Stats Summary: USA / MEX

Shots: 20 / 9

Shots on Goal: 6 / 1

Saves: 1 / 4

Corner Kicks: 3 / 4

Fouls: 7 / 10

Offside: 4 / 0

Misconduct Summary:None

Officials:

Referee: Cardella Samuels (JAM)

Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Princess Brown (JAM)

4th Official: Christina Unkel (USA)