U.S. WNT Defeats Chile 3-0

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Chile, 3-0, in front of 23,544 fans on Friday night at StubHub Center in what was the first-ever match between the countries in women’s soccer.

The USA got on the board early, scoring in the 8th minute of action. The play began with a Tobin Heath corner kick from the right side. Heath’s cross flew into a pack of players in the middle of the box where Tierna Davidson leaped above her defender to redirect the ball off a Chilean defender and into the net. It was first international tally for the 19-year-old.

The U.S. doubled its lead in the 32nd minute off an own goal. The scoring sequence began with another corner kick by Heath from the right side. This time, the ball was served towards the near post where Julie Ertz was able to redirect the ball towards the back post. Chile’s Carla Guerrero tried to chest the ball away, but instead redirected the shot just across the line to give the USA a 2-0 lead.

As the first half came to a close, Heath was taken down on the right side of the penalty box, and the U.S. was awarded a penalty kick. Christen Press, who was honored before the game for her 100th cap that she earned on April 12, converted from the spot. However, referee Katja Koroleva disallowed the goal due to encroachment, but instead of allowing Press to retake the penalty, she sent both teams to the locker room for halftime.

Press eventually got her goal in the 59th minute to give the USA a 3-0 advantage. Mallory Pugh received the ball from Morgan Brian to get behind the Chilean backline and into the box. She took a touch towards goal, then sent a low cross through the middle of the box. Carli Lloyd barely missed on the slide, but it rolled to Press, who found herself in the perfect spot to roof her shot from a tough angle.

At the final whistle, the score line remained 3-0 in favor of the U.S. WNT. Chile’s captain, Christiane Endler, who plays professionally for Paris Saint-Germain, had a tremendous game in goal to keep the scoring down. She made nine saves on the USA’s 11 shots on goal.

Alyssa Naeher earned her 16th career shutout in her 33rd cap. She is the fifth goalkeeper in U.S. history to earn 30 or more caps.

The USA will head to Northern California for the second of this two-game series vs. Chile on Sept. 4 (7 p.m. PT; ESPN2, UDN) at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. That match will be the final one for the U.S. WNT before entering World Cup qualifying, which the begins on Oct. 4 in Cary, N.C.

U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report

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

Date: August 31, 2018

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: StubHub Center; Carson, Calif.

Kickoff: 8 p.m. PT

Attendance: 23,544

Weather: 70 degrees; Clear

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 2 1 3

CHI 0 0 0

USA - Tierna Davidson (Tobin Heath) 8^th minute

USA - Own Goal (Carla Guerrero) 32

USA - Christen Press (Mallory Pugh) 59

Lineups:

USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 22-Emily Sonnett, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 12-Tierna Davidson, 19-Crystal Dunn (3-Samantha Mewis, 61); 2-Julie Ertz (26-Hailie Mace, 74), 16-Rose Lavelle (6-Morgan Brian, 46), 9-Lindsey Horan (25-McCall Zerboni, 46); 23-Christen Press (capt.), 13-Alex Morgan (10-Carli Lloyd, 46), 17-Tobin Heath (11-Mallory Pugh, 46)

Substitutes not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris

Head coach: Jill Ellis

CHI: 1-Christiane Endler (capt.); 3-Carla Guerrero, 4-Francisca Lara, 7-Maria Jose Rojas (20-Daniela Zamora, 46), 8-Karen Araya (6-Claudia Soto, 69), 10-Yanara Aedo, 11-Yesenia Lopez, 13-Bárbara Santibáñez (21-Maria Jose Urrutia, 61), 14-Fernanda Pinilla (2-Rocio Soto, 46), 17-Geraldine Leyton, 18-Camila Saez

Substitutes not used: 9-Maryorie Hernandez, 12-Natalia Campos 15-Su Helen Galaz, 16-Ana Gutierrez, 19-Javiera Grez

Head coach: José Letelier

Stats Summary: USA / CHI

Shots: 24 / 1

Shots on Goal: 11 / 1

Saves: 1 / 9

Corner Kicks: 17 / 1

Fouls: 10 / 10

Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:

USA - Tobin Heath (caution) 38^th minute

CHI - Maria Jose Urrutia (caution) 74

CHI - Rocio Soto (caution) 80

Officials:

Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Felisha Mariscal (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Deleana Quan (USA)

4th Official: Christina Unkel (USA)