USA Scores Late Goal to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak in Shannon Boxx’s Final Game
Soccer News: The World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team continued its victory Tour with a 1-1 tie against Brazil, Presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance, in front of a record crowd of 23,603 at CenturyLink Field. The crowd was the largest ever for a WNT match played in the state of Washington.
Prior to the start of the match, Shannon Boxx was honored for her achievements with the WNT. The match was the retiring Olympic and World Cup champion midfielder’s final game for the USA and she started it wearing the captain’s armband.
The match was highly competitive throughout, and it was Brazil that got on the scoreboard first. Mônica scored a goal in the 3rd minute off a corner kick to hand the WNT its first in its last 18 matches. Prior to tonight, the U.S. last trailed after going down 1-0 in the 43rd minute of a 2-1 comeback win against Norway on March 4 at the Algarve Cup.
The USA played well from behind and pressured on the attack, but couldn’t quite make the right connections to lead to a score until the 85th minute, when Meghan Klingenberg beat a pair of defenders to get into the Brazil box and sent in a cross that Carli Lloyd hammered home to tie the game.
With the draw, the WNT extended its home unbeaten streak to 101 games (88-0-13). The last loss at home came to Denmark on Nov. 6, 2004 in Philadelphia.
Both teams now travel cross-country for another matchup as the Victory Tour continues at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in Central Florida.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
BRA – Mônica (Andressinha) 3rd minute: It was Brazil that struck first in tonight’s match and it came from a corner kick. Andressinha sent a curling ball into the box and goalkeeper Hope Solo looked as if she might come out to meet it, but decided against the move. As the ball came in, Monica jumped to head it towards the back post and in for a score. USA 0, BRA 1
USA – Carli Lloyd (Meghan Klingenberg), 85th minute: Meghan Klingenberg attacked the Brazil box on the right and took on two defenders as she pushed to the end line. Klingenberg managed a low cross back to a breaking Lloyd, who slid in and hit a rocket of a shot that clipped off the crossbar and bounced in to tie the game. USA 1, BRA 1 (FINAL)
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
BRA – Luciana (save), 45th minute: Just before the halftime whistle, the U.S. broke off a real chance. It started with Carli Lloyd, who used a crafty touch to get free on the left side. Lloyd darted into the box and sent a low hard cross into Alex Morgan. Morgan one-timed it at goal, but her shot went straight at Luciana, who blocked it down and secured it.
Next on the Schedule: The WNT continues the Victory Tour with a stop in Orlando, Florida on Oct. 25 where it will face Brazil at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
Broadcast information: FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports Go (2:30 p.m. ET)
Social: Twitter (@ussoccer_wnt; @ussoccer_esp); Facebook; Instagram
