Top Stories

USWNT defeats Romania to conclude 2016 schedule

Photo by Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The U.S. Women’s National Team ended 2016 on a high with yet another win on Sunday night.

The USWNT dismantled Romania in their second match in the past week, following up their previous 8-1 victory with a 5-0 win on Sunday. The team finishes 2016 with a 22-0-3 record, just the third time they’ve gone unbeaten in a calendar year in which they’ve played 10 or more matches, after 2006 and 2013.

The scoring opened with a Romanian own goal, from a bad touch by defender Teodora Meluta, giving the USWNT an early advantage. Crystal Dunn would make it a two-goal lead just before halftime, slotting her shot under the keeper and into the back of the net.

Christen Press would follow her hat trick from last week’s match by adding a 55th minute goal to extend the USWNT lead to three, while Morgan Brian and Samantha Mewis would add two more late for a 5-0 final scoreline.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who took over after the USWNT’s disappointing Olympics exit, improved to 5-0-0 on the year with four shutouts in replacement of Hope Solo.

Comments

  1. Again, the U. S. looked good against a weak team, but not as good as the first match.

    And it finally appears that we have someone besides Carli who can make penalty shots
    when needed.

    Another solid match for Samantha Mewis. While I had felt that she would be the ideal
    Center-Half, I am now thinking that she should be given a shot at taking over the position
    that Abby Wambaugh had. At 5′ 11″, she has the height, and will only get stronger as
    seasons progress. Right now, I don’t see anyone else who can step into Abby’s shoes.

    Reply
    • Horan. She’s really a forward and natural goal-scorer that Ellis has decided should play in MF for whatever reason.

      It’s pretty telling though that when neither Lloyd, Horan or Mewis are on the field that the USWNT has no threats to head the ball from set-pieces.

      Reply

Leave a Comment