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U.S. Women’s National Team Defeats Netherlands 3-1 in International Friendly at The Hague
- Tobin Heath Opens Scoring with her First Goal of 2013
- Christen Press Ups Goal Total to Six in Seven Matches; Sydney Leroux Gets Two Assists
- U.S.-Based Players Head to Clubs to Begin NWSL Seasons; WNT Will Next Face Canada on June 2 in Toronto
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (April 9, 2013) – The U.S. Women’s National Team earned a comprehensive 3-1 win against the Netherlands as midfielder Tobin Heath opened the scoring in the 36th minute before Christen Press, who started at forward, nabbed goals in the 45th and 60th minutes to seal the victory.
The U.S.-based players will now return to their National Women’s Soccer League clubs to prepare for the opening weekend of the new league. The Portland Thorns travel to FC Kansas City on April 13 for the inaugural match of the NWSL.
The next match for the U.S. Women’s National Team is June 2, when they travel to Toronto to face Canada at BMO Field. The rematch of the thrilling 2012 Olympics semifinal at Old Trafford, can be seen live on ESPNews at 4:30 p.m. ET. Fans can also follow the game on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt
“There were a lot of positives from the game,” said U.S. head coach Tom Sermanni. “I thought tactically we did exactly what we tried to do. For much of the game, we pinned Holland in their own half which was our aim. We created a considerable number of chances and probably should have made the score line a little more decisive, but there was some spirited defending from Holland as we expect from these teams. But when you consider we made 10 changes from the team that played against Germany, I was very pleased with the performance.”
Sermanni made 10 changes to the lineup that faced Germany on April 5, with right midfielder Heather O’Reilly the only holdover from that entertaining 3-3 tie last Friday.
The USA out-shot the Dutch 25-9 for the match and had a series of chances in the early going, with midfielder Yael Averbuch and Press testing the Dutch goalkeeper Loes Geurts in the opening 20 minutes.
In the 16th minute, Press was denied on back-to-back shots. The first came when Dutch defense closed down Tobin Heath at the top of the penalty area and after a deflection off a defender, Press found herself alone against Geurts, who did well cut down the angle and save the first shot. Press collected the rebound and sent it back toward goal from just a few yards out, but defender Daphne Koster recovered well to save it off the goal line.
Heather O’Reilly came close in the 27th minute, pouncing on a loose ball and firing a shot that forward Sherida Spitse had to clear off the line.
The U.S. finally opened the scoring in the 36th minute as forward Sydney Leroux beat her defender on the right flank. Leroux cut it back past Press, who let it roll past here to an onrushing Heath, who spun the ball into the left side of the net past a diving Geurts.
Press doubled the score seconds before halftime in the 45th minute. With the defense converging on Leroux, she played a perfect ball that allowed Press a first touch that beat the Dutch back line. With a one-on-one chance, Press calmly picked her spot and sent the ball into the lower right side of the net as Guerts tried to come out and cut down space.
The Stanford product nabbed her second of the game in the 60th minute and a nice individual dribbling effort. She weaved her way free into the right sight of the penalty area before firing a right-footed shot that caromed off the post and in from 14 yards out.
U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who was making just the second start of her international career, did not have much to do but she was at her best in the 61st minute, springing to her left to keep out a bouncing header from Anouk Hoogendijk.
Julie Johnston nearly added to the USA’s lead in the 73rd minute, but her goal was called back for offside. The 21-year-old midfielder, who was making her first career start in just her second cap, drifted into the area on a free kick and finished a textbook header, but the assistant referee’s flag prevented the former U-20 WNT captain from notching her first goal for the senior team.
The Netherlands got on the board late in the match, with Manon Melis grabbing the consolation goal. Put through by Leonne Stentler into the left side of the U.S. penalty area, Melis chipped Harris with a beautiful first touch to the delight of the home crowd. It was the Netherland’s only shot on goal of the match.
Additional Notes:
- The USA improved its unbeaten streak to 31 games, with the last loss coming against Japan on March 5 at the 2012 Algarve Cup in Portugal. During that span, the U.S. has scored 94 goals while allowing 22 in 27 wins and four draws.
- Heath’s goal was the eighth of her National Team career.
- Press’ goals were her fifth and sixth of 2013 and have come in just seven caps. She leads the WNT in scoring this year.
- Leroux’s assists were her second and third of the year.
- U.S. head coach Tom Sermanni made three substitutions in the match, sending on Meghan Klingenberg in the 65th minute for Heather O’Reilly, and giving the final 10 minutes to both Lauren Cheney and Alex Morgan.
- The match marked the first cap for Klingenberg since the very beginning of 2011 when she earned her first two at the Four Nations Tournament in China. An alternate on the 2012 Olympic Team, Klingenberg recently recovered from shoulder surgery.
- In the absence of Christie Rampone and Abby Wamach, both of whom did not play, Rachel Buehler captained the U.S. team.
- Heading into the USA’s June 2 match against Canada, Abby Wambach is on 155 goals, just three short of tying Mia Hamm as the all-time leading international goal scorer. #ChasingMia.
-U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report-
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. The Netherlands
Date: April 9, 2013
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Kyocera Stadium; The Hague, Netherlands
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. local / 1:00 p.m. ET
Attendance: 8,000
Weather: 46 degrees, rainy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 1 3
NED 0 1 1
USA – Tobin Heath (Sydney Leroux) 36th minute
USA – Christen Press (Sydney Leroux) 45
USA – Christen Press (Heather O'Reilly) 60
NED – Manon Melis (Leonne Stentler) 81
Lineups:
USA : USA: 24-Ashlyn Harris; 11-Ali Krieger, 19-Rachel Buehler (capt.), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara (13-Alex Morgan,79); 9-Heather O’Reilly (22-Meghan Klingenberg, 65), 16-Yael Averbuch (12-Lauren Cheney,79), 25-Julie Johnston, 17-Tobin Heath; 23-Christen Press, 2-Sydney Leroux
Substitutions Not Used: 3-Christie Rampone, 6-Crystal Dunn, 7-Shannon Boxx, 8-Kristie Mewis, 14-Whitney Engen, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 20-Abby Wambach, 21-Adrianna Franch
Head coach: Tom Sermanni
NED: 1-Loes Geurts; 2-Dyanne Bito, 3-Daphne Koster (capt.) (14-Leonne Stentler,57), 4-Mandy van den Berg, 5-Claudia van den Heiligenberg, 6-Anouk Dekker (19-Daniëlle van de Donk, 46), 7-Kirsten van den Ven (22-Sylvia Smit, 80), 8-Anouk Hoogendijk, 9-Lieke Martens (20-Marlous Pieëte, 83), 10-Sherida Spitse, 11-Manon Melis
Substitutions Not Used: 12-Kim Dolstra, 13-Mirte Roelvink, 15-Siri Worm, 16-Sari van Veenendaal, 17-Desiree van Lunteren, 18-Tessel Middag, 21-Chantal de Ridder, 23-Laura du Ry
Head coach: Roger Reijners
Stats Summary: USA / NED
Shots: 25/9
Shots on Goal: 11/1
Saves: 1/6
Corner Kicks: 11/2
Fouls: 9/10
Offside: 4/3
Misconduct Summary:
NED – Anouk Hoogendijk (caution) 72nd minute
Officials:
Referee: Christine Baitinger (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Fijke Hoogendijk (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Melanie Wiltink (NED)
Fourth Official: Charla Rietkerk (NED)
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Christen Press