Megan Rapinoe scored in a 4-1 win for the USWNT over Switzerland on Wednesday. (Photo Copyright Nicole Gamard for The Equalizer)
CARY, N.C. — The United States women’s national team defeated Switzerland, 4-1 on Wednesday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., extending the Americans’ home unbeaten streak to 85 games.
Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Christen Press and Abby Wambach each scored for the United States, but Hope Solo was denied from become the sole all-time leader in U.S. shutouts.
Ana Maria Crnogorcevic’s penalty kick goal in the 71st minute meant that Solo would stay on 71 all-time shutouts, tied with Briana Scurry for the most ever. The penalty kick was one of three in the match, and was the result of a Swiss cross hitting Rapinoe in the hand. It was Rapinoe who drew a PK for the same reason on a nearly identical call 15 minutes earlier. Lloyd stepped up to finish that one.
Rapinoe, playing in a new No. 10 role as a playmaking central midfielder, opened the scoring in the 3rd minute. After collecting the ball at midfield, Rapinoe passed it forward to Sydney Leroux, who held the ball up and eventually played it back to Rapinoe for the left-footed finish.
Carli Lloyd scored on Wednesday vs. Switzerland.(Photo Copyright Nicole Gamard for The Equalizer)
“(On the goal) it popped out wide to Sydney and I was kind of filling in in the box,” Rapinoe said. “I took a quick touch and hit it. I play out wide normally, so (the position) was comfortable for me. … Yeah, it was a hand ball. Sorry, Hope.”
Lloyd would double the lead from the spot with her 51st all-time goal for the United States. Crnogorcevic’s goal cut the U.S. lead to 2-1, but five minutes later, Press unleashed a half-volley after chest-trapping the ball, smacking it off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
“I want to watch that again,” Press said with a smile. “It was one of those second balls, chest and volley. I don’t know if it was one of my best until I see it.”
Wambach added an insurance goal from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, extending her world record to 168 goals. Wambach drew the PK after drawing contact from Swiss defender Nicole Remund in the box.
The U.S. will next play Mexico twice, on Sept. 13 in Sandy, Utah, and on Sept. 18 in Rochester, N.Y., before World Cup qualifying in mid-October.
Wednesday’s meeting between the U.S. and Switzerland was the first ever at the senior level.
Ten of the U.S. players will immediately depart for either Seattle or Kansas City for the NWSL semifinals. FC Kansas City hosts Portland Thorns FC on Saturday, while Seattle Reign FC hosts the Washington Spirit on Sunday.
Match highlights
