Sam Mewis Goal Leads U.S. Women Over Portugal In Friendly Win
by Todd Kortemeier
Samantha Mewis with Christen Press after scoring a goal against Portugal in the second half of the 2021 WNT Summer Series friendly at BBVA Stadium on June 10, 2021 in Houston, Texas.
The U.S. women’s soccer team never appeared in serious danger of losing its 39-match unbeaten streak in its 1-0 friendly win Thursday night against Portugal, but there was still the matter of a 68-match scoring streak.
Sam Mewis ran that streak to 69 in the 76th minute and help ensure the U.S. unbeaten streak hit 40. And she had some help from a teammate on a hot streak of her own.
Mewis got her head on the end of a perfect corner served in by Christen Press, redirecting it expertly to the top of the goal and leaving Portugal keeper Ines Pereira helpless. For Press, it represented the 31st goal she’s been involved in out of her last 33 games for the United States. She has 13 goals and 18 assists in that span. For Mewis, it was her 22nd international goal and her fourth of 2021, second on the team.
The one offensive breakthrough was all the Americans would need on a night in which they held a majority of possession and a 10-1 shots on target advantage but couldn’t finish more chances. U.S. forward Carli Lloyd appeared to bag her 125th international goal minutes after Mewis scored but it was called back for offsides. U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher kept the 41st clean sheet of her career and her 12th in her last 13 appearances.
The U.S. will hit the field again Sunday night in Houston for the second match of its 2021 Summer Series of friendlies, taking on regional foe Jamaica. The USWNT will also face Nigeria before taking on Mexico in its Send Off Series in advance of its match against Sweden on July 21 to open the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.