USWNT Defeats Colombia For The Second Time In Four Days
by Michael Lewis
(L-R) Sofia Huerta and Alex Morgan celebrate after a goal in a friendly against Columbia on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah.
In its final tune-up prior to the Concacaf Womens Championship, the U.S. women’s soccer team shut out Colombia 2-0 in an international friendly Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
The Americans recorded a 3-0 win in Commerce City, Colorado, on Saturday night as they prepared for next month’s competition, which will determine qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
A lightning delay in the 75th minute held up the game for 49 minutes before the U.S. extended its home unbeaten streak to 68 games (61-0-7).
The Americans got on the board in the 22nd minute when defender Sofia Huerta’s cross from the right wing was headed into the net past goalkeeper Catalina Perez by Colombian defender Manuela Vanegas for an own goal.
Only two minutes after play resumed, U.S. defender Kelley O’Hara scored her third goal in her 154th international match, drilling a 15-yard shot into the far-left corner in the 77th minute to give the hosts some breathing room.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher recorded the clean sheet for the U.S. while making two saves, including parrying away Leicy Santos’ shot from the left side in the 55th minute.
North Carolina Courage defender Carson Pickett made her international debut for the USWNT, becoming the first player with a limb difference to play for the U.S. Pickett, who was born without a left forearm and hand, started at left back.
Coming off an Olympic bronze medal last summer in Tokyo, which followed a second consecutive World Cup title in 2019, the U.S. is changing its identity a bit as the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand approches.
The U.S. squad features a mix of veteran players such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and O’Hara, as well as several newcomers, including Taylor Kornieck, Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez. The Concacaf W Championship is scheduled for July 4-18 in Monterrey, Mexico. The Americans will meet Haiti on July 4, Jamaica on July 7 and Mexico on July 11 in the group stage.
Winning the Concacaf Womens Championship would mean an automatic berth for the World Cup and the 2024 Games in Paris.
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis, who covers soccer for Newsday, has written about the sport for four decades and has written six books about soccer. He is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.