England’s SheBelieves Cup defense got off to the worst possible start as two quickfire goals saw them beaten 2-0 by USA Women in Orlando.
The Lionesses had chances in Florida but were largely outclassed by their World Cup-winning hosts, who missed a number of openings in either half but finally found the breakthrough eight minutes into the second period.
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Christen Press took full advantage after Carli Lloyd had dragged Steph Houghton out of position to curl the opener beyond Carly Telford, and to compound England’s misery within two minutes Lloyd Herself had netted a second when Lindsey Horan lifted a ball into the box, before she turned and smartly fired in.
England were often masters of their own downfall with a number of haphazard attempts to play out from the back, while Nikita Parris twice wasted good positions and Jill Scott inadvertently diverted a corner over the bar from close-range with the score goalless.
Player ratings
USA: (Naeher (7), O’Hara (6), Dahlkemper (7), Sauerbrunn (7), Dunn (6), Lavelle (8), Ertz (7), Horan ( 7), Heath (7), Lloyd (8), Press (7).
Subs: Rapinoe (5), Williams (6), Mewis (6).
England: Telford (7), Williamson (6), Houghton (4), Bright (5), Greenwood (5), Walsh (6), Scott (5), Stanway (6), Parris (5), White (5), Hemp (7).
Subs: Nobbs (6), Duggan (5), England (6)
Woman of the match: Carli Lloyd
Defeat means Phil Neville’s side, looking to keep the trophy they won 20 months ago, may now have to beat Japan on Sunday evening to hold any hope of retaining their crown.
Lionesses tamed by slick USA in Orlando
Straight from kick-off it was apparent the USA side England had narrowly lost to at the World Cup last summer had increased the gulf in class between the two sides.
The Lionesses struggled for long periods to get out of their half, in part due to the hosts’ slick pressing game but also their own inability to play out from the back, despite a continued determination to do so. From one spell of pressure Rose Lavelle tested Carly Telford, who was equal to her curling effort.
A Steph Houghton slip from a poor attempted clearance then allowed Horan a chance to shoot inside the box, with Telford again big and bold to snuff out her initial effort. Before the USA midfielder could go for a second a foul was given against her despite minimal contact with any of the England defense – and the visitors’ blushes were spared.
Subs: Rapinoe (5), Williams (6), Mewis (6).
England: Telford (7), Williamson (6), Houghton (4), Bright (5), Greenwood (5), Walsh (6), Scott (5), Stanway (6), Parris (5), White (5), Hemp (7).
Subs: Nobbs (6), Duggan (5), England (6)
Woman of the match: Carli Lloyd
Defeat means Phil Neville’s side, looking to keep the trophy they won 20 months ago, may now have to beat Japan on Sunday evening to hold any hope of retaining their crown.
Lionesses tamed by slick USA in Orlando
Straight from kick-off it was apparent the USA side England had narrowly lost to at the World Cup last summer had increased the gulf in class between the two sides.
The Lionesses struggled for long periods to get out of their half, in part due to the hosts’ slick pressing game but also their own inability to play out from the back, despite a continued determination to do so. From one spell of pressure Rose Lavelle tested Carly Telford, who was equal to her curling effort.
A Steph Houghton slip from a poor attempted clearance then allowed Horan a chance to shoot inside the box, with Telford again big and bold to snuff out her initial effort. Before the USA midfielder could go for a second a foul was given against her despite minimal contact with any of the England defense – and the visitors’ blushes were spared.
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