The U.S. Women's National Team defeated New Zealand 4-1 at Candlestick Park on Sunday. The first goal came just seven minutes in with a perfectly placed free kick from Megan Rapinoe. Five minutes later, Carli Lloyd scored the second of the game and the 46th of her career, with a blast past the Kiwi goalie. Just before halftime, Christen Press made it 3-0 netting in the lower left corner of the goal. New Zealand's Hannah Wilkinson challenged Hope Solo in the first half and got The Ferns on the score sheet in the 54th minute with a rebound shot that beat second half US goalie Nicole Barnhart. With the game winding down Heather O'Reilly scored her first goal of 2013 with a curled shot that found the inside of the far left post, with the final score of 4-1 to USA.
US forward Abby Wambach was named Budweiser Woman of the Match, and the USA women's national team improved to 12-0-2 in 2013, with a 10-game winning streak against New Zealand going into Wednesday's match up in Columbus.
U.S. Women's National Team vs. New Zealand
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. New Zealand
Date: Oct. 27, 2013
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Candlestick Park; San Francisco, Calif.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. PT
Attendance: 16,315
Scoring Summary:
USA - Megan Rapinoe, 7'; USA - Carli Lloyd 12'; USA - Christen Press 42'; NZL - Hannah Wilkinson 54'; USA - Heather O'Reilly (Christen Press) 87'
Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo (18-Nicole Barnhart, 46); 11-Ali Krieger, 16-Rachel Buehler, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (3-Christie Rampone, 73), 22-Meghan Klingenberg; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Holiday (8-Kristie Mewis, 80), 15-Megan Rapinoe (2-Sydney Leroux, 80); 23-Christen Press, 20-Abby Wambach (capt.)
Substitutions Not Used: 7-Yael Averbuch, 14-Whitney Engen, 26-Leigh Ann Robinson
Head coach: Tom Sermanni
New Zealand: 21-Erin Nayler; 5-Abby Erceg (capt.), 2-Ria Percival, 7-Ali Riley, 15-Rebekah Stott; 12-Betsy Hassett (11-Kirsty Yallop, 60), 4-Katie Hoyle, 16-Annalie Longo; 10-Sarah Gregorius (13-Rosie White, 79), 9-Amber Hearn, 17-Hannah Wilkinson (20-Hellen Collins, 75)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Jenny Bindon, 3-Anna Green, 6-Meikayla Moore, 14-Elizabeth Milne, 18-Megan Lee, 19-Stephanie Skilton
Head coach: Tony Readings