Stanford junior Andi Sullivan earned her fourth cap in her fourth consecutive start in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Romania
2017/17 Women’s Soccer Yearbook – Now on Sale
USWNT 5 : 0 ROMANIA
48 hours after the USMNT disappointed followers of the men’s game with the World Cup loss and 5 days after a large part of the female soccer community arguably felt (to say the least) disappointed by their compatriots, the USWNT brought some cheer as they romped to a 5-0 win over guests Romania at LA Galaxy’s Carson, CA home on Sunday night.
An own goal by Romanian defender Teodora Meluta and a second from Washington Spirit’s Crystal Dunn gave the Americans a 2-0 half time lead. Meluta had tried to chest a Dunn cross back to her keeper Roxana Oprea in the 20th minute, but could only look on in despair as the ball crossed over the goalline.
On the stroke of half time, Dunn scored in her own name receiving a Christen Press pass and sliding it through the unfortunate Oprea’s legs.
Head coach Jill Ellis introduced Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger and Julie Johnston at the interval removing Lynn Willimas, Kealia Ohai and Casey Short. Three more goals were added in that second half as two became five.
Goalscorer Christen Press beats Romanian sub Andreea Corduneanu
The third came from Christen Press on the 55th, after which Lindsey Horan, Kelley O’Hara and Samantha Mewis were given playing time against beaten opponents. Press had started the move herself feeding Tobin Heath, and was on hand to finish the move from about 14 yards.
A penalty from Houston’s Morgan Brian in the 88th called on a handball made it 4-0 before Mewis, already a league champion with WNY Flash, added the fifth in stoppage time with a header to end a great year for her personally.
Kelly O’Hara’s cross provided the opportunity from a Heath corner.
This was the two sides’ second meeting this week.
The previous game in midweek had ended 8-1 for the Americans, making a total of 13 goals scored inside a week.
In the two games against Romania, the USA had a 61-4 edge in shots and 24-0 in corner kicks
On Sunday, USWNT coach Ellis used six substitutes with only goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, and outfielders Andi Sullivan, Brian, Tobin Heath and Christen Press playing the full 90.
The statistics merely underlined how one sided a match this was.
The Americans had 31 shots to zero in reply. Eleven of those were on target. In goal, Alyssa Naeher moved to 5-0-0 on the year with four shutouts.
The beleaguered Oprea in the Romanian goal made eight saves. Four Romanians Adina Giurgiu, Ioana Bortan, Meluta and Andreea Voicu received cautions.
The attendance of 20,336 was one item of good news, showing that even a meaningless friendly against a poorly matched side, even the second inside 4 days, can bring in a good crowd.
A journalist tweeted a comparison with numbers predating Sunday’s friendly in Carson
This bodes well and belies those who feared the USWNT might fade in popularity having failed to return with Olympic Gold.
Campaigners on the equality issue will also favorable compare the attendance to those turning up to watch their male counterparts in friendlies.
2017/17 Women’s Soccer Yearbook – Now on Sale
Lineups:
USWNT:
1-Alyssa Naeher; 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (C) (5-Kelley O’Hara, 70), 20-Allie Long (3-Samantha Mewis, 70), 2-Casey Short (11-Ali Krieger, 46); 7-Kealia Ohai (13-Alex Morgan, 46), 12-Andi Sullivan, 6-Morgan Brian, 17-Tobin Heath; 19-Crystal Dunn (9-Lindsey Horan, 61), 16-Lynn Williams (8-Julie Johnston, 46), 23-Christen Press
Sub not used: 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head Coach: Jill Ellis
ROMANIA:
12-Roxana Oprea, 4-Ioana Bortan (C, 5-Adina Giurgiu (13-Beatrice Tarasila, 79), 6-Maria Ficzay, 8-Ştefania Vătafu, 9-Laura Rus (3-Lidia Havristiuc, 63), 10-Andreea Voicu (19-Loredana Popa, 88), 15-Teodora Meluta, 16-Ana Maria Gorea (2-Andreea Corduneanu, 52), 17-Mara Batea (14-Alexandra Lunca, 46), 18-Mihaela Ciolacu (21-Cristina Carp, 82)
Subs not used : 1-Linda Kajtar, 7-Raluca Sarghe
Head Coach: Mirel Albon
