The World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team continued its Victory Tour with a 3-1 victory against Brazil at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in front of 32, 869 fans, the largest stand-alone crowd to watch the USA friendly in the state of Florida.
Defender Lori Chalupny and midfielder Lauren Holiday played in their final match for the USWNT and were honored before the game. Both are World Cup and Olympic champions and retire as two of the most successful players to put on the USA jersey, earning 106 and 133 caps, respectively.
It was a fast-paced, end-to-end match that saw Brazil control the play for significant parts of the game, but the Americans finished their chances to defeat Brazil for the first time in the last four meetings (one loss, two ties and a win). Both teams created early chances, but unlike their last meeting four days ago – a 1-1 tie in Seattle – it was the United States that got on the scoreboard first. In the ninth minute, Alex Morgan received a perfect through pass from Tobin Heath on the left side, ran past the defense, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted it home.
Nearing the end of the first half regulation time, Brazil got its equalizer when Cristiane received a nice slip pass from Marta in the right side of the penalty box. She cut back inside to beat a defender and hit a powerful left-footed shot from just inside the penalty box that flew straight to the left corner.
The USA mounted an immediate response and went ahead three minutes later when a point-blank header from Lindsey Horan was blocked by Brazil goalkeeper Luciana but rebounded to Crystal Dunn, finished through traffic with her right foot to regain the lead just before halftime.
Stephanie McCaffrey, who was making her USWNT debut, added another score in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage, volleying home a perfect Megan Rapinoe cross from the left side for the final score line. Hope Solo was once again solid in goal for the USA, making two saves while dominating the penalty box against a talented Brazilian attack.
With the win, the WNT extended its unbeaten home streak to 102 games (89-0-13). The last loss at home came to Denmark on Nov. 6, 2004, in Philadelphia.
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