ORLANDO – The US Women’s National Soccer team defeated England’s National team 1-0 to win the SheBelieves Cup this week in front of 12,351 fans at Orlando City Stadium.
After France dominated Germany 3-0 in the opening night match, with Amanda Henry, LeSommer, and Valerie Gauvin scoring goals agains an ineffective German team. France head coach Corinne Diacre started a predominately first-choice team while Germany head coach Steffi Jones chose to start several players who had played sparingly or not all so far in this tournament. The win secured third place for France in the tournament (1-1-1), with Germany finishing fourth place finish (0-2-1).
The USA – England match started with a more defensive posture with USA out shooting England 3-0 and getting dangerous for them towards the end of the half. In the 43rd minute, Megan Rapinoe passed a ball into the middle of the box, but no one could get to it and England cleared it out of danger. A minute later, Mallory Pugh made a beautiful run and set herself up on top of the box but her shot hit off the outside of the left.
After knocking at the door from the start in the second half, the USA’s pressure on England finally got to the Three Lionessesin the 58th minute when a cross from Rapinoe deflected in for the game winner after hitting England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley’s leg. This is the third own-goal for England in the tournament.
Conceived and developed by the U.S. Women’s National Team players, SheBelieves is a movement to inspire young girls and women and encourage them to accomplish their goals and dreams, athletic or otherwise. The campaign was originally launched in the run-up to the 2015 Women’s World Cup but has since evolved and grown into a special bond between the team and its fans, taking its powerful message of empowerment and that of believing in yourself into communities across the nation.
Next, the U.S. WNT will host a pair of friendlies against CONCACAF neighbor Mexico on April 5 (7 p.m. ET; FS1) in Jacksonville, Fla. at EverBank Field and on April 8 (1:30 p.m. ET; FOX) in Houston, Texas at BBVA Stadium.
