Carli Lloyd, Julie Ertz Give USA Comfortable Women's World Cup Win vs. Chile
The U.S. women's national team put on a successful encore after a historic start to the 2019 Women's World Cup.
The U.S. women beat Chile 3-0 on Sunday on the heels of a record-setting 13-0 win over Thailand, with Carli Lloyd's two goals and Julie Ertz's header at the center of the action in front of 45,594 at PSG's Parc des Princes. The U.S. clinched a place in the knockout stage with the win, which would have been more lopsided if not for the heroics of Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler, who was sensational in the second half and denied Christen Press on three occasions. Lloyd also missed a penalty, which could have capped a hat trick and made it 4-0.
The match in Paris had some individual significance for players on both sides. U.S. midfielder Lindsey Horan–one of only four lineup holdovers from the opening win–used to play for PSG, while Endler, who currently plays for the French power, made herself right at home at the friendly confines.
The match was also significant for another player, as U.S. defender Tierna Davidson, 20, has become the youngest American to start a Women's World Cup match since Tiffany Roberts in 1995.
The USA had an early chance 90 seconds in. Chile possessed off the opening kick and tried to play it around in the back in the face of the USA press. The Americans forced an early corner kick, and off Endler's punch, the ball fell to Morgan Brian just inside the Chile box. Her clear look at goal was skied, though, letting the Chileans off the hook.
A minute and a half later, the U.S. had another close call. Lloyd was lurking for a rebound by the near post, but a sprawling Endler recovered to keep the ball off the goal line and prevent Lloyd from scoring.
Lloyd got her goal nine minutes later. A failed clearance fell for Lloyd at the edge of the area, and she fired off the half-volley–just before Ertz could–to beat Endler and set a new record by scoring in her sixth straight Women's World Cup game.
Chile thought it had found a stunning equalizer some 10 minutes later. Off a well-designed set piece, two Chile players were offside, and onrushing goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher completely whiffed at making a play on the ball, which trickled into the vacated net. The U.S., which smartly stepped forward on the play to force the offside, was bailed out by the flag, but it was the first moment of this Women's World Cup in which the Americans were faced with any danger whatsoever in the back.
Almost instantly, the U.S. doubled its lead. It came in somewhat controversial fashion, as a ball that went out for a corner kick should've been called for a goal kick. The Americans, who are so dangerous on set plays, pounced on the opportunity, with Ertz's sensational header going in off Endler to make it 2-0.
The lead grew to 3-0 in the 35th minute. It came off another header from a corner kick, with Lloyd getting her second of the game, third of this tournament and 10th of her career in the Women's World Cup. It came off Davidson's service from the same corner flag as the previous one, giving her two in her Women's World Cup debut. Only Abby Wambach (14) and Michelle Akers (12) have more Women's World Cup goals than Lloyd in U.S. history.
Lloyd moved into the midfield at the start of the second half, with Ertz checking out of the game in favor of forward Jessica McDonald, who made her Women's World Cup debut at the age of 31.
Endler made a sensational save on the goal line to prevent the USA from scoring a fourth. Brian played Press through down the left, where she then cut back a cross for Horan. The reigning NWSL MVP's shot from the center of the box appeared destined for goal, but the Chilean goalkeeper recovered in time, making a kick save to keep it 3-0 in the 56th minute.
Endler came up big again two minutes later, robbing Press of what would've been a goal-of-the-tournament candidate off the volley from Brian's service.
Endler was saved by the post in the 62nd minute. McDonald curled a shot from distance on frame, but it hit off the far piece of the woodwork, keeping the USA's advantage at three.
The U.S. kept up the pressure, but Endler kept up with her heroics. Press was denied again in the 66th minute off a point-blank header, with the acrobatic Endler diving to her right to swat the chance to safety.
Lloyd came close to getting a hat trick five minutes later. Off a long throw-in, substitute midfielder Allie Long put the ball in Lloyd's path, and her looping header had Endler beat but hit off the crossbar to stay out.
Endler then denied Press again in the 74th, with Lloyd playing Press through down the left with a slick touch, only for the goalkeeper to deny her at the near post.
The U.S. had a chance to extend the lead to 4-0 with help from VAR. A foul on a free kick was spotted, with Long getting taken down just on the edge of the area, gifting the USA a penalty. Lloyd stepped up to complete her hat trick, but she pulled her chance wide, with Endler diving the right way as well, keeping things at 3-0.
Here were the lineups for both sides:
Here are the rosters for both sides:
USA
GOALKEEPERS: Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS: Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars); Crystal Dunn (NC Courage), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O'Hara (Utah Royals), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns)
MIDFIELDERS: Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Allie Long (Seattle Reign), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage)
FORWARDS: Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns); Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Utah Royals), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign)
CHILE
GOALKEEPERS: Christiane Endler (Paris Saint-Germain), Natalia Campos (Universidad Católica), Ryan Torrero (Unattached)
DEFENDERS: Rocio Soto (Real Zaragoza), Carla Guerrero (Rayo Vallecano), Francisca Lara (Sevilla), Valentina Diaz (Sporting Huelva), Daniela Pardo (Santiago Morning), Su Helen Galaz (Zaragoza CFF), Javiera Toro (Santiago Morning), Camila Saez (Rayo Vallecano)
MIDFIELDERS: Claudia Soto (Santos), Karen Araya (Sevilla), Yanara Aedo (Valencia CFF), Yessenia Lopez (Sporting Huelva), Fernanda Pinilla (Cordoba CF), Rosario Balmaceda (Sporting Huelva), Elisa Duran (Sporting Huelva)
FORWARDS: Maria Jose Rojas (SK Slavia Praha), Maria Urrutia (3B Amazônia), Javiera Grez (CDP Curicó Unido), Yessenia Huenteo (Femenino Caceres), Daniela Zamora (Universidad de Chile)
