By:Adrian Beecher-
Orlando, FL- Sunday, 20,274 watched as the US Women’s National Team showed the world why they are #1 in the World. Defeating the #4 FIFA ranked Brazilians in their first meeting in the United States since 2008 when they played in San Diego, a game in which USA won 1-0.
Sydney Leroux started off the games scoring in the 15th minute coming off a beautiful assist from Heather O’Reilly. Then, 2 minutes later Abby Wombach was taken down in the box and was given a penalty kick. Which she placed right into the back of the net to give the US an early 2-0 lead.
Brazil showed resilience as they battled back after the 2 quick goals and produced one of their own in the 25th minute. It came as Rosona headed in a beautiful cross by Rilany into the right hand corner of the net just past the reach of US Goalie Hope Solo.
Just before half in the 36th minute, Sydney Leroux was back at it as she broke away from the Defense on a 46 yard run which was caped of by a juke of the Brazilian goalie and Leroux’s second goal of the day.
USA held Brazil scoreless in the second half. “She’s grown this year unbelievably, she’s taken the opportunities that have been given to her. She continues to perform better and better each time she’s on the field” said Head Coach Tom Sermanni of Leroux.
After coming in off the bench in the 75th minute for Stephanie Cox, Erika Tymerak wasted little time getting into the action. In the 76th minute she was able to grab her first career goal as a member of the US Women’s National Team, coming off an assist from Lindsey Horan.
Hope Solo was named the Budweiser Woman of the Match, grabbing 3 electric saves on 4 total shots on goal by the Brazilians. Post game Solo said this of Brazil, “They know the game, they play it, they grew up playing it, they grew up watching it. They go in hard for tackles, they want to beat the Americans. It doesn’t matter how they beat us, whether it’s wasting time on the clock, whether it’s being cheeky, it doesn’t matter how. They always want to find a way to beat us.”
USA’s 4-1 defeat over the Brazilians marked the teams 77th consecutive victory while playing inside US Territory. A record of (67-0-10) dating back to 2004. This also marks their first undefeated season was in 2006 when USA was (18-0-4).
