USWNT defeats France 1-0 on Alex Morgan stoppage time goal

NASHVILLE (Via U.S. Soccer) – A dramatic stoppage-time goal from Alex Morgan lifted the U.S. Women’s National Team past France 1-0 in front of a record crowd of 25,363 at Nissan Stadium. It was the USA’s second 1-0 win in its second match of the SheBelieves Cup after defeating England on March 3. The USA currently sits atop the tournament standings with six points.

The crowd of 25,363 set a new record for a U.S. WNT match in the state of Tennessee, breaking the previous mark of 21,535 that watched the USA play Costa Rica in Chattanooga on August 19, 2015.

In an even match that saw that saw excellent chances and quality overall play from both teams, Morgan’s goal came in the first minute of stoppage time when midfielder Mallory Pugh brought a ball down skillfully at midfield and penetrated into the France defensive half. With Morgan making a run behind the France back line, Pugh slipped her a perfectly-weight pass and the speedy U.S. striker roared into the penalty box before hitting a left-footed blast past onrushing goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi and into the lower right corner.

+Read: U.S. U-17 WNT tops Mexico 1-0 in CONCACAF Championship group play

Goalkeeper Hope Solo was tremendous on the day, making three saves, including a world class stop early in the game when a deflected U.S. clearance hit the left post and she had to get back on her feet and shuffle back into the middle of her net to push away a point-blank shot. The game marked Solo’s 97th career shutout and 146th win, further extending her U.S. records. She is now three shutouts away from becoming the first goalkeeper in U.S. history to reach the century mark.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Alex Morgan (Mallory Pugh), 90+1 minute: Mallory Pugh brought the ball down at midfield, took a few touches and then played Alex Morgan in behind the defense. She out-sprinted her defender and cut her left-footed shot into the lower right corner from just inside the penalty area. It was her 63^rd international goal. USA 1, FRA 0 (SEE GOAL) FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Stops
USA – Hope Solo, 14th minute: Hope Solo’s first test of the match came on a France free kick. Forward Louisa Necib took the set piece and spun a shot that was head into the upper right corner. Solo was up to the task and with her outstretched her right arm pushed the ball over the cross bar for a France corner kick. ( SEE SAVE)

USA – Hope Solo, 15th minute: On the ensuing corner kick, France played a cross that was initially cleared but the cross back into the penalty area was deflected off the left post by Carli Lloyd. The rebound bounced to Marie-Laure Delie and Solo saved point-blank attempt with a flying dive to her left. Eugenie Le Sommer took another shot after but her attempt was wide. (SEE SAVE)

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT will face Germany in its third and final match of the SheBelieves Cup on March 9 (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN3) at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. Click here for the full tournament schedule.

Additional Notes:

The USA is 8-0-0 in 2016, having scored 30 goals while allowing none with three consecutive games (including two matches vs. Colombia) coming up against teams that made excellent runs at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Alex Morgan scored her seventh goal of 2016 to tie Carli Lloyd and Crystal Dunn for the team lead. It was her 63rd career goal.
Tonight’s match was the fifth consecutive start for both Kelley O’Hara and Mallory Pugh. It was also Pugh’s fifth career start and eighth cap, all coming in 2016.
Pugh’s assist on Morgan’s goal was her fourth career assist since her debut on Jan. 24, 2016. Pugh leads the team in assists in 2016.
The USA used three subs, with two players coming on in the 85th minute, and one in the third minute of stoppage time. Christen Press replaced Kelley O’Hara and Crystal Dunn replaced Lindsey Horan in the 85th minute. And Whitney Engen replaced Mallory Pugh in the 93rd minute.
Morgan Brian earned her 50th cap today at the young age of 23. She became the 52nd female player in U.S. history to reach 50 caps.
Kelley O’Hara hit 75 caps today, making her the 40th U.S. female player to hit that mark and tying her with Sydney Leroux for 39th on the all-time caps list.

Milestone Watch:

Carli Lloyd earned her 219th cap tonight, while Hope Solo recorded her 192nd, extending her record for a U.S. goalkeeper.
Becky Sauerbrunn became the 35th U.S. woman to make her 100th appearance for the WNT in last month’s CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship Final. She was honored for her achievement in a pregame ceremony before today’s matchup in Nashville and wore the captain’s armband.

– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. France Women’s National Team
Date: March 6, 2016
Competition: 2016 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.
Kickoff: 2 p.m. CT
Attendance: 25,363

Weather: 61 degrees; Sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
FRA 0 0 0

USA – Alex Morgan (Mallory Pugh) 90+1 minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 5-Kelley O’Hara (12-Christen Press, 85), 8-Julie Johnston, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (capt.), 7-Meghan Klingenberg; 14-Morgan Brian, 22-Lindsey Horan (16-Crystal Dunn, 85), 17-Tobin Heath, 10-Carli Lloyd, 2-Mallory Pugh, (6-Whitney Engen, 90+3), 13-Alex Morgan
Subs not used: 3-Samantha Mewis, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 11-Ali Krieger, 15-Emily Sonnett, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 19-Jaelene Hinkle, 20-Lauren Barnes, 21-Alysssa Naeher
Head coach: Jill Ellis

FRA: 16-Sarah Bouhaddi; 8-Jessica Houara D’Hommeaux, 4-Laura Georges, 19-Griedge Mbock Bathy, 22-Amel Majri; 12-Elodie Thomis (6-Viviane Asseyi, 75), 23-Kheira Hamraoui (7-Charlotte Bilbault, 77), 10-Camille Abily (capt.), 9-Eugenie Le Sommer (15-Elise Bussaglia, 86), 14-Louisa Necib (11-Claire Lavogez, 76), 18-Marie Laure Delie
Subs not used: 1-Laetitia Philippe, 2-Kelly Gadea, 3-Marion Torrent, 5-Sabrina Delannoy, 13-Marie-Charlotte Leger, 17-Aurelie Kaci, 20-Kadidiatou Diani, 21-Meline Gerard
Head coach: Philippe Bergeroo

Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: 10 / 8
Shots on Goal: 4 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 11 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 8
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
FRA – Kheira Hamraoui (caution) 41st minute
FRA – Amel Majri (caution) 78

Officials:
Referee: Alondra Arellano Sandoval (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Yudilia Briones (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Emperatriz Ayala (SLV)
4th Official: Quetzalli Alvarado (MEX)

Budweiser Woman of the Match: Alex Morgan

2016 SheBelieves Cup Standings*