United States vs. Canada – Football Match Report – February 16, 2023

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A pair of first-half targets by Mallory Swanson gave the United States girls a 2-0 opening match win over Canada on Thursday evening within the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando, Florida.

Players from each groups wore wristbands in help of gender equality and transgender rights throughout the match and gathered on the middle circle in an embrace previous to kickoff in a present of solidarity for a Canadian workforce within the midst of a labor dispute with its federation forward of the World Cup this summer season.

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Swanson, previously Pugh earlier than getting married final December, settled a ball within the middle of the realm within the seventh minute and fired a volley previous Canada’s Kailen Sheridan to place the U.S. in entrance early after which capitalized on a mistake by the visiting protection to roll the ball into an open web earlier than half-time.

The brace gave Swanson 5 targets in her first three video games for the U.S. in 2023 after scoring thrice throughout two matches in opposition to New Zealand in January.

U.S. goalie Alyssa Naeher preserved the lead simply earlier than halftime with a lunging save of a Janine Beckie shot from outdoors the field. Naeher additionally stopped a header by Jordyn Huitema within the 74th minute.

Her third save got here within the 91st minute on a header from Vanessa Gilles.

It was additionally a historic evening for Alex Morgan, who was honored earlier than the match for her two hundredth look for the nationwide workforce, which occurred late final yr in opposition to Germany.

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The eighth version of the event contains a round-robin between 4 of the highest groups on the planet, headed by the No. 1 U.S. squad. Canada is sixth. Brazil No. 9 and Japan eleventh.

Brazil defeated Japan 1-0 within the first match of the doubleheader. The subsequent video games are in Nashville on Sunday, when the U.S. will play Japan whereas Brazil faces Canada. The Americans will conclude in opposition to Brazil on Wednesday at Frisco, Texas.

The first SheBelieves Cup was received by the Americans in 2016. France was the champion in 2017 and England took the title in 2019. The U.S. is a five-time winner, together with 2018 and the previous three editions.

Under the format, the winner is determined by complete factors (three for a win, one for a tie) with tiebreakers used if wanted.

Information from Reuters was used on this report.