This may have been billed as a friendly, but in the build up to the Women’s World Cup, USWNT v Australia – two of the tournament favourites – is more of a test of credentials, and it was one that we just had to see. We took our seats at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the next instalment of our ‘Framed’ Series. Morgan v Kerr? Yes please and thank you…
Both teams will have been heading into this match with one eye on the World Cup, keen to avoid injuries, but also to get that extra level of sharpness and impress before the final squad selections. Following on from the disappointment of failing to retain the SheBelieves Cup title, the U.S. women's national team will have been eager to avoid defeat, while victory over the USWNT would have been a great boost and a nice scalp to take away for the Matildas.
Both teams have no problems in the scoring department, with talisman’s Morgan and Kerr doing the business for each team up front. But it’s in defence that they each struggle, and that was evident again as Alex Morgan stole in early on, capitalising on said dodgy Ozzy defence, to net her 100th national team goal. So started a tit-for-tat affair, with the lead changing hands repeatedly in front of a captivated Colorado crowd. And to their collective joy, it was America who were able to show that little extra level of class; Heath, Rapinoe and a double from Pugh sealing things despite goals from De Vanna, Ford and the standard Kerr offering in response. Attention now turns to the summer…
Photography by Garrett Ellwood for SoccerBible.
