A pair of goals in the first half of Mallory Swanson gave USA women won the opening match 2-0 Canada on Thursday night during the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando, Florida.
Players from both teams wore bracelets in support of gender equality and transgender rights throughout the match and gathered at the central circle in a hug before the start to show solidarity for a Canadian team in the midst of a labor dispute with its union ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
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Swanson settled the ball in the center after 7 minutes and volleyed past Canada’s Kailen Sheridan to put the US ahead and then took advantage of a mistake by the visitors’ defense to put the ball into an empty net before the break. Break.
The brace helped Swanson score five goals in his first three games for the United States in 2023 after scoring three goals in two games against New Zealand in January.
Canada captain Christine Sinclair said the team was “mentally exhausted” after a week they had to endure.
“Either we fight for everything and catch on fire or we go out on the field,” Sinclair said. And I think you saw in those first 10, 15 minutes, we were on a flat pitch.
“I think we look like a tired team, a mentally exhausted team, against a team, I mean, they’re the defending World Cup champions for some reason and you have to Try your best to compete with them. And we weren’t here tonight.”
American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher secured the lead just before half-time with a brilliant save by Janine Beckie from just outside the box. Naeher also saved Jordyn Huitema’s header in the 74th minute.
Her third save came in the 91st minute after Vanessa Gilles’ header.
It was also a historic night for Alex Morganwho was honored before the game for his 200th appearance for the national team, a game played late last year against Germany.
Brazil beat Japan 1-0 in the first match of the doubles event. The SheBelieves Cup four-team round-robin will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, where the US will play Japan and Canada against Brazil. All four teams have qualified for the World Cup. The United States has won the last two World Cups and has a total of four titles.
“That’s in front of us,” Morgan said after the game. “That’s why we play these games. Everything we’re doing right now is just to help us compete for the World Cup.”
The Americans won their first SheBelieves Cup in 2016. France was the champion in 2017 and England were crowned in 2019. The US is a five-time champion, including 2018 and the past three.
Under this format, the winner is decided by the total score (three for win, one for tie) with tiebreaks used if necessary.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
