10/10/2026 03:44:00
Printable Page
10/10 15:42 CDT Spain scores twice in the first 14 minutes to sink the USWNT
2-0 in a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2
Spain scores twice in the first 14 minutes to sink the USWNT 2-0 in a matchup
of No. 1 vs. No. 2
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Patri Guijarro and Eva Navarro scored in the first 14
minutes, and Adriana Nanclares stopped a second-half penalty kick to lift Spain
to a 2-0 victory over the United States on Saturday in a clash between the two
top-ranked teams in women's international soccer.
It was the first of two meetings between reigning World Cup champion Spain and
the reigning Olympic champion U.S. The two teams have also combined to win the
last three World Cups. They'll play again Tuesday night near Philadelphia.
There were enough key players on the field Saturday to make this a decent
preview of next year's World Cup, but some big names were absent, including
three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmat for Spain and defenders Naomi
Girma and Emily Sonnett for the United States.
The U.S. certainly looked weakened in the back early in the match. Guijarro
scored in the third minute with a brilliant strike from well outside the
penalty area, beating goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. The second goal was a more
obvious defensive breakdown. Salma Paralluelo's cross from the left wing found
Navarro unmarked to volley home for a 2-0 lead.
The U.S. created its share of chances. Alyssa Thompson managed to round
goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares, but a defender blocked her shot. Then Nanclares
made a wonderful save, deflecting Sophia Wilson's long-distance effort off the
crossbar.
The Americans had the better of the chances in the second half. Trinity Rodman
started making more of an impact on the left wing, and she appeared to have
assisted on a goal by Wilson, but it was disallowed for offside after a video
review. VAR later gave the U.S. a penalty, but Lily Yohannes' shot was low and
to the left, and Nanclares was able to make a diving save.
___
See AP's full soccer coverage here
|
