The USWNT finished off the Summer Series with a gritty 2-0 win over Nigeria on Wednesday night.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski made six changes from the team’s starting lineup against Jamaica, most notably having Kristie Mewis start in place of the injured Rose Lavelle.
All 👀 on Austin! Your Starting XI for tonight’s #SummerSeries finale! 🇺🇸 vs. 🇳🇬 | #SummerSeries pres. by AT&T 5GLineup notes ≫ https://t.co/uRRIKRGeCe pic.twitter.com/nZwUbnEiAU— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 17, 2021
All 👀 on Austin! Your Starting XI for tonight’s #SummerSeries finale! 🇺🇸 vs. 🇳🇬 | #SummerSeries pres. by AT&T 5GLineup notes ≫ https://t.co/uRRIKRGeCe pic.twitter.com/nZwUbnEiAU
The U.S. out-possessed Nigeria 73 percent to 28 percent, applying a relentless high press and dictating the game’s pace. Nigeria’s back line managed to stave off an unyielding USWNT attack for the game’s opening 45 minutes.
The first goal of the night came late in the first half after Nigeria made a rare mistake on a failed clearance. With extra time on the clock, Kristie Mewis headed the loose ball to Carli Lloyd, who found an unmarked Christen Press at the top of the box. Press one-timed Lloyd’s pass, curling the ball into the far post to put the U.S. up 1-0 going into the half.
On the mark 💥With that goal, @ChristenPress pushes her 🇺🇸 career total to 61, breaking a tie with Shannon MacMillan to take sole possession of 9th on the #USWNT all-time scoring charts 📈 pic.twitter.com/0UjYhvZsHH— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 17, 2021
On the mark 💥With that goal, @ChristenPress pushes her 🇺🇸 career total to 61, breaking a tie with Shannon MacMillan to take sole possession of 9th on the #USWNT all-time scoring charts 📈 pic.twitter.com/0UjYhvZsHH
The USWNT wouldn’t get on the scoreboard again until the fourth minute of extra time. Lynn Williams, who entered the game in the 89th minute, immediately made an impact, netting her 11th goal for the national team seconds before the final whistle.
Horan started the play, picking off a Nigerian attack and distributing the ball to Press, who picked out a striding Williams. Williams got behind the Nigerian back line and beat the goalkeeper to double the USWNT’s lead at the end of the game.
Where there's a Will(iams) there's a way 💪@lynnraenie with the exclamation point in second half stoppage time! pic.twitter.com/r18vH03XK0— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 17, 2021
Where there's a Will(iams) there's a way 💪@lynnraenie with the exclamation point in second half stoppage time! pic.twitter.com/r18vH03XK0
The USWNT’s win in Austin extends the team’s unbeaten streak to 42 matches and improves Andonovski’s record to 20-0-1 since he took over as head coach.
Wednesday night’s game was the USWNT’s last before the Send-Off Series in July ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.