U.S. Women’s National Team Picks Up Dominant 3-0 Win against China PR in Pentultimate Match of 2023

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2023) – On a muggy night in south Florida, the U.S. Women’s National Team earned a dominant 3-0 win against China PR as Sophia Smith, captain Lindsey Horan and Trinity Rodman scored while goalkeeper Casey Murphy and a stout U.S. defense limited China just two shots. The match marked the USA’s seventh consecutive shutout.

The USWNT bossed the second-most frequent opponent in its history from the opening whistle. With the return of veterans Rose Lavelle and Abby Dahlkemper to the starting lineup, it took the USA only eight minutes to find a way through the China defense as back-to-back NWSL Defender of the Year Naomi Girma found Rodman on the left wing with a long pass before the pacey attacker beat her marker and slid an inch-perfect cross in front of goal for Smith to stab home.

Smith could have had two more in quick succession but for the heroics of China goalkeeper Xu Huan who twice saved quality attempts by the 2023 NWSL Golden Boot Winner just after the 10-minute mark.

The WNT dominated the remainder of the half, racking up 10 shots (five on goal) and over 60% possession while suffocating China’s offense, but went into the break riding only Smith’s early strike to a 1-0 advantage. The USA would eventually out-shoot China 20-2.

U.S. interim head coach Twila Kilgore turned to her bench at halftime, bringing on forward Mia Fishel for Smith and Jaedyn Shaw for Savannah DeMelo in the midfield. The changes had the intended effect just seven minutes into the second half when Shaw’s presence at the back post kept Huan rooted to the goal line in anticipation of the U.S. attacker getting her head on a Horan cross from deep. Instead, the ball missed flew over Shaw’s head and bounced into the right corner of the goal for a 2-0 USA lead in the 52^nd minute. 

As the match progressed, Kilgore continued to utilize the depth on her bench, bringing in 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger as well as a pair of Portland Thorns midfielders Sam Coffey and Olivia Moultrie. It was the international debut for 23-year-old Nighswonger and 18-year-old Moultrie, who are part of a wave of young talent surging into the WNT program. Forward Midge Purce also came on midway through second half and played a crucial role in the build up to the USA’s final goal.

It was the hard work of Purce to beat her defender and play Shaw in behind the China defense where she hit a low cross to the center of the penalty box. Struck with pace, the cross deflected off a defender and across the mouth of goal for Rodman to smash home from close range for the 3-0 lead in the 77^th minute that ultimately stood as the final scoreline.

The USA, which is now 13W-4D-0L on the year and will aim to finish the year without a loss in regulation time when it finishes its 2023 schedule with a second international friendly against China PR on Dec. 5 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT; Tru TV, Universo, Max, Peacock).

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Sophia Smith (Trinity Rodman), 8^th minute: The USA defense won control of the ball near midfield and after a bit of possession, center back Naomi Girma sent a long ball over the China defense that Rodman was able to run down on the left wing. Bearing down on the penalty area at pace, Rodman beat her defender and squared the ball across the face of goal perfectly for Smith to arrive just ahead of the goalkeeper and direct the ball into the lower right side of the net. USA 1, CHN 0

USA – Lindsey Horan (Trinity Rodman), 52^nd minute: The USA earned a throw-in deep in China territory on the left sideline that Rodman quickly sent to Horan. The U.S. captain turned toward the center and with no pressure on her launched the ball from the toward the run of Jaedyn Shaw at the back post. Shaw and her defender leapt for the ball, but it overshot them both, fooling the goalkeeper, before bouncing into the right side of the net. USA 2, CHN 0

USA – Trinity Rodman, 77^th minute: Some nifty dribbling by Midge Purce freed her from a defender and gave her the moment she needed to slip a pass into the box for Jaedyn Shaw. The young attacker drew the defense’s attention before sending a low cross through the goalmouth where Rodman lay in wait for an easy tap from the doorstep.  USA 3, CHN 0 FINAL

Additional Notes:

• The USA leads the all-time series with a record of 37W-13D-9L, outscoring China 102-37.
• China is the second most common opponent in WNT history, but this was the first meeting between the teams since June 12, 2018, when the USA defeated China PR 2-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
• The USA has recorded 15 shutouts in 2023, nine credited to Alyssa Naeher and six to Casey Murphy.
• The USA defense continued its streak of dominance by allow China just two shots on goal. The WNT allowed just two shots on goal during the entire 2023 World Cup, then held South Africa to just one shot on goal combined in the two September friendlies and limited Colombia to two shots on target in each of the October matchups.
• Sophia Smith scored her third goal of 2023 and first since scoring a brace against Vietnam in the 2023 World Cup opener. She now has 14 goals in her last 24 caps after scoring once in her first 13 appearances.
• Trinity Rodman scored her fifth goal of the year and third since the 2023 WWC.
• Rodman notched her fourth and fifth assists of the year. She now leads the teams with 10 total goal contributions in 2023 (5 goals, 5 assists).
• The only player to appear in every match for the USA so far in 2023, Rodman made her team-leading 17th appearance and 11th start of the year.
• Lindsey Horan’s goal was her fifth of 2023. She captained the USA for the ninth time this year and the 17th match of her career. She made her international debut 10 years ago against China at the 2013 Algarve Cup and earned her 138^th cap today.
• Rodman and Horan are now tied for second on the team with five goals each this year.
• Casey Murphy earned her 13th career shutout. She recorded a shutout in each of her previous five appearances this year.
• Abby Dahlkemper made her first appearance for the USA in 599 days, returning to the field for her country for the first time since April 12, 2022, and earned her 80th cap. Dahlkemper, a starter on the 2019 Women’s World Cup champions, returned to play this year for club and country after recovering from major back surgery.
• 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger from NJ/NY Gotham FC earned her first cap and is the 256th player all-time to earn a cap for the USWNT. She's the fifth player to earn a first cap for the USWNT in 2023 and the fourth to debut under Kilgore.
• Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie also made her debut for the USWNT. She becomes the 257th player all-time to earn a cap for the USWNT and is the sixth player to earn a first cap for the USWNT in 2023. She is the fifth to debut under Kilgore.
• At 18 years and 76 days of age Moultrie is the 72nd teenager all-time to earn a cap for the USWNT and the second this year. She's the youngest player to debut for the USWNT since 17-year-old Alyssa Thompson debuted for the USA in October of 2022.