Crystal Dunn’s first-half goal earned the USA a 1-0 win over SA in an international friendly match played at Soldier Field on Saturday‚ Goal.com reported.
South Africa were hoping to stun reigning world champions United States of America (USA) in their maiden meeting in the city of Chicago in Illinois.
The two sides were using this encounter as part of their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympics. They were both trying to settle down in the first ten minutes of the game.
USA defender Julie Johnstone missed an inviting header in the 16th minute as the Stars and Stripes looked to break the deadlock.
The home side were dominating possession and four minutes later‚ SA defender Janine van Wyk made a great defensive block to deny the USA.
On the half-hour mark Mallory Pugh found some space just outside the Banyana Banyana box and she unleashed a good shot which narrowly missed the target.
However‚ the Stars and Stripes did take the lead five minutes later when Pugh’s cross from the left was headed home by Crystal Dunn to make it 1-0 to the USA.
Banyana managed to contain the hosts. The visitors made their second change at the beginning of the second-half introducing Nompumelelo Nyandeni for Robyn Moodaly.
Injured Octovia Nongwanya had been replaced by her Banyana teammate Sanah Mollo in the 23rd minute as SA head coach Vera Pauw was forced into a change.
The USA continued their dominance in the second-half and SA defender Nothando Vilakazi made a world class clearance in the 48th minute to deny the hosts.
In the 68th minute‚ Jill Ellis‚ the Stars and Stripes head coach‚ decided to introduce defender Ali Krieger for striker Alex Morgan .
Nevertheless‚ the USA held on to their slender lead in the dying minutes and they emerged 1-0 winners on the day.
Brave Banyana lose 1-0 to USA in Chicago
Crystal Dunn’s first-half goal earned the USA a 1-0 win over SA in an international friendly match played at Soldier Field on Saturday‚ Goal.com reported.
South Africa were hoping to stun reigning world champions United States of America (USA) in their maiden meeting in the city of Chicago in Illinois.
The two sides were using this encounter as part of their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympics. They were both trying to settle down in the first ten minutes of the game.
USA defender Julie Johnstone missed an inviting header in the 16th minute as the Stars and Stripes looked to break the deadlock.
The home side were dominating possession and four minutes later‚ SA defender Janine van Wyk made a great defensive block to deny the USA.
On the half-hour mark Mallory Pugh found some space just outside the Banyana Banyana box and she unleashed a good shot which narrowly missed the target.
However‚ the Stars and Stripes did take the lead five minutes later when Pugh’s cross from the left was headed home by Crystal Dunn to make it 1-0 to the USA.
Banyana managed to contain the hosts. The visitors made their second change at the beginning of the second-half introducing Nompumelelo Nyandeni for Robyn Moodaly.
Injured Octovia Nongwanya had been replaced by her Banyana teammate Sanah Mollo in the 23rd minute as SA head coach Vera Pauw was forced into a change.
The USA continued their dominance in the second-half and SA defender Nothando Vilakazi made a world class clearance in the 48th minute to deny the hosts.
In the 68th minute‚ Jill Ellis‚ the Stars and Stripes head coach‚ decided to introduce defender Ali Krieger for striker Alex Morgan .
Nevertheless‚ the USA held on to their slender lead in the dying minutes and they emerged 1-0 winners on the day.
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