The United States got two wins out of two to start in 2021, with a pair of rookie scorers scoring the first and final goal of the match
The U.S. women’s national team easily defeated Colombia 6-0 on Friday night in Orlando, following Monday’s 4-0 victory over the same rival.
The pair of games ended with the team’s January camp, which saw a USWNT mostly try to impress head coach Vlatko Andonovski before the Olympics this summer in Tokyo (in case the tournament continues ).
Here are three of Friday’s most important takeaway meals at Exploria Stadium.
Catarina Macario scores the first goal of the USWNT
This week saw the debut in the USWNT of Catarina Macario, who is reportedly about to be the next major star of the team. The Brazilian-born striker, who recently signed with European power Lyon directly from Stanford University, got his first cap on Monday before scoring his first national team goal on Friday in the third minute.
“The cat is a different kind of player than I think we’ve ever had. It’s a different number 9 than we’ve ever had,” Megan Rapinoe said of the 21-year-old after Friday’s game. “She falls a little more, she plays more like a new fake.
“Physically, she is already ready to be at that level and that is a big leap for a lot of people going from college to this level to be able to compete physically.
“She’ll be one of those fun players you love to see – someone who will excite fans, someone who will come out with something creative or a nutmeg.”
Sam Mewis is injured
The United States had a big scare when Sam Mewis collided with a Colombian defender in the middle of the second half. The Man City midfielder appeared to be suffering from severe pain on the field after his left ankle rolled under him. She was able to slowly leave the field under her own power before being seen on the bench with ice wrapped around her ankle.
Mewis has been in stellar form for the USWNT and Man City. Rapinoe called her “the best player on our team right now” after the game, so any injury issues would be a major concern for the club and the country.
Andonovski said Mewis would be examined after the match, adding that his high pain threshold made it difficult to determine the prognosis immediately.
“She’s very strong and very tough,” the USWNT coach said. “When we first asked [how she was] he said, “I’m fine, I’m fine,” but we’re doing all the exams and following the whole protocol to make sure he’s okay.
“She’s tough and we don’t know what ‘good’ means to her world. We’ll soon know how she feels.”
Crystal Dunn and Midge Purce in attack
Crystal Dunn and Midge Purce are natural attackers who have been transferred to defense with the USWNT. Dunn, in particular, went from a dynamic attacking midfielder to a solid left-back who starred in the USWNT’s career at the 2019 World Cup.
Fans have demanded that both players have a chance to attack for the United States and on Friday night, Andonovski forced it. Purce, in particular, grabbed the headlines by scoring his first USWNT goal with a header from Carli Lloyd’s cross in the 86th minute.
“We know Midge is a good striker,” Andonovski said of a player who had been used primarily as a right-back with the national team.
“Obviously we saw something in her that can help us or help her become a good defender and we’ll keep working as we move forward. But when we need a striker, she’s obviously good enough and she showed she can do it. good job there “.
On Dunn, he added, “Crystal has to be the most versatile player on the field. I literally feel comfortable putting Crystal in any position on the field and I know he will meet the standard set.”