The U.S. women’s national team was pushed by a game Nigeria side on Tuesday night, but a second-half combination between Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle made the difference in a 2-1 friendly win for the USWNT.
After Nigeria had equalized in the second half, Rapinoe came on as a substitute and provided a telling cross for Lavelle to head home for the winner at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
The game was markedly different from the game between the same two teams just three days earlier, when the USWNT cruised to a 4-0 win in Kansas City.
The USWNT pressured the visitors from the get-go but didn’t get on the scoresheet until midway through the first half when Mallory Pugh’s cross was inadvertently finished from close range by Nigeria defender Blessing Demehin.
But the U.S. was stunned early in the second half when Uchenna Kanu got behind the defense and placed an inch-perfect shot into the top corner to level the match.
The goal ended an 880-minute shutout streak for the USWNT, which last conceded in a 9-1 win over Uzbekistan in April.
But the U.S. had an answer and it was Rapinoe who provided the inspiration almost immediately after coming on as a substitute. Rapinoe’s deft cross found Rose Lavelle, who arched her body backwards to head the ball just off the post and in.
Watch Lavelle’s game-winning goal
73 SECONDS.
That's all it took for @mPinoe to find @roselavelle to give us the lead! #USAvNGA x @Allstate pic.twitter.com/yDFzCOJ5Pg
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) September 6, 2022
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