The U.S. women’s national team took a scrappy 2-0 decision over Colombia Tuesday night in a lightning-delayed friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.
With nine changes from the USWNT’s win over the weekend and Colombia not quite sitting as deep, a higher-tempo—but more ragged—game played out at Rio Tinto Stadium. The USWNT tested Catalina Pérez from distance several times and were denied by brave, last-ditch defending in the Colombia box on a frequent basis.
However, they took the lead when an attempt to do that went awry. Tidy work from Rose Lavelle and Alex Morgan moved the ball wide to Sofia Huerta, whose cross attempt was diverted into the goal by a lunging Manuela Vanegas for a 22nd minute own goal.
Colombia’s willingness to take more chances nearly produced a stunning equalizer, but Alyssa Naeher’s brilliant save denied Leicy Santos from 20 yards early in the second half.
A 49-minute lightning delay halted play in the 75th minute, and a more composed USWNT took the field. Pressing high, they doubled their lead just two minutes later on a precise strike from Kelley O’Hara, who came in at right back for Huerta just before the stoppage.
The friendly was the USWNT’s final warm-up before the CONCACAF W Championship, which kicks off in Mexico in six days. The U.S. will face Haiti on July 4 in their Group A opener.
See the USWNT goals
An own goal from Colombia puts the #USWNT in front‼️ pic.twitter.com/Zo3PPc4ZUM
— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1542003948571095040
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