WNT Closes Out 2019 SheBelieves Cup with 1-0 Victory Against Brazil

TAMPA, Fla. (March 5, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s National Team closed out the 2019 SheBelieves Cup and its fifth game of the year with a 1-0 win against Brazil in front of a Tampa-record crowd of 14,009 at Raymond James Stadium. The U.S. has five domestic matches remaining before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup; two coming in April and three in May.

England won the 2019 SheBelieves Cup with its 3-0 victory against Japan in the first game of the night. England, which finished the tournament with seven points from two wins and a 2-2 tie with the USA, scored all of its goals in the opening 30 minutes against Japan and its three goals came on four shots on target.

The U.S. was unfortunate to not earn a penalty in the game’s opening seconds after Mallory Pugh was chopped down in the box, but pressed on to create more dangerous opportunities over the course of the game. With a bit of luck, the USA would have headed into halftime with a larger lead but was happy with Tobin Heath’s stellar strike in the 20th minute. Heath started the sequence, carrying the ball 50 yards before playing a perfect pass to a wide-open Alex Morgan to run in behind the Brazil defense. Morgan’s shot was well-saved by Brazilian goalkeeper Aline, but the rebound rolled to Heath who powered her left-footed shot into the upper left corner for her second goal of the tournament.

In the second half, the USA continued to pressure and control the game’s tempo but missed on a couple of finishes that could have padded the score line. U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris had a strong game, making a crucial point-blank save around the 75th minute and another on a Marta free kick in the 81st to maintain the USA’s shutout.

2019 SheBelieves Cup Final Standings

Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
England	3	2	0	1	7	4	3	7
United States	3	1	0	2	5	4	1	5
Japan	3	1	1	1	5	6	-1	4
Brazil	3	0	3	0	2	6	-4	0

Up Next: The WNT continues the “Countdown to the Cup” with a friendly vs. Australia on April 4 (9 p.m. ET; FS1) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, followed by a first meeting with Belgium on April 7 (9 p.m. ET; ESPN2) at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.

Social: Follow the #USWNT on Facebook; Twitter and Instagram.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Tobin Heath, 20th: Heath started the goal sequence with a fantastic run down the right side, cutting through to the middle before finding Alex Morgan with a pin-point pass inside the penalty area. Morgan’s initial shot was blocked by Brazil’s Aline but the ball rolled back to the top of the box where Heath sent a powerful blast to the upper left corner for the match winner. USA 1, BRA 0. WATCH. FINAL.

Additional Notes:

• Tobin Heath scored her 27th international goal tonight in her fourth appearance of 2019. It was her second goal of the tournament and second of the year. She also scored vs. England on March 2. She is now tied with Shannon Boxx and Joy Fawcett for 21st on the USA’s all-time goal scoring list. Heath has seven goals in her last nine appearances with the WNT.
• Ashlyn Harris earned her seventh career shutout in what was her first start of 2019 and her 20th cap for the U.S. WNT.
• Since the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, the USA has failed to score in just one game (vs. Australia at the 2017 ToN). That’s a 37-game span.
• Today’s crowd of 14,009 set a new attendance record for a WNT game in Tampa, Florida.

– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Brazil
Date: March 5, 2019
Competition: 2019 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, Fla.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Attendance: 14,009
Weather:  54 degrees; cloudy

Scoring Summary:              1             2             F
USA                                      1             0             1                           
BRA                                      0             0             0                           

USA – Tobin Heath             20^th minute

Lineups:
USA: 24-Ashlyn Harris; 5-Kelley O’Hara (2-Emily Sonnett, 66), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Crystal Dunn; 8-Julie Ertz, 3-Samantha Mewis, 11-Mallory Pugh (23-Christen Press, 46); 17-Tobin Heath (20-Jessica McDonald, 87), 13-Alex Morgan (capt.) (10-Carli Lloyd, 88), 15-Megan Rapinoe (12-Tierna Davidson, 83)
Substitutes not used: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 6-Andi Sullivan, 14-Casey Short, 16-Rose Lavelle, 21-Adrianna Franch, 22-Emily Fox, 25-McCall Zerboni
Head coach: Jill Ellis

BRA: 12-Aline; 2-Letícia S., 4-Erika, 5-Thaisa, 7-Andressa, 8-Formiga, 9-Debinha, 10-Marta (capt.), 11-Adriana, 16-Beatriz (19-Ludmila, 65), 21-Mônica
Substitutes not used: 1-Letícia, 3-Jucinara, 6-Tamires, 13-Tayla, 14-Kathellen, 15-Poliana, 17-Juliana, 18-Geyse, 20-Raquel, 22-Luciana, 23-Luana
Head coach: Oswaldo Alvarez “Vadão”

Stats Summary: USA / BRA
Shots: 18 / 11
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 2 / 2
Fouls: 8 / 18
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
BRA – Andressa (caution)                                               56^th minute

Officials:
Referee: Carol Chenard (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Chantel Boudreau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Marie-Han Gagnon (CAN)
4th Official: Odette Hamilton (JAM)

Woman of the Match: Samantha Mewis