THE WORLD’S BEST player Carli Lloyd punished Ireland’s Women as the USA romped to a 5-0 win in Saturday’s friendly in San Diego.
Lloyd, who was named Fifa World Player of the Year earlier this month, rattled in a first-half hat-trick with Alex Morgan and teenager Mallory Pugh also getting on the scoresheet.
Ireland’s mistakes were their own undoing and they were caught napping with a quick throw-in as Lloyd tapped in the game’s opening goal in the sixth minute.
The world and Olympic champions doubled their advantage on 22 minutes when Irish keeper Emma Byrne failed to deal with a header and Lloyd bravely stole in to finish.
Morgan scored on the stroke of half-time to make it 4-0, and despite a much-improved Irish performance after the break, they couldn’t find a way past US stopper Hope Solo before 17-year-old Pugh finished the rout seven minutes from time.
“Even though we were playing the best team in the world, I was very disappointed at half time with the manner in which we conceded the four goals,” Ireland boss Sue Ronan said.
There were some basic defensive errors that you will not get away with at this level and we were punished.
“Having said that, I was pleased with the response of the team in the second half when we tried to take the game to the Americans.”
Ireland play the US U23 team in Los Angeles on Monday in a friendly behind closed doors.
USA: Hope Solo; Ali Krieger, Emily Sonnett (Kelley O’Hara, 58), Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg; Samantha Mewis, Lindsey Horan (Jaelene Hinkle, 46), Carli Lloyd (Christen Press, 46); Crystal Dunn (Heather O’Reilly, 46), Alex Morgan (c) (Mallory Pugh, 58), Tobin Heath (Stephanie McCaffrey, 46). Subs not used: Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher.
Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne (c); Sophie Perry (Julie Ann Russell, 46), Megan Campbell, Louise Quinn, Karen Duggan (Meabh De Burca, 72), Diane Caldwell (Jessica Gleeson, 46), Aine O’Gorman, Ruesha Littlejohn (Megan Connolly, 65), Denise O’Sullivan, Stephanie Roche (Fiona O’Sullivan, 46), Katie McCabe (Siobhan Killeen, 65). Subs not used: Ciara Rossiter, Niamh Reid Burke, Clare Shine, Grace Wright, Savannah McCarthy.
Carli, you're so pain! Lloyd hat-trick as world champs USA hammer Ireland Women
THE WORLD’S BEST player Carli Lloyd punished Ireland’s Women as the USA romped to a 5-0 win in Saturday’s friendly in San Diego.
Lloyd, who was named Fifa World Player of the Year earlier this month, rattled in a first-half hat-trick with Alex Morgan and teenager Mallory Pugh also getting on the scoresheet.
Ireland’s mistakes were their own undoing and they were caught napping with a quick throw-in as Lloyd tapped in the game’s opening goal in the sixth minute.
The world and Olympic champions doubled their advantage on 22 minutes when Irish keeper Emma Byrne failed to deal with a header and Lloyd bravely stole in to finish.
And the lethal Lloyd pounced on Diane Caldwell’s sloppy backpass to wrap up her hat-trick inside 28 minutes.
Morgan scored on the stroke of half-time to make it 4-0, and despite a much-improved Irish performance after the break, they couldn’t find a way past US stopper Hope Solo before 17-year-old Pugh finished the rout seven minutes from time.
“Even though we were playing the best team in the world, I was very disappointed at half time with the manner in which we conceded the four goals,” Ireland boss Sue Ronan said.
“Having said that, I was pleased with the response of the team in the second half when we tried to take the game to the Americans.”
Ireland play the US U23 team in Los Angeles on Monday in a friendly behind closed doors.
USA: Hope Solo; Ali Krieger, Emily Sonnett (Kelley O’Hara, 58), Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg; Samantha Mewis, Lindsey Horan (Jaelene Hinkle, 46), Carli Lloyd (Christen Press, 46); Crystal Dunn (Heather O’Reilly, 46), Alex Morgan (c) (Mallory Pugh, 58), Tobin Heath (Stephanie McCaffrey, 46). Subs not used: Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher.
Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne (c); Sophie Perry (Julie Ann Russell, 46), Megan Campbell, Louise Quinn, Karen Duggan (Meabh De Burca, 72), Diane Caldwell (Jessica Gleeson, 46), Aine O’Gorman, Ruesha Littlejohn (Megan Connolly, 65), Denise O’Sullivan, Stephanie Roche (Fiona O’Sullivan, 46), Katie McCabe (Siobhan Killeen, 65). Subs not used: Ciara Rossiter, Niamh Reid Burke, Clare Shine, Grace Wright, Savannah McCarthy.
Attendance: 23,309.
‘Mick Wallace took a chance on a 29-year-old with no playing background when he appointed me’
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Carli Lloyd Ireland Women's Soccer shs Stay Classy support her sport US women's soccer USWNT