emma sears scored a hat-trick as United States of America October ended with a lopsided 6–0 win new zealand Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri.
US coach Emma Hayes once again changed her starting XI, as she did in two friendlies against portugal Before the game with New Zealand.
All three of Sears’ goals came from close range, one in the first half and two in the second half, as the United States dominated the 33rd-ranked team in the world on FIFA and scored the most goals ever in a game under Hayes. Mitchell Cooper had two assists.
caterina macario And Rose Lavelle The first half of the first half was scored with pinpoint shots as the U.S. took a 3–0 lead at halftime. Lavelle’s goal – the best for the US on Wednesday – came when he pounced on a loose ball and fired a long-range volley from 20 yards.
The United States kept the pressure on New Zealand in the second half with Sears scoring his second goal and Macario scoring his brace shortly afterwards with a powerful shot from the right side of the area.
Sears capped off her great night with another close-range finish, hitting a loose ball into the roof of the New Zealand net to score the first hat trick by an American woman. Sophia Wilson against in April 2022 Uzbekistan,
Defender Kennedy Wesley started in his debut, becoming the 25th player to earn his first cap under Hayes. The backline of Wednesday’s starting lineup had only made 11 combined appearances for the national team.
The match was played at CPKC Stadium, the world’s first purpose-built women’s soccer stadium, which is home to the NWSL’s Kansas City Current. Cooper plays for Current.
New Zealand team honored former captain before the match Ali RileyWho has retired from professional football. Riley played 163 matches for the team.
United States of America Has played without many stars who won gold medals in the Olympics. trinity rodman Has a right MCL injury, while Wilson and mallory swanson Are on maternity leave.
The Americans entered the match against New Zealand with a 19–1–1 record. The two teams last met ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with both teams winning in Auckland.
Despite their success on Wednesday, the U.S. lost one of their three matches during the October slate of friendly matches, losing 2–1 to Portugal on October 23. Hayes’ team bounced back by defeating Portugal with a 3–1 victory in the teams’ second meeting three days later.
The USWNT will play its final matches of the year on November 28 in Orlando, Florida against Italy and on December 1 in Fort Lauderdale.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this recap.
