USWNT Routs Colombia to Kick Off 2021
Last night in Orlando, the USWNT made a winning start to their 2021 campaign. The United States defeated their South American opponents by a final of 4-0.
FINAL | First dub of 2021 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/uyqEWArzJ5
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) January 19, 2021
The main story of the night was that all four USWNT tallies came from the Mewis sisters. Sam scored a hat-trick to earn Woman of the Match honors. Younger sister Kristie put a bow on the victory with her strike in the 85th minute.
Sam Mewis picked up where she left off in 2020. The midfielder delivered another stellar performance in her first outing since being named the 2020 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in December.
The Colombia match also saw Catarina Macario make her USWNT debut. The talented 21-year-old came on as a substitute at the start of the second half. Macario, who was born in Brazil, received FIFA’s approval to represent the United States earlier this month.
Game Recap
The United States got off to a fast start, opening the scoring inside of four minutes played.
Too easy for @sammymewy 💯
The @USWNT is off to a hot start in Orlando 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HfeuZyIOKb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 19, 2021
Lindsey Horan started the move by putting the ball on a silver platter for Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe was then able to pick out Sam Mewis in the box, and Mewis finished first time with her left foot.
Mewis got her second of the night just under half an hour later.
That's ✌️ for the @USWNT! @sammymewy again! pic.twitter.com/c8KmOof2ey
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 19, 2021
Horan again played a vital role in the goal, this time by floating a cross that found Carli Lloyd at the back post. Lloyd headed the ball back across goal and Mewis had a gaping net to nod the ball into.
The USWNT began the second half on the front foot as well.
It's a @sammymewy HAT TRICK! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/pk90YCzDKT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 19, 2021
The USA won a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half. Mewis stepped up and found the bottom corner. In doing so, she completed a perfect hat-trick, having scored with her left foot, right foot and head.
Kristie Mewis entered the game in the 64th minute. Just over 20 minutes later, she joined in on the Mewis goal scoring party.
It's a Mewis party for the @USWNT! 🎉@KristieMewie makes it 4-0 vs Colombia. pic.twitter.com/pcjkcYxkvO
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 19, 2021
Carli Lloyd grabbed her second assist of the night by delivering a perfect cross. Mewis then finished on the volley from close range to wrap up the scoring.
The Road Ahead
The USWNT has a second friendly against Colombia coming up this week. The game is scheduled for Friday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST. This time around, the match can be viewed on ESPN2.
Looking slightly further ahead, the United States is gearing up for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. The tournament takes place at the end of February.
Of course, the main event for the USWNT in 2021 is the Tokyo Olympic Games. Originally scheduled to take place last summer, the Games will now be held between July 23rd and August eighth of this year.
The USWNT has four Olympic gold medals and one silver to their names. However, they finished a disappointing 5th in 2016 after being knocked out by Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals.
This group of players will be highly motivated to make amends for that performance. They have clearly established themselves as the top national team in the world.
This summer, the USWNT will get a chance to prove that once again on one of international soccer’s biggest stages.
– Andrew Fasciano (@afasc573)