FOOTBALL: Heath brilliant for U.S. women in 4-0 win vs. Chile

It wasn’t easy at the start, but the no. 1-ranked United States women’s national team finally solved the Chilean defense and cruised to a 4-0 win at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California on Tuesday night.

Two goals within five minutes settled the issue, the first starting with a penalty shot by Alex Morgan that was saved by Chilean keeper Christiane Endler, but the rebound came back to the front of goal, where it was kneed in by Mallory Pugh for a 1-0 U.S. lead in the 34th minute. It was a takedown of Pugh in the box that drew the penalty.

Another U.S. push in the 38th minute ended with a rocket from the foot of Tobin Health that found the underside of the crossbar and extended the American lead to 2-0 and the game was decided.

Health was outstanding as a playmaker throughout, and right after halftime, her free kick sailed toward the right corner of the Chilean goal, where it was headed in by Carli Lloyd for her 101st career goal and a 3-0 advantage.

Lloyd scored again in stoppage time (90+3), driving the ball down the right side of the field, darting to the left and then to the right to open space for a right-footed shot that ran diagonally into the left side of goal for the 4-0 final.

With the sweep of the two games against Chile, the American women are 11-0-2 in 2018 and have a 21-match unbeaten streak (18-0-3), going back to mid-2017. The U.S. has outscored its opponents by 65-17 during those matches.

With the friendlies out of the way, the U.S. women will next open the World Cup-qualifying CONCACAF Championships against Mexico on 4 October in Cary, North Carolina.