The U.S. Women’s National Team routed Iceland 5-0 to win the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. They produced an all-around exemplary performance on a freezing cold night.
Braces from forwards Catarina Macario and Mallory Pugh led the team to its third consecutive SheBelieves Cup title. Mallory Pugh became the 24th player in USWNT history to record 20 or more goals and 20 or more assists.
Her goals tonight were the 20th and 21st of her international career. She ended as the tournament’s leading scorer with three goals. She also has 21 career assists.
USA 5 Iceland 0
Report by USSoccer.com
The USA, which came into the match needing a win to lift the trophy, finished atop the tournament standings with seven points from two wins and tie. Iceland finished second with six points. The Czech Republic was third with two points and New Zealand finished fourth.
For her excellent performance throughout the tournament, Macario was named the SheBelieves Cup 2022 MVP. She is the youngest player to earn the honor. Spain’s Alexia Putellas was 26 when she won the award in 2020. Rose Lavelle was 25 when she won the award in 2021.
The award was announced following the conclusion of the final match. For the second consecutive year, fans got the opportunity to vote for the MVP using an online ballot to select among the list of finalists was chosen by the committee.
First Half
After creating numerous quality scoring chances early in the match, the young U.S. team did not get frustrated and finally broke through in the 37th minute on a piece of individual finishing brilliance from Macario.
Midfielder Ashley Sanchez played Macario in the attacking third on the left side of the field. She squared up on her defender. Macario then cut inside and fired from the corner of the box. The curling shot powered off the right post and into the net. Iceland goalkeeper Sandra Sigurðardóttir could only watch. The goal was Macario’s fourth of her USWNT career and first of 2022 as she started what would be a memorable night for online betting fans.
The U.S. team put forth an impressive defensive effort against an Iceland team that played very direct.
On the offensive side, the USA’s attacking rhythm from back-to-front, its patience in moving the ball against the sturdy Iceland defense, and the ability to create chances through dynamic connections, eventually wore down the Europeans.
Macario played center forward for the third straight game. She was a big part of that rhythm, building on her performance as the match wore on. She notched her fifth career goal just before halftime after midfielder Kristie Mewis found Pugh on the run with a through ball.
Pugh played a pass on the ground behind Macario in the right side of the box. Macario sent a delicate chip over the ‘keeper to double the lead in style.
Second Half
The USWNT added their third of the night in the 60th minute. Sanchez unlocked the defense with a quality pass to meet Pugh on the run. Pugh then dribbled into the box and struck a low shot from a sharp angle, nutmegging the goalkeeper to add her name to the scoresheet.
Pugh’s added her second of the night in the 75th minute. Macario played a square pass to Pugh, who slotted past the goalkeeper from close range to make it 4-0.
Third SheBelieves Cup In A Row For The USA
The USA would put a capper on a brilliant night in the 88th minute through an assist from forward Margaret “Midge” Purce. She had come into the match just eight minutes earlier. Her cross into the box found Mewis, who finished from close range on her first touch. It was the fifth career international goal for Mewis.
Although Iceland, which came into the match with two wins, battled gamely, it was not their night. Their lone shot on target came in early in the eighth minute. The attempt from the top of the box met Casey Murphy’s gloves comfortably.
With the shutout, the USA has now won two consecutive SheBelieves Cup titles without allowing a single goal. Both shutout titles have come under head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
SheBelieves Cup 2022 Line Ups
USA
18-Casey Murphy; 5-Kelley O’Hara (Capt.), 15-Alana Cook (4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 86), 12-Tierna Davidson, 19-Emily Fox; 17-Andi Sullivan (14-Emily Sonnett, 86), 22-Kristie Mewis, 13-Ashley Sanchez (10-Jaelin Howell, 86); 11-Sophia Smith (23-Margaret Purce, 80), 20-Catarina Macario (7-Ashley Hatch, 80), 9-Mallory Pugh (3-Lynn Williams, 80)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 2-Trinity Rodman, 6-Morgan Gautrat, 8-Sofia Huerta, 16-Rose Lavelle, 21-Aubrey Kingsbury
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
Iceland
1-Sandra Sigurðardóttir (13-Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir, 46); 2-Sif Atladóttir (6-Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, 79), 4-Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, 18-Guðrún Arnardóttir, 11-Hallbera Guðný Gísladóttir (3-Elísa Viðarsdóttir, 68); 8-Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir, 5-Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir (Capt.) (15-Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir, 80), 10-Dagný Brynjarsdóttir; 23-Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, 9-Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir (21-Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir, 46), 17-Agla María Albersdóttir
Substitutions Not Used: 12-Telma Ívarsdóttir, 7-Karitas Tómasdóttir, 14-Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir, 16-Amanda Andradóttir, 19-Natasha Moraa Anasi, 20-Ásta Eir Árnadóttir, 22-Ída María Hermannsdóttir
Head coach: Thorsteinn Halldorsson