USWNT 2-0 Canada summary: score, goals, highlights, SheBelieves Cup 2023
USWNT 2-0 Canada: SheBelieves Cup 2023
FT: USA 2-0 Canada
A brace from Swanson gets the USWNT SheBelieves Cup campaign off with a win.
The whistle sounds and it's a win for the USWNT against a poor Canada side.
A Mallory Swanson double in the first half secure the three points for the US who now face Japan on Sunday.
Canada will need to be better against Brazil on Sunday with another defeat making it mathematically impossible for them to win the SheBelieves Cup.
We'll have five minutes of added time
Possession
USA 53-47 Canada (%)
Five minutes of normal time remain and Canada have just managed one shot on and one off target this evening against the 5 on and 1 off from the US side.
Hellstrom carded for a challenge from behind on Emily Sonnett.
Almost 3-0 as Horan delivers an excellent ball into the box and Williams catches the ball and watches as it goes inches wide.
Increased pressure now from the US with a 3-0 scoreline looking more likely than a 2-1.
Decent ball from Lacasse as she finds Huitema but the header is straight at the US keeper.
The US almost make it 3-0 as Hatch fails to beat Sheridan but once again the keeper does well in saving.
Next up for these teams....
The USWNT face Japan in Nashville on Sunday night. Brazil-Canada is the later game on Sunday at the home of Nashville SC.
Just over 20 minutes left for Canada to deliver a reaction but from what we've seen tonight, that seems unlikely.
The tempo has really dropped off in the second half.
Horan strikes, gets the ball over the wall but Sheridan was alert and gathers easily.
Worrying for the US as Alyssa Naeher seems to have developed cramp.
The keeper is back in action as the US prepare to take a dangerous free
Fleming carded for tripping Horan.
US changes:
Morgan replaced by Hatch
Mewis on for Sanchez
The US preparing a double substitute.
Canada still trying to find a way through the wall of blue.
The tempo of the game has dropped and the Florida humidity may have a role to play in that.
Changes for Canada
Leon makes way for Lacasse
Sinclair also exits for Quinn
Canada have been way too wasteful going forward with the final ball always lacking accuracy.
The build up play is also too predictable and this is something they need to address in this SheBelieves Cup.
Big call for a penalty from the US as Sanchez collides with Buchanan in the Canada box. Despite the appeal, the Mexican match official waves play on.
Chapman was he Canada player who left the field for Hellstrom.
Dunn made way incidentally for Sonnett.
The second half is underway in Florida.
Jenna Hellstrom also set to enter the action for Canada.
The players return to the pitch at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando and it looks like Emily Sonnett will join the action,
The whistle sounds and it's the two goals from Swanson that divide the teams.
The US very much in control with Canada offering just fleeting glimpses of the team that won the gold media at the Tokyo Olympics.
What a fine strike from Beckie as she forces a diving save from Naeher.
Canada knocking on the door now just as the whistle for the break is about to sound.
We'll have three minutes of added time.
Corner for Canada... A goal for Les Rouges would offer a major boost for Bev Priestman's side.
Sinclair heads inches over from the corner in what was the best oportuinity for the visitors.
Five minutes on the clock here in Orlando as Sanchez returns to the pitch.
0 shots on-off target for Canada tells you all you need to know about the direction this game has taken.
Sanchez goes to the floor after a collision with Canada's No. 7 Grosso and again needs medical attention.
Just as it seemed that Canada had carved out a niche in the contest, a shocking error at the back gifts the US a second goal.
US make it 2-0 and it's Swanson again.
Shocking defending as Gilles gifts the ball to the striker who slots home.
The US attack again after a poor clearance from Canada. Rodman forces Sheridan to save.
Possession after half an hour
USA 63-37 Canada
Canada forging looking for a way through but despite working the ball well, they lack the spark to open the wall of blue shirts.
Alyssa Naeher yet really to be called into action yet.
Swanson needs attention and seems to be winded. The US doctors are quickly on the spot after she collided with Buchanan.
Horan strikes the post with a header. The Lyon player did well in beating the Canadian defender but should have found the net.
We're back underway and Alex Morgan has rejoined the action ....
Canada now enjoying more possession but it's taken them more than 10 minutes to make the advance.
Play held up as Alex Morgan gets treatment as she is caught by two Canada players.
Swanson was alert and drives home a half-volley from the edge of the box. Nothing Sheridan could do about that one.
Horan fires a shot from inside the box but it fails to find a way through the wall of red shirts.
Canada on the ropes in the opening minutes with the USWNT pressing.
What a shot from Sanchez as she clips one on target but Sheridan is level to the challenge and tips over.
The US have really come out flying ... one way traffic at the moment.
The USA almost score as Horan heads on to Swanson and produces a fine stop from Sheridan in the Canada goal
All set as Katia Garcia our referee tonight sounds the whistle and off we go...
Players from both teams link arms and form a circle in the central area of the pitch.... Nice gesture !
What form will the Canada protest take ?
Kick-off just moments away....
A much bigger crowd now at the Exploria Stadium than we saw earlier for the Japan-Brazil game as night falls over Orlando.
Alex Morgan is on the pitch as she receives a special framed 200 caps shirt and is greeted by all her family. A great and fitting tribute for one of the greats of the game.
Canada will sport their classic red shirts and shorts tonight with the USWNT side in all blue... a bit of black and red on the shirts to be fair.
Special boots for 200 plus caps
Alex Morgan is rocking specially commissioned Nike boots tonight as she celebrates her 202nd US cap.
Alex Morgan will be honored prior to kickoff for earning her 200th career cap on 13 November, 2022, will captain the USA as she is set to earn her 202nd career cap.
Morgan, who is one of just six active players in women’s international soccer with 200 or more caps, scored her 120th international goal on Jan. 18 against New Zealand and is now just 10 goals away from tying her childhood idol Kristine Lilly on the USWNT’s all-time scoring charts.
Thirteen of Morgan’s 120 career goals have come since giving birth to her daughter Charlie in May of 2020, tied with Joy Fawcett for the most goals scored as mother in USWNT history.
After facing Canada today in Orlando, the US face Japan in the second game and close their campaign against the South American side.
Here's the full SheBelieves Cup 2023 schedule:
Matchday one, Orlando:
Thursday 16 February, 4pm ET: Japan vs Brazil
Thursday 16 February, 7pm ET: US vs Canada
Matchday two, Nashville:
Sunday 19 February, 3:30pm ET: US vs Japan
Sunday 19 February, 6:30pm ET: Brazil vs Canada
Matchday three, Frisco:
Wednesday 22 February, 4pm ET: Canada vs Japan
Wednesday 22 February, 7pm ET: US vs Brazil
Another show of solidarity from the USWNT, this time for the Trans community as the clock ticks down towards kick-off in Orlando.
The history of SheBelieves Cup
The SheBelieves Cup was first held in 2016 and has been played every year since then, usually in February or March. The tournament aims to promote gender equality in sports and inspire young women to pursue their dreams, both on and off the field.
Each team plays three games in a round-robin format, with the team that earns the most points declared the winner. The tournament has been held at various venues across the United States, including Red Bull Arena, Talen Energy Stadium, and Exploria Stadium.
The United States has won the SheBelieves Cup five times (2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022), while England and France have each won the tournament once (2019 and 2017, respectively). The tournament has featured some of the world’s best players, including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Lucy Bronze, and Marta Vieira da Silva.
Sinclair to earn 320th cap
Portland Thorns veteran midfielder Christine Sinclair will earn her 320th international cap for Les Rouges this evening.
The 39-year-old made her Canada debut in 2000.
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Canada’s national women’s team are battling with Canada Soccer for equal pay and USA star Megan Rapinoe wants immediate change.
Canada XI
The Canada XI ahead of tonight's game.
It's anticipated that the Canada side will show some form of protest to showcase their unhappiness about aspects of the Canadian FA's lack of funding for the women's team and also highlight the issue of equal pay.
Japan 0-1 Brazil
Brazil start their She Believes campaign with a slender 0-1 win over Japan.
Débora Cristiane de Oliveira aka Debinha getting the only goal of the game on the 72nd minute.
USWNT XI
Alex Morgan starts and captains the US team tonight as she earns her 202nd international cap for the US side.
Eight players in tonight’s starting lineup – Naeher, Cook, Sauerbrunn, Swanson, Horan, Morgan, Sullivan and Fox – also started in the last meeting against Canada at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship final in Monterrey, Mexico.
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Canada’s women’s national team are only taking part in the SheBelieves Cup tournament after the threat of legal action by Canada Soccer forced the players to drop a planned strike.
USA vs Canada preview
Canada
Beverly Priestman’s squad will make their second appearance in the competition, where they played their first game back in 2021 and finished in third position.
Sixth-ranked Canada played two friendlies against Brazil last November, winning the first 2-1 and losing the second match by the same scoreline.
Canada have had the better of the USA once in their more than a dozen clashes since 2008. That success came in 2021, with most of those players still available.
USA vs Canada preview
USA
The USWNT go into their opening match against Canada having won the last three SheBelieves Cups.
The Americans, the most successful team in the tournament, with five wins of the seven editions since its inception in 2016, defeated New Zealand last month.
Vlatko Andonovski’s squad won by a combined nine goals at matches at Eden Park in Auckland and Sky Stadium in Wellington.
The USA, who are also the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, beat Iceland in the SheBelieves Cup final last year.
The action at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida gets underway at 7pm (ET).
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the first game for the USWNT in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup as Vlatko Andonovski's side face Canada.