USWNT
USWNT tie with Colombia in first game of double-header
Striker Alex Morgan struck the post with a late first half penalty with teenager Jaedyn Shaw making her US international debut.
The US Women’s National Team and Colombia played out a goalless draw in Sandy (Utah) in the first game of two with both sides squaring off again on Sunday night in San Diego.
The game was a tight affair with both sides creating chances but the best chance of the night fell to Alex Morgan as she struck a 44th minute penalty off the woodwork.
The Colombian side came into the game riding a wave of confidence following their best-ever World Cup performance this past summer as they beat Germany on their way to progressing to the quarterfinals where they lost to eventual finalists England going down 2-1.
Trinity Rodman, Lynn Williams and Lindsey Horan all had first half chances to open the scoring for the home side ahead of Morgan’s missed spot kick.
The second half was a similar story with the US on top but unable to convert in the final third with Colombia goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo more than comfortable in dealing with any threat that came her way.
The best opportunity for the US came late in the second half as substitute Sophia Smith picked up the ball deep in added time and fired a left footed shot that was denied by the post before rebounding off Giraldo for a corner.
San Diego Wave striker Jaedyn Shaw came on in the 87th minute to make her USWNT with the 18-year-old hoping to get more match time at the home of her NWSL side as the USA and Colombia now head to San Diego for the second match in the double-header on Sunday night at Snapdragon Stadium which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT.