San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan and defender Naomi Girma helped the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 1-1 draw Wednesday against the Netherlands in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In the hunt to earn the United State’s fifth title, the USA and Netherlands faced off at Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand.
Both Morgan and Girma started and played all 90 minutes for the USA as the team continued its quest for a third consecutive World Cup trophy.
In the 17th minute, the Netherlands opened the scoring after the USA’s failed clearance landed at the feet of the opposing side, and Jill Roord finished her shot just inside the box.
The Netherlands held onto their lead for the remainder of the half, while the USWNT went into halftime trailing for the first time in a World Cup match since 2011.
The USA played down a goal until the 62nd minute when co-captain Lindsey Horan found the equalizer off of a corner kick from midfielder Rose Lavelle, which she finished with a powerful header past the Netherlands keeper.
Horan’s goal came shortly after she got into a shouting, finger-pointing incident with Netherland’s Daniëlle van de Donk. The women hugged after the match.
Rose Lavelle was the only half-time substitute of the match. A corner kick by Lavelle preceded Horan’s goal.
Morgan nearly recorded a goal of her own in the 67th minute, but the goal was called offside. Wednesday’s World Cup match marks Alex Morgan’s 209th career appearance for the USWNT.
Wednesday’s match also marks Wave defender Girma’s 18th international appearance and 16th career start overall for the USA.
Girma, who played every minute for the USA at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, has played the full 90 minutes in 12 of her 17 career appearances for the USA since earning her first cap in April 2022.
The latest draw put the USA in first place in Group E with 4 points thus far in the tournament as they look toward facing Portugal at midnight Pacific time Tuesday.
The Wave will host a midnight watch party in collaboration with San Diego’s American Outlaws at O’Brien’s Pub in Convoy to cheer on the USWNT as they close out their group stage in the World Cup.
Meanwhile San Diego Wave FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and the Canadian Women’s National Team earned a 2-1 comeback victory over the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday morning. With the result, Canada now is at the top of the table in Group B.