USWNT 1, South Korea 1: Victory Tour Recap

Starting XI: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 26-Casey Short, 12-Tierna Davidson, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Crystal Dunn; 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 17-Tobin Heath, 23-Christen Press, 15-Megan Rapinoe

The United States women’s national team played their second match against South Korea in Chicago. The final victory tour match celebrating the national team’s 2019 World Cup championship. The game also served as a final farewell to the team’s head coach, Jill Ellis, who leaves the national team program with 132 matches, 106 wins, and two World Cup championships.

The hometown crowd got the opportunity to see all their local Chicago Red Stars in action, as Morgan Brian was also available for selection off the bench in this match.

The U.S. almost linked up for goal in the opening minutes with play between Ertz and Lloyd, but the play was ruled offside. During the 11th minute, later a lovely bit of give and go between Short and Heath found Lavelle with an opportunity in the box but her shot went just over the bar.

South Korea would press the U.S. this match and find themselves with opportunities on goal in the first half as well, their best coming in the 20th minute before the backline, led by Sauerbrunn, would clear any danger from the attack.

Ertz would respond when in the 25th minute had the ball at her feet and her shot deflected off the post, the follow-up from Dunn would be wide and out for a goal kick.

The opening goal would come from South Korea in the 34th minute as the backline failed to close down on Ji Soyun, and the U.S. trailed 0-1. However the lead would be short lived, as Carli Lloyd immediately equalized in the 37th minute off a corner kick served by Megan Rapinoe.

As the match opened up, South Korea would answer back in the 38th minute with another from attempt on goal by Ji Soyun, but Naeher was there with the save, and ultimately the two teams played even until the halftime whistle.

The U.S. made two substitutions at the half, brining on Pugh, Dahlkemper, and Brian for Rapinoe, Dunn, and Lavelle.

The physical matchup would continue well into the second half with both teams vying for position and making multiple offensive runs, which possibly made for additional substitutions in the 59th minute as we saw both Long and Sullivan sub on for Ertz and Heath.

Lloyd would keep up her active game, with and endline run and a cross into the box during the 65th minute, however no one was able to make an alternate run to finish the opportunity.

Some choppy play, to go along with multiple stoppages of play, led the match to the 80th minute where after winning a free kick, Short was subbed off to bring on McDonald for an additional offensive look as the game was deadlocked at 1-1. After the free kick, South Korea’s Son Hwayeon was issued a Red Card for time wasting, and the U.S. would play with a player advantage.

A potential game changing moment in 89th minute where Press was able to head a ball over to an open Pugh in the box, who could not finish the chance. There was a final attempt from Lloyd - who would connect on goal in stoppage time - but the goal was disallowed due to being offside.

One final service from Alyssa Naeher into the box would see another chance on goal go off the post, and at full time the U.S. would see this game out in a 1-1 draw.

The victory tour ends for the U.S. women’s national team with a final farewell for Jill Ellis, and they now look ahead to eventually welcoming a new head coach - and preparing for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.