United States overcomes France 1-0 in front of 9,799 drenched fans in Tampa
On a soggy wet Tampa evening in front of 9,799 fans, the U.S. Women’s National Team defeated France through a Sydney Leroux goal (pictured above) in the 21st minute. The only goal of the match gave Jill Ellis, the new US Head Coach a winning start and gives the USA a record of 14-0-1 over France.
It was an evening of landmarks as Lauren Holiday (pictured above center with Christie Rampone – left and Head Coach Jill Ellis – right) was made captain in her 100th appearance in the red, white and blue, while Goalkeeper Hope Solo tied the U.S. Women’s National Team shutout record and the 71st of her international career.
The match, delayed through inclement weather for approximately 30 minutes and the first of back to back friendlies between the two nations, started with the US on the ascent as the French largely relied on hitting the US on the break through the speedy Eugenie Le Sommer.
The only goal of the game came in the 21st minute as Carli Lloyd found Christen Press who, in turn, flicked the ball onto Sydney Leroux on the left flank. Leroux battled her way through French defenders Jessica Houara and Laura Georges before slipping the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi and into the empty net. It was Leroux’s seventh goal of 2014 and saw her move ahead of Brandi Chastain on the all time scoring list.
Before that, the French had the first chance of the game in the 8th minute as Elodie Thomas raced past the USA defence and forced Solo into a fine save at the near post to keep the game even.
Even after their goal, the US were always vulnerable to the French counter attack and Eugenie Le Sommer really should have tied things up, fifteen minutes before the break, as she raced through one on one only to see her shot beat Solo and cannon off the post for a goal kick.
The second half saw the French completely come out of their shell and they piled the pressure onto the US goal. They created several half chances but were a touch unfortunate not to find the net as Marina Makanza, Laura Georges and Laetitia Tonazzi all went close.
The US, meantime, were happy with the win and they now move onto the second game in the series in Connecticut on 19th June.
“It’s an amazing moment,” Solo (pictured above) said after the game, “It goes down in history. I’m happy it was against a great team. I earned it. I had a couple saves. That’s going to go down as a very memorable game for me.”
“We just played a tremendous opponent, so it’s very meaningful,” said a satisfied Ellis, “France put the pedal down, but I thought we defended very well.”
Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo, 2-Sydney Leroux (9-Heather O’Reilly, 66), 3-Christie Rampone, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 10-Carli Lloyd, 11-Ali Krieger, 12-Lauren Holiday (capt.), 14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Allie Long, 17-Tobin Heath (13-Alex Morgan, 49), 23-Christen Press
Subs Not Used: 6-Whitney Engen, 7-Morgan Brian, 8-Amy Rodriguez, 16-Rachel Van Hollebeke, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Head Coach: Jill Ellis
FRA: 3-Laure Boulleau, 4-Laura Georges, 5-Sabrina Delannoy, 6-Amandine Henry, 8-Jessica Houara, 9-Eugenie Le Sommer (11-Laetitia Tonazzi, 80), 10-Camille Abily (15-Elise Bussaglia, 75), 12-Elodie Thomis (19-Marina Makanza, 54), 14-Louisa Necib, 16-Sarah Bouhaddi, 18-Marie Laure Delie (17-Gaetane Thiney, 68)
Subs Not Used: 1-Celine Deville, 7-Viviane Asseyi, 13-Pauline Crammer, , 20-Anaig Butel, 21-Laetitia Phiippe, 22-Amel Hamraoui, 23-Kheria Hamraoui, 24-Julie Soyer, 25-Ines Jurena
Head Coach: Philippe Bergeroo
Budweiser Woman of the Match: Christie Rampone
More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
