USWNT vs. New Zealand: Team USA scores 5 goals in friendly

USA blanks New Zealand 5-0 in final friendly to close out January camps

The United States women's national team completed a sweep in their two-game series against New Zealand on Friday, closing out the January camp window with a 5-0 win against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.

Ashley Hatch, Mallory Swanson, Rose Lavelle, and Taylor Kornieck scored goals in the victory. 

Friday's match was a better 90-minute performance by the U.S. after the slow opening half against New Zealand on Tuesday. The coaching staff continued to take a closer look at the middle third, making some slight adjustments as Lindsey Horan was unavailable. Horan returned to France with her club team Olympique Lyon, and Lavelle got the start in the midfield with Andi Sullivan and Ashley Sanchez.

The team ended their first half with two goals and extended the scoreline over the second half. The scoring opportunities are reflective of the creativity, athleticism and technical ability of the team. The clean sheet by the defense means the game-winner goes to Hatch, who scored the opening goal after an effective build along the left side between Crystal Dunn, Sanchez, and Trinity Rodman who delivered the assist on Hatch's goal. 

Let's take a look at the top performers in the match:

Top performers

Rose Lavelle: With the late scratch to Morgan, the captain's armband passed to Lavelle. She led the way on the pitch, often playing lower in an attacking-mid role as a No. 8 at times. She scored two goals and recorded one assist. 

Mallory Swanson: Playing out on the right side, Swanson provided a constant threat as both a linking player and making endless alternate runs into the box when off the ball. She scored a goal in the second half. 

Trinity Rodman: The winger earned the start after a great second-half appearance off the bench on Tuesday. She provided a level of selfless play for the team and constantly looked for passes into the box. 

What's next

The team is now on a two-game win streak to begin its 2023 campaign. The group will have another test in February in the SheBelieves Cup. The USWNT will host Brazil, Canada, and Japan on home soil. 

[Jan 20, 2023 at 8:56 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Starting lineup for USWNT

The Starting XI has dropped. Looks like a swap in net and Casey Murphy will handle the goalkeeping tonight. Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman earn the start after their massive impact off the bench in the second half on Tuesday.  Expect a midfield with Sullivan, Sanchez, and Lavelle with Swanson, Morgan, and Rodman on the top line. 

Starting XI: 18-Casey Murphy; 2-Ashley Sanchez, 3-Alana Cook, 8-Sofia Huerta, 9-Mallory Swanson, 12-Naomi Girma, 13-Alex Morgan (Capt.), 16-Rose Lavelle, 17-Andi Sullivan, 19-Crystal Dunn, 25-Trinity Rodman

Available Subs: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Hailie Mace, 6-Lynn Williams, 7-Ashley Hatch, 11-Midge Purce, 14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Sam Coffey, 20-Taylor Kornieck, 21-Adrianna Franch, 22-Kristie Mewis, 23-Emily Fox

[Jan 20, 2023 at 11:25 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Potential subs

We've approached the hour mark and there are players getting ready to sub in looks like Mewis, Williams, and Kornieck.

[Jan 20, 2023 at 11:20 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

GOAL: SWANSON

53' Emily Fox making her presence known after subbing in for Dunn at halftime. Fox is quickly into the final third and sends in a cross out wide from the left. The ball ping-pongs inside the six and ultimately lands to Swanson who punches it through into goal. It's her third goal in two matches against New Zealand. 3-0, USA. 

[Jan 20, 2023 at 11:16 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

MISS: HATCH

49' Sonnett making an impact in the game off the bench at halftime, threads a long all through to Sanchez. Sanchez feeds the ball to Swanson out wide and she times a cross into the box with Hatch and Rodman on alternate runs. Hatch is there to make contact but misses the near open net as she redirects the ball wide. 

[Jan 20, 2023 at 10:51 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

GOAL: ROSE LAVELLE

39' Sofia Huerta delivers a rainbow of a pass from deep out wide. Lavelle times her run and connects with a left-footed volley to make it 2-0 as the game inches near halftime. 

[Jan 20, 2023 at 10:34 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

CHANCE: USA

27' The USWNT are attacking in waves and Swanson dribbles the ball into the box near the endline, the collapsing defense leaves space around for Sanchez and Swanson provides a pass on a cut back, but Nayler streches out makes a stop on the shot by Sanchez.

[Jan 20, 2023 at 10:31 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

GOAL: ASHLEY HATCH

22' It's Hatch with the opening goal. Trinity Rodman provided the assist after receiving the ball from Sanchez. Rodman sends a good ball into the box toward Hatch and Swanson who are making alternate runs into the box. The bending ball in freezes the keeper with two attackers in the box, and Hatch is there first to bend the ball into the net for goal. 1-0, USA.