Horan scores, Dunn assists in USWNT’s 4-0 win vs. Mexico

Lindsey Horan scored the first goal and Crystal Dunn assisted the second in the USWNT’s 4-0 win over Mexico in East Hartford, CT.

Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan, and Becky Sauerbrunn started in the USWNT’s last match before leaving for Tokyo. Adrianna Franch did not feature.

The U.S. started quickly and in her 98th cap, Lindsey Horan opened the scoring with a well-struck volley. Kelley O’Hara launched a ball to Carli Lloyd. who nodded the ball into the path of Horan. Horan, who was playing as a duel number nine to start the match, put her laces through the ball and gave the U.S. the lead inside six minutes.

After the goal, Horan dropped back into the defensive midfield position. Carli Lloyd scored the U.S.’s second goal in the 11th minute. Sam Mewis played Dunn down the left flank and Dunn played a first time cross to the head of the diving Lloyd.

The U.S. suffocated Mexico and had plenty of opportunities to add to their advantage. The U.S. put together a beautiful passage of play that culminated in Tobin Heath assisting Christen Press but the goal was wrongly ruled off for offside.

The USWNT would double their advantage as the half progressed. Heath launched a shot that was tipped off the bar and bundled over by Christen Press with the help of Mexican defender Reyna Reyes. Reyes was credited with an own goal.

In the 39th minute, Heath scored her second goal in as many games. S. Mewis won the ball in the final third and drove into the penalty area. She played the ball to Heath, who curled it into the bottom corner of the net.

The U.S. brought on Megan Rapinoe, Kristie Mewis and Alex Morgan at halftime for Rose Lavelle, Heath and Lloyd. Rapinoe’s 50th-minute free kick skipped off of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Dunn was replaced by Emily Sonnett in the 68th minute and Horan was subbed out the 80th minute.

The U.S. continued to dominate Mexico but the intensity dropped. The team had a lot of sustained possession but the chance creation and the goal scoring slowed. But as the match neared the 80-minute mark, the U.S. created more. Substitute Catarina Macario played Morgan through on goal and was denied from point blank range. Megan Rapinoe fired a shot of her own but it was tame.

The USWNT play Sweden on July 21 at 1:30 a.m. PST in Tokyo as they start their Olympic campaign.