US women cruise to win over Ireland in Pasadena

PASADENA: The US women’s soccer team cruised to a 3-0 win over Ireland in Pasadena on Saturday in their first match on home soil since claiming back-to-back World Cup titles in France last month.

The team’s “Victory Tour” got off to a winning start when Christen Press sent a high-arcing pass to Tobin Heath, whose header found the back of the net in the 16th minute.

Lindsey Horan doubled the advantage 15 minutes later and Carli Lloyd scored through a header from distance before the break to put the game out of Ireland’s reach.

The US are still riding high ater defeating the Netherlands 2-0 last month to claim their fourth World Cup title and said their match at the Rose Bowl, where the team won their second world title 20 years ago, was special.

“This is such a historic place and it has such memories for the US Women’s National Team,” said defender Becky Sauerbrunn.

“We’re just so thankful to get to celebrate with everyone who supported us in France. “This is a great night.”

Departing head coach Jill Ellis announced her decision on Tuesday to walk away as the first two-time women’s World Cup champion coach, and this win improved her record to 103-7-18 in the US’ top job since 2014. The Americans’ new boss will have a compressed time frame to prepare the team for the Tokyo Olympic tournament, which will be in the semi-finals at this time next year.

“I just felt the timing was right,” Ellis said Friday. “The timing is right for whoever the new coach is. The timing was right for me on a personal level with my family.”

But nearly four weeks ater their World Cupclinching victory over the Netherlands, the Americans showed off the ample two-way talent with which their new coach can work.

With an enthusiastic crowd of 37,040 cheering their every move, they had litle trouble with Ireland, FIFA’S 33rd-ranked side.

Late in the scoreless second half, that crowd started a loud chant of “Equal pay! Equal pay!” Players on the women’s team sued the US Soccer Federation in March, alleging gender discrimination in areas including financial compensation.

Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan missed the game while healing from minor injuries, and Mallory Pugh was scratched during warmups with a minor muscle issue. Rapinoe, the Golden Ball winner in France, and Morgan got wild cheers whenever they were shown on the scoreboard siting on the U.S. bench.