U.S. women beat France in tuneup
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan scored and the U.S. women’s national soccer team beat host France 2-0 in an exhibition, extending its unbeaten streak to 39 games, dating to January 2019 when the Americans fell to France.
“We had a good showing and it’s always nice to get on the score sheet against France,” Morgan said.
Rapinoe scored on a penalty kick in the fifth minute. She leads the team with seven goals in seven matches this year. Morgan made it 2-0 with her 109th career goal in the 19th minute.
Morgan credited her preseason training with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Orlando Pride for helping her return to top form after the birth of her daughter last year as well as a bout with COVID-19.
Rapinoe scored twice against the French in a 2-1 quarterfinal win at the 2019 World Cup, and the U.S. went on to win its second straight title. France had not lost a match since then.
France was missing some of its top players, including Wendie Renard, Amandine Henry and Dephine Cascario, because of a coronavirus outbreak on that trio’s club team, Lyon.
The top-ranked Americans were coming off a 1-1 draw against Sweden on Saturday that ended a 16game winning streak.
This year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final will be played Aug. 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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