Sophia Smith scored twice in the second half as the US women’s national team beat Colombia 3-0 on Saturday night to extend their home unbeaten run to 68 games.
Taylor Kournick scored a late goal while making his national team debut.
On Tuesday night, the teams will meet again in Sandy, Utah, as the United States prepares for World Cup qualifying at the CONCACAF W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico next month. The United States is a two-time defending World Cup champion.
Smith scored her first goal from Rose Lavelle in the 54th minute when Colombian goalkeeper Catalina Perez was out on her own. He scored the second goal in the 60th minute.
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Smith has six international goals, playing for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Football League.
Perez saved two penalties. She blocked Lindsay Horan’s effort late in the first half and then saved LaValle’s chance in the 70th.
All eyes were on the team to see if they would hold any mass demonstrations on the field to back Friday’s Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade. Instead, US Soccer issued a statement ahead of the game.
“As our women’s national team represents America on the field in Colorado today, this opportunity serves as a reminder of the rights and freedoms that women and their allies fought for, earned and deserved,” the statement said. ” “The Supreme Court judgment on June 24 is against the promised freedoms as a nation and as a people. US soccer will advocate at every opportunity for human rights, including the right to make individual health decisions, because there is no equality without physical autonomy.
Megan Rapinoe filed an impassioned petition for abortion rights on Friday in the wake of the High Court ruling.
He was asked about the upcoming game in Utah, in which he said that the team would not refuse to play. Utah had a trigger law that made all elective abortions illegal when the High Court ruled. Utah law has exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest, and also for women whose health would be compromised.
“I think, as you guys have seen, the most powerful thing that we can always do is to show off and not only express our supreme skill and talent and happiness on the field but to be able to get that platform, Rapinoe said.
Ashley Hatch starts on the front, flanked by Mallory Pugh and Smith. Hatch replaced Katrina Macario, who tore the ACL while playing for her club team, Lyon in France. Veterans Rapinoe and Alex Morgan started on the bench.
Morgan replaced Hatch in the half and Rapinoe entered the game with loud cheers for about 15 minutes.
Colombia is hoping to secure one of CONMEBOL’s places in the 2023 World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Colombia, ranked 28th in the world, missed out on the 2019 World Cup.
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