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Morgan Scores Stunner, U.S. Downs Germany, 2-1, to Win SheBelieves Cup
Alex Morgan scored a spectacular goal and Samantha Mewis got the game winner as the United States Women’s National Team came from behind to beat Germany, 2-1, and win the 2016 SheBelieves Cup.
The crowd of 13,501 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton got quite the show in first half with end-to-end action. Carli Lloyd almost opened the scoring in the very first minute but she dragged her shot wide at the end of a lengthy solo run down the field. Morgan followed that up with a miss of her own a few minutes later and Christen Press, getting a rare start, had a shot from inside the box saved just moments after that.
But it was the Germans who opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Anja Mittag ripped a low shot from 22 yards out and beat a diving Hope Solo to her near post, who will probably think she could have done better. The goal was the first given up by the Americans in 2016. All Germany needed was a tie in order to win the cup, but six minutes after the first goal the Americans were even thanks to a stunner by Morgan.
A long ball from Meghan Klingenberg found Morgan at the top of the 18-yard box, and the Orlando Pride star controlled the pass, flipped the ball over a German defender and fired home off the volley from close range to level the score. Morgan has scored in back-to-back games now and leads all U.S. players in goals this year with eight. Here's the beautiful finish from Morgan:
— John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) March 10, 2016
In the 41st minute, the Yanks had the lead. Samantha Mewis, one of five players in the starting lineup who were not in the starting lineup against France, took a shot from just outside the 18 that was deflected and slid into the back of the net. From there, the U.S. hung on in the second half, where neither team were able to create many opportunities and clinched the Cup.
Morgan won the tournament's Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards, while Solo took home the Golden Glove. Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was an unused sub.
Next up for the U.S. is a friendly with Colombia next month.