CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The USWNT took down Korea Republic by a score of 2-0 on Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium. With over 30,000 in attendance for the match, the stadium was full of energy.
“It was a great crowd,” Crystal Dunn said. “It is special being so close to Raleigh, Cary area that we play in and North Carolina has been a home for me. Going to college there and playing professionally there. It was really special to have this game here tonight.”
Among the starters were two NC Courage defenders, Crystal Dunn and Abby Dahlkemper, and Jessica McDonald also made a second-half appearance after being subbed on in the 78th minute. The fourth and final Courage player on the current USWNT roster, Samantha Mewis, missed the game through injury.
Dahlkemper nearly grabbed a wonderful goal very early in the game. The center back was forward for a freekick and when the clearance fell to her at the edge of the box, she struck it wonderfully on the volley. The volley was blocked by a defender and fell perfectly to Julie Ertz but the midfielder’s shot hit the post.
“I was hoping it was going in,” Dahlkemper said. “There was a lot of bodies in front so I was just trying to make contact on it, but it almost ended up being a goal.”
The first half was a lackluster affair offensively but with Dahlkemper’s chance and Dunn making runs up the left-wing, the two Courage players had a solid first half. The two defenders also helped to hold Korea to just two shots during the first 45.
The lone goal in the half came during stoppage time as midfielder Allie Long connected with forward Megan Rapinoe’s freekick to give the U.S. the lead going into the half. The duo both play their club soccer for NWSL side Reign FC who, with just one game left in the NWSL season, looks likely to be the Courage’s first-round playoff opponents.
Dunn was one of two changes made at the start of the second half by head coach Jill Ellis with the Courage player being replaced by Chicago Red Stars defender Tierna Davidson. Long was also substituted out at the half for Christen Press.
McDonald was brought on as Ellis’ fourth sub with the forward replacing Rapinoe in the 78th minute. During her short cameo, McDonald looked solid and she almost scored in the 85th minute. A nice give and go got the forward in on goal but her shot from an awkward angle went right to the keeper’s hands.
Just before McDonald entered the game, Mallory Pugh made it two for the U.S., heading home a corner from just inside the 6-yard box as the forward was left unmarked.
Dahlkemper continued her solid defensive day in the second half, holding Korea Republic to just three shots across the 90. What was not accounted for statistically however, was her excellence in playing out of the back. Dahlkemper’s ability to ping a long diagonal ball out of the back is well known by now and it was on show in Charlotte.
The best example of Dahlkemper’s passing ability came in the first half when she launched a cross-field ball to Dunn on the opposite flank.
“I think this team, the U.S. team, has played together for so long this year in so many games,” Dahlkemper said. “We spend a lot of time together throughout the year so I think when you step back on the field you just kind of know your teammate’s tendencies.”
While there were four Courage players on the roster, a fifth also made an appearance at the match with defender Heather O’Reilly working as a pundit on the live broadcast. A role she also had during the World Cup over the summer.
US Women’s National Team forward Jessica McDonald hits a half-volley at Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Minjung on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. USWNT beat Korea Republic 2-0.
