Mexico no match in 2010 home opener

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Mar 28, 2010

[U.S. WOMEN] Forward Amy Rodriguez scored her first international goal in more than a year and a half, and Shannon Boxx and Lauren Cheney added goals on either side of halftime for the USA in a 3-0 win over Mexico Sunday at the University of San Diego's Torero Stadium.

The match marked the return of U.S. star Kristine Lilly, who extended her world record for international games played to 343 when she came on for Yael Averbuch in the 32nd minute. Lilly becomes the first player in U.S. history, and likely in world history, to play for her country in four different decades.

The Americans outshot Mexico, 21-2, in their 2010 home opener. Amy LePeilbet was outstanding on the U.S. backline that limited Mexico to a single shot in each half and no shots on goal.

“The game today showed that we need to change the point of attack more often and be more dangerous,” said U.S. coach Pia Sundhage. “I think we did a better job in the second half. We made a change in the second half and I thought when we had Lori Lindsey in the midfield and Cheney keeping the ball up top that gives us options. That’s good and fun to coach because I have different qualities on the bench that can bring out something different on the field.”

The U.S. concludes the two-game series against Mexico on Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah (TV: ESPN2, live, 9 pm ET).


March 28 in San Diego
USA 3 Mexico 0. Goal: Rodriguez 12, Boxx 43, Cheney 72.
USA -- Solo, Whitehill, Buehler, LePeilbet, Schnur (Cox, 77), O’Reilly (O’Hara, 63), Boxx, Lloyd (Lindsey, 46), Averbuch (Lilly, 32), Rodriguez (Cheney, 46), Wambach.
Mexico -- Tajonar, Villalpando,Garciamendez, Diaz, Saucedo (Vergara, 78); Worbis (Vinti, 84), Rangel (Cuellar, 46), Godoy (Ocampo, 38); Dominguez (Castillo, 58), Perez, Garza (Garcia, 80).         
Referee: Kari Seitz (USA)
Att.: 3,069.