USA-Portugal: Morgan, Rapinoe, Lavelle out for Victory Tour match
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 29, 2019
The U.S. women's national team will set an
attendance record for the largest crowd to watch it play in a stand-alone friendly on Thursday night.
A crowd of upwards of 50,000 will be on hand for the second game of the Victory Tour
when the USA plays Portugal at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, but stars Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle will be unavailable.
Rapinoe has not
played since scoring for the USA in its 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup final with an Achilles injury. Morgan and Lavelle are under concussion protocol.
Also out
will be backup right back Ali Krieger because of personal reasons.
With the depleted squad, Chicago Red Stars defender Casey Short and North Carolina Courage forward
Kristen Hamilton have been added to the roster for the two games against Portugal. The second game is Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the 19,400-seat Allianz Field virtually sold
out before tickets went on sale to the public.
The game will be a homecoming of sorts for two U.S. stars. Carli Lloyd grew up in nearby Delran, New Jersey. Julie Ertz is the
wife of Eagles star Zach Ertz and will be using her husband's locker at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles.
Crowd
Count. The crowd in Philadelphia will be just the second stand-alone friendly in U.S. women's history with more than 40,000 fans. The previous record was set during the first match of the
2015 Victory Tour when 44,028 fans came out to Heinz Field, home of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, to watch the USA defeat Costa Rica 8-0.
U.S. Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).
DEFENDERS
(7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage), Kelley O'Hara (Utah Royals), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars),
Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns).
MIDFIELDERS (5): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC),
Samantha Mewis (NC Courage).
FORWARDS (6): Kristen Hamilton (NC Courage), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Christen Press (Utah
Royals), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit).
None should play. They are lining the Pockets of the Federation that refuses to pay them fairly. Why enrich those you are suing?
They should play. Doing so is taking the high road and will help enhance the overall value and popularity of the women's game and thus help their cause.
That’s right Bill, build that $ war chest for the Federation. That way, they can hire more lobbyists to fight against equal pay!
Awkward for the new players who didn't even go to the WC. Do they not walk out with the "real" WC team?
Those who play or are even on the bench get paid.