International Match Update: March 2020

OL Reign internationals were in action over the last ten days in matches in Asia, Europe and the USA.

Forward Megan Rapinoe scored the opening goal Wednesday night, helping the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 3-1 win over Japan to win the 2020 SheBelieves Cup.

The victory was the third for the United States in the five-year history of the tournament.

Rapinoe’s goal came in the seventh minute, when the forward curled a free kick to the upper left corner of the net from 23 yards out. Christen Press added the game-winning goal in the 23rd minute, with Lindsay Horan scoring one in the 83rd to put the result out of doubt.

Earlier in the tournament Rapinoe subbed on for Christen Press in the 62nd minute of the U.S. WNT’s 2-0 win over England on March 5. The forward also started and played 67 minutes against Spain, before making way for Press in a 1-0 win.

Meanwhile, OL Reign defender Steph Catley and the Australian women’s national team qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games with a 7-1 victory over Vietnam on aggregate.

Catley and Australia put themselves in position to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games by defeating Vietnam 5-0 in the home leg of the playoff round on March 5. Catley played the full 90 minutes, assisting on the Matildas’ third goal of the match. Catley went the full 90 in the return leg as well, assisting on Sam Kerr’s opening goal as Australia cruised to victory.

Rebecca Quinn started and played the full 90 for Canada in a 1-0 loss to France at the Tournoi de France on March 4. Quinn did not play in Canada’s scoreless draw with the Netherlands three days later. Quinn also got the start as Canada closed out the tournament with a 2-2 draw against Brazil on March 10 to finish in third place.

Rosie White started and helped New Zealand edge Belgium 7-6 on penalties at the Algarve Cup in Portugal on March 4. The Football Ferns fell to Italy 3-0 in the semifinal on Saturday, before losing the third-place match 2-1 to Norway on March 10.