USA Vs. Mexico, 2011 International Friendly: Lauren Cheney Stunner Gives USWNT 1-0 Win

The United States didn’t put in a great performance this afternoon against Mexico, but thanks to a stunning stoppage time goal by substitute striker Lauren Cheney, they have avoided what would have been a slightly embarrassing 0-0 draw, defeating Mexico by a score of 1-0.

Cheney entered the game for Amy Rodriguez, who had a poor game, in the second half. Upon the entry of Alex Morgan into the game in the 75th minute, Cheney dropped to a withdrawn striker/attacking midfield position behind Morgan and Wambach, a role in which she was effective for the rest of the match. In the first minute of stoppage time, with the score tied up at 0-0, Cheney dribbled past her marker into space and took a shot from 25 yards out, putting an absolute laser into the back of the net.

The United States women’s national team has a 13-1 edge on Mexico in shots and holds a significant edge in possession. Despite that, they’re actually not playing very well at all, as they have squandered golden opportunities while also taking a number of poor, ill-advised shots. They’ve only hit the target three times and they’ve only seriously challenged the goalkeeper once, when Shannon Boxx had a header saved. As a result, the game is tied 0-0 at halftime.

Amy Rodriguez was particularly poor in the first half, squandering a couple of clear-cut goal scoring opportunities with poor shots that missed the target. Megan Rapinoe’s service from dead balls has been substandard, Amy LePeilbet has worked hard, but ultimately failed to provide great service from her new left back position, and the team as a whole has not done a good enough job of finding Heather O’Reilly and Abby Wambach in dangerous positions.

The lineups are out for the USWNT’s Women’s World Cup send-off game, and they are exactly as expected. Pia Sundhage varies her lineup less than just about any manager you’ll ever see. That fact, combined with the fact that it makes sense to try to build some chemistry with your starting XI ahead of a major competition, makes her team selection an understandable one, though most fans would probably like to see some different players. Here are the lineups for Mexico and the United States.

United States lineup: Solo; Buehler, Rampone, LePeilbet, Krieger; Rapinoe, Lloyd, Boxx, O’Reilly; Wambach, Rodriguez

The United States are heading to Germany for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but not before they get a proper send-off. They couldn’t find a much better stage an opponent, as they face off against fellow World Cup qualifiers Mexico, who upset them in Cancun at the Gold Cup, at beautiful Red Bull Arena, arguably the best soccer-specific venue in the United States.

Pia Sundhage has set her full roster for the World Cup, naming Kelley O’Hara as Lindsay Tarpley’s replacement. Tarpley tore her ACL in a friendly match in the build-up to the world cup. O’Hara is similarly talented but is a completely different type of player; one who relies on her pace more than anything. Since she’s just recently been named to the squad, Sundhage will likely want to give her some time out on the wing.