O’Hara Scores, USWNT Sweeps Colombia In Front Of Roaring Utah Crowd

SALT LAKE CITY – The U.S. Women’s National Team secured their second victory in four days against Colombia, the 28th-ranked nation in the world, beating them 2-0 in front of a noisy Rio Tinto Stadium crowd.

After annihilating Colombia in Colorado 3-0 on Saturday evening, the US dominated proceedings in a similar fashion again at Rio Tinto Stadium. Colombia only managed 2 shots on target while the USA managed five shots on goal and dominated 64 percent of the possession.

However, manager Vlatko Andonovski opted to play BYU alumn Ashley Hatch on the bench while former Utah Royal stars Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O’Hara joined Hatch on the sidelines to start the fixture. All three started the contest in Colombia.

Notably, US left-back Carson Pickett became the first player with a limb difference to play in a USWNT game. Pickett was joined by the likes of Megan, Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, and Rose Lavelle in the starting XI.

.@Cars_Pickett16 is the FIRST player with a limb difference to play in a USWNT game! #ThatsaW pic.twitter.com/wjlnubWfgc

— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2022

The opening half was filled with multiple chances for the US and they finally made the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Sofia Huerta whipped in a cross from the right-back position that glanced off the head of Colombia defender Manuela Vanegas and past goalkeeper Catalina Pérez for an own goal.

An own goal from Colombia puts the #USWNT in front‼️ pic.twitter.com/Zo3PPc4ZUM

— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2022

Striker Alex Morgan came within inches of doubling the lead deep into the first half when her volley ricocheted off the bar. However, she was ruled offside by the line judge so the goal would likely not have counted.

The second half began with Colombia turning the fixture into a track meet. The Colombians came incredibly close to equalizing in the 55th minute when Colombian number 10 Leicy Santos forced US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to make a fingertip save diving to her top left corner of the net.

🧱 NOTHING PAST NAEHER 🧱 pic.twitter.com/PaQI0yHVQP

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 29, 2022

The local crowd erupted in the 71st minute when BYU alumn Ashley Hatch and former Utah Royal Kelley O’Hara came off the bench. Hatch received her 10th cap for the national team while O’Hara trotted out for her 154th appearance wearing the stripes.

The play was stopped in the 76th minute due to severe weather being in the vicinity of Rio Tinto Stadium. Shortly after the stop in play, rain, lightning, and thunder burrowed down on the brave patrons willing to withstand the weather.

After a 38-minute delay, both teams made their way back onto the pitch for a 12-minute warmup.

Two minutes after play resumed, local favorite Kelley O’Hara found a pocket of space inside the 18-yard box and rifled a volley into the bottom left corner of the net sending the fans who remained into a frenzy. The goal was just O’Hara’s third international goal of her career. It marked her second goal at Rio Tinto Stadium following her lone Royals goal on May 5, 2018, against Washington Spirit.

The USWNT last lost a game on January 19, 2019, when they were beaten 3-1 in a friendly against France. The victory against Colombia at Rio Tinto marked their 44th consecutive game without a loss.

Next Match

The USWNT will next travel to Estadio Universitario for a CONCACAF Women’s Championship encounter with Haiti on July 4.

Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Follow @TomCantHackett