11′ Good effort! O’Hara with an excellent cross from the right wing and Mewis sprints onto the end of it, but she drills her shot high over the crossbar, just couldn’t keep it down.
10′ USA have lost just once in 21 Group Stage matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup (W17 D3), losing 1-2 to Sweden in their final group game in 2011.
8′ The United States are continuing to press forward, with Thailand struggling to get a touch on the ball, but they are managing to keep their opponents out of the final third so far.
6′ GOAL RULED OUT! USA have the ball in the back of the net, after Morgan taps the ball in from close range following a header by Horan. However, the striker is just offside as she strikes the ball. Although it looks like the ball was heading in without the touch and if Morgan had left it, it would’ve been a valid goal.
4′ Good block! Lavelle plays a quick one-two with Heath down the right wing and then sprints into the box, cuts inside and tries to curl the ball into the top corner, but it’s well blocked by Chinwong.
3′ Early pressure here by the United Stataes, as expected they are dominating possession and are piling players forward already. Thailand have everyone back behind the ball.
1′ We’re underway!
The teams are out on the pitch and the anthems are underway, kick-off is just a few minutes away. Stay tuned for all of the match action!
The hat-trick hero Lloyd is on the bench for the World Champions tonight, with Morgan leading the line. Jill Ellis has made just one change to the side the beat Mexico in their final warm-up game, with Horan replacing Sauerbrunn as they line-up in a 4-3-3 formation. Meanwhile Thailand appear to be starting in a 4-5-1 formation, with Nildamrong as the lone striker.
THAILAND SUBS: Pitsamai Somsai, Saowalak Pengngam, Pornpirun Philawan, Pikul Khueanpet, Taneekarn Dangda, Orathai Srimanee, Sudarat Chuchuen, Waraporn Boonsing, Tiffamy Sornpao, Khwanrudi Saengchan, Orapin Waen-Ngoen, Duangnapa Sritala.
THAILAND (4-5-1): Sukanya Chor-Charoenying; Warunee Phetwiset,, Natthakarn Chinwong, Kanjanaporn Saenkhun, Sunisa Srangthaisong; Rattikan Thongsombut, Silawan Intamee, Ainon Phancha, Wilaiporn Boothduang, Kanjana Sung-Ngoen; Suchawadee Nildamrong.
USA SUBS: Morgan Brian, Jessica McDonald, Adrianna Franch, Carli Lloyd, Tierna Davidson, Allie Long, Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Press, Ashlyn Harris, Emily Sonnett, Mallory Pugh, Ali Krieger.
USA (4-3-3): Alyssa Naeher; Kelley O’Hara, Julie Ertz, Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn; Lindsay Horan, Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle; Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath.
Thailand qualified for their second World Cup after reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 Asia Cup. They lost on penalties to Australia in the semi-final.
The defending champions kick their World Cup campaign off today, the last opening match of the group stages. The United States come into the tournament in good form and are classed as favourites due to their record in this tournament, as they’ve never finished lower than third and have won a record three tournaments.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE match commentary of the Group F Women’s World Cup clash between the United States and Thailand.
Be the first to comment