The U.S. women’s national team blanked the Republic of Ireland on Saturday in its first of two head-to-head friendlies this April.
Emily Fox delivered the winning goal for the Americans before Lindsey Horan’s second-half penalty kick iced a 2-0 home victory. Although the USWNT continued its winning start to 2023, key attacker Mallory Swanson left the match with an apparent knee injury at Q2 Stadium.
Swanson left the match on a stretcher just before halftime, leaving USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski worried about her immediate future.
After both teams had respective offensive chances earlier in the first half, Fox tested his luck from long-range in the 37th minute and was rewarded with her first USWNT goal. Andi Sullivan teed up Fox before the defender’s right-footed shot nestled into the bottom-left corner for a 1-0 advantage.
The USWNT continued to pile on the pressure as the match went on as Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Ashley Hatch were all denied by Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
However, the Americans would ice their victory in the 80th minute as Horan stepped up from the penalty spot and scored after drawing the spot kick opportunity. Diane Caldwell fouled Horan in the box and the veteran midfielder made no mistake with a top-shelf finish.
Alyssa Naeher needed to make only one save in order to preserve the home clean sheet.
The USWNT closes its two-match schedule on Tuesday at CITYPARK in St. Louis.