US Women Kickoff Achieve Your Gold Tour

Sunday, 14 September 08, 10:36 AM · Comments(0)

The US Women opened the Achieve You Gold tour with a 2-0 win against Ireland. This was the first match for the USA in 3 weeks, after winning the Gold in Beijing.

Natasha Kai got the scoring started in the 32nd minute. Heather O'Reilly dribbled down the sideline and created space to send a perfect cross into the area. Kai rose up between 2 defenders and got her head on it from 6 yards out. It was her 2nd career goal and her team-leading 14th this year.

{Image removed as requested by ISI Photos}

Heather O'Reilly insured the win in the 87th minute. She dribbled from the right wing into the middle of the field, where she fired a shot from outside the box into the top of the goal. Irish 'keeper could do nothing to save that one.

O Reilly was honored before the game for earning her 100th cap in the final of the Beijing Olympics, and had the honor of wearing the captain's armband, against "her own country of heritage". It must have been great to get a goal and an assist to celebrate her 100th cap, and the gold with the great crowd of 13,176 at Lincoln Financial Field.

{Image removed as requested by ISI Photos}

The USA outshot Ireland 20-4. 10 of those shots were on frame, but credit Byrne to her for making great saves and keeping her team in the game, specially in the 23rd minute when she was one-on-one with Shannon Boxx from 6 yards out.

The US continues the 10-game tour with another game against Ireland on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in East Rutherford, New Jersey at 7:30 pm ET. Both teams play again for the third and final time in Bridgeview, Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Toyota Park, 7 pm CT.The US has 7 games after the Ireland series to close up the Achieve Your Gold tour. They are yet to be announced, as the games are being finalized.

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