After crushing Russia in last Saturday’s friendly in Florida by seven goals, how would the United States respond in the Georgia Dome on Wednesday against the same opponent? Perhaps more interesting, how would the Olympic host nation fare in the rematch?
Well... worse. It was hard to watch. The United States again poured forth goals on their Russian visitors, using two own goals and six different scorers to win 8-0 in Atlanta.
The Russians came out ready to withstand the massive American pressure and held off the hard-pressing Yanks in the first half with the exception of an own goal -- Whitney Engen’s shot hit the post and then Elena Terekhova before entering the goal -- but the second half was all U.S.A.
The second goal was also an OG as Megan Rapinoe’s cross went in off of Valentina Orlova’s knee.
Heather O’Reilly sent in a strong cross from the right flank that Rodriguez cheekily struck home in the 52nd minute to make it 3-0. It was a good-looking goal, and the floodgates appeared open. Wambach scored her 165th USWNT goal moments later from a position that appeared offsides from a few angles, but stood to make it 4-0. Rapinoe hit the cross on the goal that made it three goals in five minutes for the States.
Morgan Brian scored from about 25 yards out on a left-footed shot in the 65th minute for the States’ fifth goal and the second of her international career. Lauren Holiday later won a penalty kick that she converted in the 81st minute to make it 6-0.
O’Reilly made a backpost run to meet a flicked-on header from Christen Press to score the game’s seventh goal. Kristie Mewis sent the cross that started the play.
Press then moved freely across the box and hammered home the match’s eighth in the 86th minute, her third in the series.
Playing near her home town, Kelley O’Hara played her first match in eight months and lasted a planned half-hour. Goalkeeper Jillian Loyden came on for Hope Solo at the half.