Girma returns, LaBonta makes historic debut in U.S. women's 3-0 win over China
Catarina Macario, Sam Coffey and Lindsey Heaps scored while goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce got her second shutout in as many appearances.
LaBonta, the 32-year-old midfielder for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, came on as a second-half substitute.
The match also marked Girma's first appearance for the national team this year. The 24-year-old defender has been nursing injuries but recently returned to help Chelsea win the Women's Super League title and the FA Cup.
Girma commanded a record $1.1 transfer fee when she moved from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea earlier this year.
Tullis-Joyce, who plays for Manchester United, started in goal in just her second U.S. appearance as coach Emma Hayes looks to replace goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who retired from the national team last year.
Macario scored her 11th international goal after Alyssa Thompson kept the ball alive in a tumble in front of the net in the 28th minute.
Coffey made it 2-0 in the 35th minute, taking a pass from Macario out front and banging her second goal for the U.S. past goalkeeper Pan Hongyan with her left foot.
Heaps, the U.S. captain, scored on a header in the 54th minute.
The United States is currently missing several key contributors from last year's Olympic gold medal-winning squad. Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson are both on maternity leave. Trinity Rodman is dealing with a nagging back issue.
The United States famously defeated China on penalties in the 1999 Women's World Cup final. The teams last met in 2023, with the Americans winning both games.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
The Americans have a 39-9-13 overall record against China, including five straight.
The United States was coming off a 2-1 loss to Brazil on April 8. China defeated Thailand 5-1 in its last outing.
The U.S. faces Jamaica on Tuesday in St. Louis.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
42 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Shohei Ohtani lines into triple play and later homers, but Angels rally to beat Dodgers 7-6 in 10
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani lined into a triple play in the sixth inning and hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth, but the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jo Adell's walkoff single in the 10th on Tuesday night. The defending World Series champion Dodgers fell into a first-place tie with San Diego atop the NL West after their third consecutive loss.
Toronto Star
42 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Jose Iglesias, Jackson Merrill hit home runs as Padres beat Giants again, 5-1
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer in the second inning, Jackson Merrill connected in the eighth for insurance, and the San Diego Padres beat the struggling San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Tuesday night. San Diego is keeping pace with the first-place Dodgers in the NL West race — a position manager Mike Shildt expected his club to be for the season's stretch run.
Winnipeg Free Press
42 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jacob Lopez strikes out 9 in 7 shutout innings as Athletics beat Rays 6-0
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jacob Lopez struck out nine in seven shutout innings and Colby Thomas and Lawrence Butler each drove in a pair of runs as the Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-0 on Tuesday night. Lopez (5-6) allowed four hits and did not walk a batter. The 27-year-old left-hander retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced. Tyler Ferguson (2-2) pitched a scoreless ninth and earned his second save. Thomas had an RBI double in the second inning and knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Also in the fourth, Butler hit an RBI double and added an RBI single in the eighth. The Athletics scored two more runs on an error and a wild pitch. Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz (8-9) matched Lopez early before allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits. He finished with seven strikeouts and two walks. The Rays, who were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, got two hits apiece from Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe, and finished with four total hits. Key moment Oakland's three-run fourth inning, fueled by four straight hits off Baz, broke the game open. Key stat Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Athletics posted their MLB-leading eighth shutout of the season. Up next RHP J.T. Ginn (2-4, 4.39 ERA) starts for the Athletics against Tampa Bay RHP Drew Rasmussen (9-5, 2.66) on Wednesday. ___ AP MLB:
