Colorado’s Perfect Pair of Horan and Smith Are Geared-Up to Complete With China PR

FRISCO, Texas – The U.S. Women’s National Team will play its final match of the year tomorrow, December 5th, when they host China PR at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. 

The game will close-out a tenuous year for the team. The Lady Yanks were expected to contend for the Women’s World Cup Championship, but lost in the Round of 16. Their build up to the tournament was stellar, but their play and exit from Down Under was downright tearful for players, family members, and fans alike.

Tomorrow’s finale is scheduled to start 6 p.m. MT and will be broadcasted on TruTV, Max, Universo and Peacock.

They handed China a 3-0 defeat this past Saturday in Fort Lauderdale. The U.S. was led by Sophia Smith and Lindsey Horan, who both scored fetching goals.

Smith scored at the eight-minute mark. The USA defense won control of the ball near midfield. Capable center back Naomi Girma lofted the ball over China’s defense. It found a streaking Trinity Rodman who was in full stride on the left side of the pitch. Concurrent, Smith was barreling into the center of the 18-yard box. 

Rodman out-foxed her mark and sent the ball across the face of goal perfectly for Smith, who scored with an extended toe-poke. The attack-minded Smith could have had two more rapid fire goals, yet China’s imposing keeper, Xu Huan, stifled both attempts and kept the score close.

Then it was Horan’s turn. In the 52nd minute of play, she took a throw-in from midfield. The captain brought down the ball, then quickly sent it sailing towards China’s goalkeeper. The launch bounced once in front of the surprised goaltender, and then scooted into the back of the net. 

Rodman would score soon thereafter, and that was more than plenty for the Yanks to earn the win in humid Florida.

With the third goal of the match, the U.S. has outscored their opponents this year an impressive, 34-2.

According to U.S. Soccer’s media guide, the USA and China have met seven times total in world championship events, four at the World Cup including the 1999 World Cup final, and three times at the Olympics – including in the 1996 gold medal match. 

The Steel Roses, currently ranked 15th in the world, were runners-up in the 1999 World Cup, won by the United States at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Overall, the USA is unbeaten in its last 24 matches against opponents from the Asian Football Confederation, with 18 wins and six draws during that span.

A full house is expected in Frisco, located just a few miles north of suburban Dallas.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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