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FBL-WOMEN-SHEBELIEVES
Ertz goal lifts US women to 1-0 win over Spain
NEW YORK, March 9, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Julie Ertz headed in a last-gasp goal
in the 87th minute Sunday to lift the World Cup champion United States to a
1-0 victory over feisty Spain in the SheBelieves women’s friendly football
tournament.
The United States, who ousted Spain in the round of 16 on the way to the
World Cup title last year, had to battle to break through against a
technically sound Spanish side that controlled possession for much of the
first half.
Spanish goalkeeper Sandra Panos delivered a strong performance, pushing a
shot from US star Megan Rapinoe over the crossbar in the 32nd and diving to
save a long-range blast from Samantha Mewis in the 60th.
Just when it looked as if the Americans might be held without a goal, a
set-piece gave them an opportunity.
Christen Press’s free kick from the left found a charging Ertz, who rose to
head the ball past Panos, who got a hand on the ball but couldn’t stop it.
“I feel like if you give (Ertz) a ball, she can compete for it,” Press said
after the United States stretched their unbeaten streak to 30 games. “It
doesn’t matter who she is playing against. She is just world class.”
The match was played before a sellout crowd of 26,500 at Red Bull Arena in
Harrison, New Jersey, one year to the day after 28 US women internationals
sued US Soccer over pay inequality.
US federation president Carlos Cordeiro had released an open letter on
Saturday night in which he said federation officials “strongly believe” they
have addressed the women’s concerns and offered to provide “identical
compensation” to the women’s and men’s teams for matches controlled by US
Soccer.
He said $66 million sought by the women players in the lawsuit — scheduled
to go to trial in May — represents a difference in prize money from FIFA in
the men’s and women’s World Cups, which the national federation can’t be
expected to make up.
Molly Levinson, a spokesman for the players suing, quickly refuted
Cordeiro’s claims, saying the federation “did not and has never offered equal
pay to the women players.”
Levinson also took a dig at the timing of Cordeiro’s letter in the midst of
the tournament, which she noted the federation says “celebrates the hopes and
dreams of women and girls.”
– White strikes –
In the opening match of the day’s double-header, Ellen White’s late strike
was enough to lift England to a 1-0 victory over Japan.
Against a Japan side they beat convincingly at last year’s World Cup,
England bounced back from their 2-0 loss to the United States on Thursday.
Japan, surprised 3-1 by Spain in their opener, remain in search of their
first win of the round-robin tournament, which concludes on Wednesday in
Frisco, Texas, where the United States will face Japan and England will take
on Spain.
The Lionesses will be relieved to have come away with a victory after a
multitude of squandered opportunities before White’s 83rd-minute goal.
England seized upon a defensive error by Japan, with a sloppy pass allowed
Toni Duggan to gain the ball and cross into the box for White to tap in.
Manchester City striker White and Duggan were among the multiple second-
half substitutions by England manager Phil Neville.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0834 hrs