By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Expectedly, former African champions, Super Falcons again fell to the superior firepower of the reigning world champions United States of America (USA) as Nigeria lost 4-0 in the first of the two-match international friendlies played at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City today.
The United States Women’s National Team (USNT) Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski fielded a star-studded squad with veteran striker Alex Morgan of San Diego Wave who has played 196 matches and scoring 119 goals for USA combining well with rising star, Sophia Smith of Portland Thorns who has played 22 times and scored 10 goals including a brace against Nigeria on Saturday. Morgan also scored on the day.
Other stars unleashed against Nigeria were striker Mallory Pugh of Chicago Red Stars who has scored 24 in 78 matches and experienced midfielders Rose Lavelle OL Reigns (78/21) and Lindsey Horan of OL Lyon, France (116/25) who also scored a goal in the 4-0 thrashing of Nigeria.
The hosts got into scoring mood early in the tie when fleetfooted Smith put USA ahead in the 14′ before Horan made it two goals in the 25′ while Smith scored a brace in the 45 + 1′ to ensure that Team USA ended the first half three goals up.
On resumption, the Americans piled more misery on the Africans when Morgan put the icing on the cake when she stepped out to score from the penalty spot in the 52′ with Nigeria battling in vain to score even a consolation goal.
Statistically, Team USA had more ball possession than Nigeria at 55 and 45 just as the hosts had six goals on target but scored four while Nigeria managed only two goals on target and did not score any. Both goalkeepers Alyssa Naeher of USA and Chiamaka Nnadozie of Nigeria made two daring saves each.
Prompt News had earlier predicted that Nigeria will lose the match, warning of the uphill task the Super Falcons will face against the highly successful Team USA brimming with exceptional players who are technically superior to their Nigerian counterparts, a situation which has made it highly impossible for Nigeria to beat USA no matter who featured for the Americans.
With the loss, Super Falcons have continued their poor run of form which started with the woeful outing of the team in the last WAFCON in Morocco with the American-born Head Coach Randy Waldrum still unable to salvage the battered image of Super Falcons by leading his charges to upset the reigning world champions in Kansas City today.
USA Startlist
1’Alyssa Naeher
9-Mallory Pugh
4Becky Sauerbrunn
3-Alana Cook
8-Sofia Huerta
16-Rose Lavelle
11-Sophia Smith 2
10-Lindsey Horan 1
17-Andi Sullivan
13- Alex Morgan 1
19- Emily Ann Fox
Tactical:=4-3-3
Nigeria Startlist
16-Chiamaka Nnadozie
4-Glory Ogbonna
3-Osinachi Ohale
12-Michelle Alozie
19-Abiodun Deborah
7-Toni Payne
15-Rashidat Ajibade
13-Christy Ucheibe
2-Gift Monday
6-Uchenna Kanu
9-Ifeoma Onumonu
Tactical:=4-4-2
