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SPORTS Saturday 6 april 2019
Pugh scores 2 and U.S. women beat Australia 5-3 in exhibition

By MICHAEL KELLY an accomplishment I take
Associated Press lightly,” Morgan said.
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. Morgan got the milestone
(AP) — Mallory Pugh heard marker when she fought
the cheers from the home- off an Australian defender
town fans when she came to gain control of a pass
onto the field early in the from Crystal Dunn. She
second half. then maneuvered around
The cheers were deafening defender Alanna Kenne-
when she scored 37 sec- dy and beat Williams with
onds later. a well-placed shot to the
“That’s never happened right in the 14th minute. The
before,” she said. “I knew Australians got even when
going in I wanted to make De Vanna got a pass from
a difference and play the Foord and beat U.S. goal-
role I can play. It was defi- keeper Alyssa Naeher with
nitely a special night.” a shot to the far side in the
Pugh played her role per- 29th minute.
fectly, scoring twice in her The Americans turned up
return to Colorado to cap the pressure and only a
a three-goal rally, and couple of good saves by
the U.S. women’s national Williams kept the score tied.
team held on to beat Aus- She made a save on Rapi-
tralia 5-3 in an exhibition on noe’s shot from close in and
Thursday. Ellie Carpenter cleared it off
Tobin Heath and Megan the line before it crossed in
Rapinoe scored early in the the 31st minute. Soon after,
second half and Alex Mor- U.S. forward Mallory Pugh, left, scores a goal as Australia defender Gema Simon pursues during she got a hand on Horan’s
gan added a goal for the the second half of an international friendly soccer match Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Commerce high shot and knocked it
Americans. City, Colo. over the crossbar.
The U.S. is 3-1-2 in the first six Associated Press Australia took the lead ear-
games of the Countdown and Caitlin Foord had goals to me.’ I was like, ‘No.’” tonight.” Just before Pugh’s ly in the second half when
to the Cup. The Americans for Australia. Horan, who said she could first goal, Rapinoe gave the Foord dribbled through the
have four games left lead- Pugh received a loud ova- hear her youth club cheer- U.S. the lead when she got defense and beat Naeher
ing up to the Women’s tion when she checked ing for her, was happy for the ball at the top of the with a low shot in the 47th
World Cup in France from into the game in the sec- her teammate. box, worked around to the minute. The Americans tied
June 7 to July 7. ond half, and she wasted “She came into the game, middle and sent a low shot it in the 53rd minute, when
The U.S. team will start de- no time scoring. Emily Son- gets her first touch and to the left corner in the 60th Sonnett lofted a cross to
fense of its World Cup title nett fed a pass as Pugh was scores a goal,” Horan said. minute. Heath, and she headed it
against Thailand on June charging in from the right Pugh added another goal Kerr’s header in the 80th just past Williams to make
11 in Reims, France. side and she beat Austra- in extra time to seal it and minute cut the lead to one, it 2-2.
The match at Dick’s Sport- lian goalkeeper Lydia Wil- hear the cheers from the but Pugh scored in injury “There were patches we
ing Goods Park was a liams in the 67th minute to crowd again. time to close it out. did OK, but against an op-
homecoming for Pugh make it 4-2. “Mallory, coming in, that’s Morgan’s goal was the ponent like them you get
and Lindsey Horan. Horan “I was wide open, so I was her role to come in and be 100th of her career and punished for mistakes,”
is from nearby Golden, screaming for it,” Pugh said. a difference-maker,” U.S. came in her 159th match. Australia coach Ante Milic-
and Pugh is from Highlands “Thankfully Sonnett passed coach Jill Ellis said. “Those She tied Tiffeny Milbrett for ic said. “Maybe against a
Ranch. They heard the love it. We were talking after were world-class goals to- sixth all-time among U.S. lesser team you might get
from the crowd. and she said, ‘I thought you night. Mal is a really spe- players in career goals. away with mistakes but not
Lisa De Vanna, Sam Kerr were going to pass it back cial player. She did well “To get into triple digits isn’t them.”q

Keys beats top-seeded Stephens to

reach Volvo Car Open semis

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — finals. The unseeded Puig in once again down the
Madison Keys rallied late to defeated her third consec- stretch after Stephens won
down top-seeded Sloane utive seeded opponent, the second set.
Stephens for the first time topping No. 11 Danielle No. 5 seed Caroline Woz-
in four career meetings to Collins of the United States niacki of Denmark, the
reach the Volvo Car Open 6-3, 6-2. 2011 Volvo champion, also
semifinals on Friday. Stephens had not lost a set made the final four after
Keys pulled away from her in three previous matches defeating 15th-seeded
American countrywoman against her good friend, Maria Sakkari of Greece
to win 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-2. Keys, including in the 2017 U.S. 6-2, 6-2. Wozniacki will face
seeded eighth and ranked Open finals and last year’s No. 16 seed Petra Martic of
Madison Keys, of the United States, hits a return to countrywoman 18th in the world, will take French Open semifinals be- Croatia, who ousted ninth-
Sloane Stephens at the Volvo Car Open tennis tournament on Monica Puig of Puerto fore dropping the opening seeded Belinda Bencic of
Friday, April 5, 2019, in Charleston, S.C.
Associated Press Rico for a spot in Sunday’s set tiebreaker. Keys dug Switzerland 6-3, 6-4.q