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BREDA, Netherlands (AP) – Rose Lavelle scored again against the Netherlands, Kristie Mewis scored in her first appearance for the United States in six years and the Americans won a rematch of the final of last year’s World Cup by the same score, 2-0, on Friday.
Starter’s older sister Sam Mewis arrived as a second-half substitute and scored in the 70th minute. It was Kristie Mewis’ second goal for the team, following her first in 2013. The 2,722 days between her goals were the longest streak in team history.
“I just had to watch it again, actually, because I think I passed out of what really happened,” Kristie Mewis said of her goal.
The United States had not played for 261 days because of the coronavirus pandemic. The top-ranked Americans have won all nine matches they have played this year. They are 11-0-0 under coach Vlatko Andonovski, who took over after Jill Ellis resigned last year.
“A lot has changed in 2020. But one thing that has not changed and one thing that will never change with this team is the heart and the mind,” said Andonovski. “And I was so proud of these players, of the way they stepped up and handled the game, as some of them hadn’t had the chance to train properly before this camp.
Lavelle also scored when the United States defeated the Netherlands in Lyon, France, last year for the team’s second consecutive World Cup title.
Nine of the 11 American starters for the final were in the starting lineup on Friday. Notably missing was Alex Morgan, who arrived as a second-half substitute for his 170th appearance with the team.
Morgan, who currently plays for Tottenham, had not played for the United States since the World Cup final as she was pregnant and gave birth to her daughter Charlie.
Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman was not with the squad due to a personal matter unrelated to COVID-19. Wiegman, a former Dutch midfielder who has coached the team since 2017, will take over as England national team coach next September, succeeding Phil Neville.
Lavelle scored a left-footed goal on a break in the 41st minute.
Kristie Mewis replaced her younger sister on the pitch and scored nine minutes later. Sam Mewis was among the first to kiss his sister in celebration.
“I was so nervous to shoot it, but I just found myself and did my best. And then turning around and realizing what had just happened and seeing Sam and Alex running towards me was so special. It’s a very surreal moment for me, ”said Kristie Mewis. “It hasn’t really sunk yet.”
Mewis performed well in the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup and Fall Series with the Houston Dash, earning her a call to the national team.
The United States was without Lindsey Horan, who contracted COVID-19 and did not travel to Europe for the game.
The teams kept a moment of silence ahead of the game for Diego Maradona, the legendary Argentine player who died earlier this week.
The US team wore pre-match warm-ups that included the “Black Lives Matter” message on the front. Nine players knelt during the national anthem.
The players released a pre-kickoff statement that said, in part, “Today we wear Black Lives Matter to assert human decency. We protest racial injustice and police brutality against black people. We protest against racist infrastructure that does not provide equal opportunities for Blacks and Maroons to achieve their dreams, including playing for this team.
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