The United States women’s national team lost 2-1 to Germany on Thursday night for their first three-game skid since 1993 and first home defeat in more than five years.
Paula Krumbiegel scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute for third-ranked Germany in the exhibition at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Rapinoe scored in the 85th minute for the top-ranked Americans, who had been unbeaten in 71 straight games at U.S. soil.
It also marked the third straight loss for Vlatko Andonovski’s side against European sides. The U.S. lost at England and Spain last month.
Lindsey Horan nearly gave the U.S. an initial lead in the second half when she tried a bicycle kick that went off the post. On the counter, U.S. goalkeeper Casey Murphy made a dramatic save, but Klara Buhl had the rebound, which hit the post and bounced off Murphy for an own goal in the 52th minute.
Rapinoe’s late goal seemed to be enough for a draw, but Jule Brand‘s cutback for Krumbiegel on a counter in the final moments was enough to settle the match.
The teams meet again Sunday at Red Bull Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
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Rapid reaction
1. USWNT a bit unlucky as impressive home streak snapped
Coming into the match with more than a few wobbles, not least against European teams, the United States saw their unbeaten home stretch (71 matches) come to an end thanks to Euro 2022 runners-up Germany, but it wasn’t for a want of trying.
Yes, there were questions around tight offside calls that went against the U.S. in the first half, but the team did manage to carve out goal-scoring opportunities on both sides of the break. Had it not been for better finishing or at least better understanding between the attackers, the hosts may well have been up before the Casey Murphy‘s own goal.
After conceding, the USWNT rather sunk into themselves and looked lost until they pulled back an unlikely late equaliser from Megan Rapinoe (that was ultimately wiped out by Germany’s late winner) from a moment of good pressing by Alex Morgan, something that was missing from their second-half play.
On another day, it’s easy to image the U.S. winning when presented with the same opportunities as Thursday night. Yet the lesson here is to take those chances when they’re presented, not just against other teams in the top five — Germany are currently ranked third in the world — but with nations around the world improving all the time.
