Christen Press scored early and her substitute, Megan Rapinoe, added a late goal when the U.S. women’s national team defeated Brazil 2-0 in the second of three matches in the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday.
Press put the U.S. ahead in the 11th minute and Rapinoe, who entered in the 72nd, got the insurance goal in the 88th.
The U.S. needs a result against Argentina on Wednesday to claim its second straight title. The Americans have six points. Brazil has three while Argentina and Canada play later Sunday with both teams looking for their first points.
Alyssa Naeher extended her program-record shutout streak to 10 games and 956 minutes. She has 40 shutouts in 64 career starts.
The streak was in jeopardy in the 83rd minute when Debinha was unmarked for a pass from Marta but sent a shot from the center of the box off target.
Rapinoe put the match away with a right-footed volley from 11 yards from the cross by Lindsey Horan for her 55th goal.
Brazil, tied for eighth in the world rankings with Canada, did not hold the Americans at bay as did the Canadians on Thursday when Rose Lavelle’s 79th-minute goal gave the U.S. a 1-0 victory.
The U.S. is 33-0-3 in the past 36 games and has a 52-game (47-0-5) home winning streak.
The Brazilians, coached by former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, fell behind early when Press scored her 59th international. She used a cutback to the ball on her right foot and unleashed a strike from the top left of the penalty area to the far post.
Brazil’s lone shot on goal in the first half — the U.S. had four — was by Ludmila from the right side of the box in the 24th minute.
–Field Level Media