Result Marks 13th Consecutive USWNT Home Shutout as Carli Lloyd Plays Penultimate Match in Front of Over 18,000 Fans;
22-Game Home Winning Streak Comes to an End and Marks Second Longest in Team History;
USWNT Will Close October Window Against Korea Republic on Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. ET (FS1 and TUDN)
Photos: Karen Penner & Julio Ayala
KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Oct. 21, 2021) – Despite creating numerous scoring chances, the U.S. Women’s National Team ran into a hot goalkeeper and an extremely organized Korea Republic defense to draw 0-0 at Children’s Mercy Park. The USA extended the team’s unbeaten home streak to 61 matches in front of an electric sellout crowd of 18,467 fans. With the result, the team’s 22-game home winning streak came to an end, marking the second-longest such streak in team history.
While the Koreans had some good moments in transition, the USWNT dominated the match with its first dangerous chance coming in the 12th minute as midfielder Lindsey Horan fired a curling left-footed shot from the top of the box which skimmed off the outside of the left post. Horan had a promising chance just six minutes later as she headed a cross from defender Kelley O’Hara on target but was denied by the goalkeeper.
The chances kept coming for the hosts as forward Tobin Heath found Alex Morgan in on goal with a through ball that broke the defensive line, but goalkeeper Youngguel Yoon was up for the challenge and came up with the save. Just 15 minutes later, the USWNT returned the favor as goalkeeper Adrianna Franch stretched out to make a dramatic save to deny a threatening volley from defender Selgi Jang, the best chance of the game for South Korea.
The USWNT piled on the chances as they pressed in attack for the remainder of the match but were unfortunate not to create the winning goal despite dangerous chances from Morgan, forward Megan Rapinoe, defender Becky Sauerbrunn and midfielder Rose Lavelle. The USA out-shot their opponent 19-8 while placing eight shots on target compared to one for South Korea.
Legendary forward Carli Lloyd came into the match as a substitute in the 63 rd minute to roaring cheers from the crowd as she registered her 315th international cap in her penultimate appearance for the red, white and blue. Lloyd is currently the second-most capped player in world history and has scored 134 international goals, which rank third in USWNT history and fourth all-time in world history.
Prior to the match, Horan was honored for reaching 100 caps, which she earned during the Olympics on July 24 in a 6-1 victory against New Zealand, a match in which she scored her 23rd international goal. At 27 years old, the midfielder is the 41st USWNT player to earn that distinction and the 18 th-youngest. The Colorado native earned her 105th cap tonight and has tallied 22 goals and 33 assists.
The USWNT will return to action to close out the October window as they face Korea Republic again on Tuesday, Oct. 26 in what will be the final match of Lloyd’s decorated international career. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET on FS1 and TUDN, with pregame coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
