Alex Morgan's first-half strike proved to be the winner on Friday as the U.S. women's national hung on for a 1-0 win over England in an international friendly at the Stadium MK.
After a relatively poor showing last Sunday in which Jill Ellis' team was beaten by a very strong France side, the two-time World Cup champions rebounded nicely, as Morgan's strike gave the team it's first win of 2015.
The Americans opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Lauren Holiday did well to cut to the inside from the right side of the pitch and swing an excellent cross into the penalty area.
Morgan has position on her mark and nodded it toward the top left corner of the net. England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain got a hand to it, but it wasn't enough to keep it out as Morgan collected her 50th career goal in a U.S. shirt.
England appeared to have leveled the match in the 57th minute when midfielder Francesca Kirby let a strike go from outside the box that was parried down by U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, but she left a rebound and it was fired home by Joide Taylor.
However, the goal was ruled out as the assistant referee's flag was up for offside, keeping the Americans in front.
England pushed numbers forward late on as the fourth official's board showed four minutes of added time, but an equalizer could not be found and the Americans escaped with the victory.
The U.S. women will next be in action in the Algarve Cup in March.
[SportsNetwork.com]
