The U.S. Women’s National Team scored on three set plays in Chiba, Japan to defeat Brazil 3-0 in its second and final match of the Kirin Challenge Cup in a game that kicked off four hours earlier than previously scheduled due to inclement weather. Richland, Wash. native Hope Solo recorded the shutout in goal.
The match, delayed by four hours to avoid expected heavy rains, featured strong winds and showers, but had little impact on the US.
Brazil, which played without superstar and five-time FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Marta, struggled on the offensive end for most of the match. In the end, Brazil put just one shot on goal, that coming in stoppage time of the second half when Solo had to tip a long drive over the crossbar to preserve the shutout.
This was the first meeting between the two teams since the historic quarterfinal match at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup that saw the latest goal in World Cup history from Abby Wambach and the dramatic penalty kick triumph for the Americans.
The margin of victory was the largest for the USA over Brazil in the last 10 matches, dating back to 2004 when the Americans down Brazil 5-1 in Birmingham, Ala.
