England’s women fell to a 2-0 defeat last night in Orlando, to World Champions USA.
Goals from Christen Press and Carli Lloyd were enough to grant the hosts all three points in the SheBelieve’s Cup opening game.
Everton striker Chloe Kelly came on for her second international cap, but had no time to make an impact.
England’s women won the SheBelieves Cup in 2019, but America are now huge favourites for this year.
The loss was England’s sixth loss in nine games. Phil Neville’s side have struggled for form since their loss in the World Cup semi-finals last summer.
England went into the without key-players Beth Mead, and right-back Lucy Bronze who came second in the Ballon D’or.
From the off the visitors were disappointing, and USA had much the better of the first half.
Despite this, Neville’s side managed to come in level at the break.
In the second half, on 53 minutes Christen Press superbly curled home from range leaving Telford with no chance. Two minutes later Carli Lloyd added a second.
US midfielder Julie Hertz had a goal disallowed shortly before the final whistle but the game was already over as a contest.
The game was watched by more than 16,000 fans inside the Exploria Stadium.
After the match, coach Phil Neville said: “I don’t see a team that lacked confidence in terms of the way we want to play.
“I see a team trying to play the right way and it feels as if we are so close but yet so far at this moment.
“The first goal was a wonder goal. The second goal was a lapse in concentration. We had chances in the game, opportunities to be ruthless, and we didn’t really commit to it.”
England’s women face Japan on Sunday night in their next game, before playing Spain next Wednesday.
Pic by joshjdss – Creative Commons License
