CHICAGO — The U.S. women's national team beat South Africa 1-0 on Saturday in the first of two international friendlies scheduled before the team heads to Rio for the Olympics.
This was the first meeting between the two countries, and just the second African country — Nigeria the other — that the USWNT has ever faced.
Forward Crystal Dunn scored the lone goal in the 35th minute with a nice first-touch finish in the top of the net off of a Mallory Pugh cross. The ball looked destined to fall on the end of Alex Morgan's boot, but it found its way to the far post, where Dunn was ready to finish.
MORE: 31 of the greatest Olympic athletes for the XXXI Olympiad
Dunn’s goal was the 13th of her career and ninth of this year. The nine goals this year are the second most on the team behind Morgan.
Pugh was all over the field in the first half. Her first chance came in the 20th minute when she almost found the net on the rebound off a Morgan shot. But South Africa's keeper, Roxanne Barker scooped it up first. Pugh almost scored in the 30th minute when she blistered a shot from 15 yards out that just soared over the right corner of the crossbar.
Christen Press, another vital member of the USWNT's attack, had a golden opportunity less than a minute into the game when she turned away from a defender at the top of the penalty box and tried to curl a shot into the right corner of the goal. Her shot went just wide, but it set the tone for the rest of the game.
Carli Lloyd entered the game after halftime to a raucous ovation from the nearly 20,000 in attendance. The 33-year-old midfielder settled in behind Morgan as an attacking midfielder and instantly proved why she's one of the best in the world by setting up a great chance for Morgan in the 51st minute that went just wide.
MORE: All you need to know about when and where you can catch the Olympics
The USWNT dominated possession and created more shots and shots on goal, but were unable to produce much magic in the final third. That was partly because of South Africa's swarming defense in the penalty area. But also because the U.S. rushed on a few of its good looks in front of goal.
After starting the game in a 4-3-3 formation, the USWNT rotated into a 4-4-2 once Morgan was subbed out in the second half. Though the switch didn't produce any goals, it helped the team better control midfield.
USWNT keeper Hope Solo didn't have much to do defending her goal, but she did a nice job organizing her back four on set pieces, which were the main threat from South Africa on Saturday.
Though the USWNT won the game, it will have to do better in the final third to capture Olympic gold next month.