Macario Shines in Dominant US Performance
The United States women's national team delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, securing a 3-0 victory against Italy in an international friendly at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The match marked the first of two scheduled friendlies between the sides, with the second encounter set for 1 December in Fort Lauderdale.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The Americans wasted no time establishing their dominance, finding the net within the opening two minutes of play. The sequence began with Lilly Reale, fresh from winning the NWSL title with Gotham, finding Rose Lavelle. Lavelle then spread play wide to Alyssa Thompson before receiving the return pass and setting up Olivia Moultrie for a far-post finish.
This goal marked Moultrie's second in as many appearances for the senior team. "We talked about starting fast and starting strong, and I think the momentum carried out," Moultrie commented after the match. "We had a really good week of training, so I feel like it flowed into the first minutes of the game."
Macario Seals the Victory
The United States continued to press and doubled their lead in the 64th minute. Sam Coffey drove through the midfield before sliding a pass to Catarina Macario on her left. Macario took one touch before firing a shot across the goal into the far side of the net.
Macario wasn't finished, adding her second of the night just twelve minutes later. The strike came from an assist by the team's youngest player, 18-year-old Lily Yohannes. Macario collected the pass at the top right corner of the penalty area and unleashed another powerful shot into the far corner.
These goals brought Macario's international tally to 15 goals in 28 appearances. Impressively, she has now been involved in 18 goals (12 goals and 6 assists) in her last 14 matches for the United States.
"It was a great win, it's always a pleasure being with this team," said Macario. "I feel so happy to be in this environment, and I feel like it really just helps you be the best version of yourself." She also acknowledged the benefit of working with new head coach Emma Hayes, who is familiar with her abilities.
In goal, Claudia Dickey earned a clean sheet in what was only her fifth cap at the senior international level, effectively neutralising the Italian attack throughout the match.
Veteran midfielder Rose Lavelle, earning her 116th cap for the US, summed up the team's satisfaction: "I think obviously we wanted to keep building on the performances we had last camp, and the emphasis on coming out strong and sticking to our principles, and I think that's what we did. Overall, I think a really good team performance."
