Led by a Moultrie brace, retooled USWNT takes second game against Portugal – Equalizer Soccer

Photo: David Butler II/ Imagn Images

It was a tale of tens on Sunday afternoon in East Hartford, Conn., with all four goals scored in the U.S. women’s national team’s 3-1 victory over Portugal coming in the first and last ten minutes of the match. Setting the pace was 20-year-old Olivia Moultrie, who sandwiched a brace around an equalizer from Portugal’s Jessica Silva in a packed first ten minutes of play. A late goal from Sam Coffey off the American bench sealed the victory in the 81st minute as the U.S. women’s national team avenged an unexpected 2-1 loss to the visitors on Thursday. 

The start was eerily reminiscent of Thursday’s match: a goal from Moultrie within the first minute of play on Sunday mirrored midfielder Rose Lavelle’s opener 33-seconds into the first meeting between the two teams just days prior. But it wasn’t just the outcome that was different Sunday night.