Olivia Moultrie scored a brace to help lead the United States women’s national team to a 3-1 victory over Portugal in a friendly in Hartford, Conn., on Sunday afternoon.
Moultrie, a midfielder with the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the match. Thorns teammate Sam Coffey also scored a goal for the United States, which avenged a 2-1 loss to Portugal on Thursday in Chester, Pa.
Claudia Dickey, a 25-year-old goaltender with the Seattle Reign, wasn’t needed to make a save for the United States, which improved to 11-1-1 all-time against Portugal.
Jessica Silva scored a goal, and Patricia Morais finished with one save for Portugal.
For the second straight game, the U.S. scored a goal in the first minute as Moultrie drilled a left-footed shot from the middle of the box into the far-left corner just 45 seconds into the match.
Portugal tied it at 1-1 in the fifth minute when Silva headed in a cross from the right by Beatriz Fonseca into the lower left corner of the goal.
Moultrie put the U.S. back in front in the 10th minute with a left-footed shot off a nifty back-heel pass from Jaedyn Shaw from the right side of the box. The shot skidded past the diving Morais and caromed in off the left post. It was the fourth international goal and second brace for the 20-year-old Moultrie.
Portugal nearly tied it in the 51st minute, but Silva’s right-footed shot from the middle of the box just sailed wide of the left post.
Coffey made it 3-1 in the 82nd minute with her fifth career international goal, a one-touch right-footed shot in the middle of the box inside the left post off an Ally Sentnor corner kick to seal the win.
The United States, which improved 9-3-0 this year, next faces New Zealand on Wednesday night in Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
