SANTA BARBARA, California — Croix Bethune, Jameese Joseph and Emily Sams scored their first international goals and the United States women's national soccer team defeated Chile 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Emma Sears and Trinity Rodman also scored for the United States, which has not conceded a goal in five games.
Coach Emma Hayes opted for a completely different starting lineup in the game at UC Santa Barbara than the one she used Saturday for the team's 6-0 win over Paraguay in Carson, California. Players on the roster averaged 5.2 national team appearances, the fewest for a lineup since 2001.
Bethune, who plays for the Washington Spirit, opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Chilean goalkeeper Ryann Torrero came out to stop Bethune, who was running towards the goal alone, but the shot went past her.
Joseph, who plays for the Chicago Stars, earned his first start for the United States and scored in the 26th minute.
Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images
Sams, who acted as captain of the match, made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute with a goal after a cross from Sears.
The United States made it 4-0 just 28 seconds into the second half with a goal from Sears that went to the far post and into the top corner. Rodman scored in her second straight game in the 68th minute, just five minutes after she came on.
Rodman then ran to the bench and danced, urging Hayes to join her, and the coach reluctantly agreed with a laugh. Rodman then urged the crowd to cheer.
Midfielder Riley Jackson and defender Ayo Oke played their first international match. Three players (forwards Reilyn Turner and Maddie Dahlien and midfielder Sally Menti) made their U.S. debuts against Paraguay.
The roster did not include American players based in Europe because they are in the middle of their seasons. It also did not include the Gotham FC players, who are in London for the semi-finals of the first FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
The game against Chile concludes the U.S. team's training camp in January, as Hayes looks to solidify her group of players for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup, which begins in March, and Women's World Cup qualification later in the year.
The last meeting between the United States and Chile was a 3-0 American victory at the 2019 World Cup. Chile, ranked 47th in the world, has only played in one World Cup.
The United States previously held a training camp at UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium before the 1991 World Cup, which included scrimmages against the Gauchos and a West Coast all-star team. That American team, which included Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers, won the World Cup.
