U.S. WNT to Face China on May 27, in Front of PPL Park Capacity Crowd

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA FACES CHINA IN TUNE-UP MATCH FOR OLYMPICS: With the 2012 London Olympics right around the corner, the U.S. Women’s National Team hosts China PR in an international friendly at 7 p.m. ET Sunday, May 27, at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. A sellout crowd of 18,500 will be on hand at Sunday’s match, marking the second-largest Pennsylvania-area crowd to watch the U.S. Women.

LONDON CALLING: With just four full international matches remaining before the 2012 Olympics, every game is valuable for U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage and her staff as they work to pare talented and deep pool down to the 18-player roster that will compete in the Olympics. Twenty-one players have earned caps for the USA in 2012 and that number won’t grow much, if at all, as Sundhage is now developing a starting lineup and individual roles heading into the Olympics.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris, Jill Loyden, Hope Solo

DEFENDERS (9): Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberg, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn

MIDFIELDERS (9): Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Kristie Mewis, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Keelin Winters

FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach

U.S. ROSTER NOTES:
U.S. forward Abby Wambach, who has started in 155 matches since debuting for the U.S. WNT in 2001, could potentially tie for 11th all-time in career starts this Sunday as Tiffeny Milbrett’s had 156 career starts. Shannon Boxx is 10th on the list with 157 starts. 

Goalkeeper Hope Solo posted her eighth shutout of the year during the USA’s most recent 3-0 victory against Brazil on April 3. That eight-shutout total is the fourth-most in her 11 years with the U.S. WNT. Solo’s top clean sheet performances include 13 shutouts in 2008, 10 in 2006 and nine in 2007. Solo has 62 shutouts for her career, gradually inching toward Briana Scurry’s record 71.    

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has a brief history in the Philadelphia area, serving as an assistant coach for the Women’s United Soccer Association’s Philadelphia Charge in 2001 and 2002. 

For more roster notes, visit ussoccer.com.

USA VS. CHINA SERIES

The U.S. is riding a 16-game unbeaten streak against China with a 13-0-3 record dating back to a 2-0 victory on March 20, 2003.    

China’s best FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympics finishes were second-place outcomes at the hands of the USA in each title game. The U.S. famously defeated China 5-4 in a shootout during the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup on July 10 in Pasadena, Calif. Brandi Chastain tallied the game-ending penalty kick. The USA also won on its home soil against China in the first-ever women’s soccer event at the 1996 Olympics, earning a 2-1 victory in the gold medal game on Aug. 1 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. Shannon MacMillan had the game-opening goal and Tiffeny Milbrett scored the eventual game-winner midway through the second half.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Captain Christie Rampone surpassed 20,000 minutes played for her career during the USA’s 3-0 win against Brazil in the Kirin Challenge Cup on April 3. With 990 minutes logged this year, she now has 20,003 in her 14 years with the WNT. She becomes the fifth U.S. Women’s player to reach such a feat, joining Kristine Lilly (28,700), Julie Foudy (21,669), Mia Hamm (20,694) and Joy Fawcett (20,527).

Carli Lloyd scored her 36th career goal against Brazil, putting her in sole possession of 11th place all-time in U.S. history, passing April Heinrichs (35).    

Lauren Cheney contributed her 10th assist of the year during the Brazil win, becoming the first player to reach double digits in that category since Heather O’Reilly and Abby Wambach each posted a team-high 10 assists in 2008. 

BY THE NUMBERS:
4: Goals allowed by the U.S. in 12 matches this year

8: Shutouts for Hope Solo this year    

56: The current unbeaten streak for the USA in domestic matches in which they are 50-0-6 

IN FOCUS: CHINA PR
Chinese Football Association
Founded: 1924 (Joined FIFA in 1931)
Head Coach: Li Xiaopeng
FIFA World Ranking: 18
Best FIFA World Cup Finish: Second Place (1999)
Best Olympics Finish: Second Place (1996)