USA vs. Ireland Women's Soccer: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 Friendly

The United States women’s national team proved they are in excellent fettle ahead of the 2015 World Cup, as they picked up a comfortable 3-0 win over Ireland at a sold-out Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California.

The team’s official Twitter account confirmed the result:

A first-half brace from Abby Wambach gave the USWNT a two-goal lead at the interval, and Julie Johnston added the gloss to an emphatic victory with a second-half header.

Before the game, Megan Rapinoe was honored for her 100th cap, which she picked up against New Zealand last month. Usually, those who reach that mark are awarded with a watch, but as noted here by Anne Peterson of the Associated Press, the midfielder decided to donate the money to a worthy cause instead:

As we can see here courtesy of Fox Soccer, on Mother’s Day in the States, the players' mothers were alongside their daughters on the pitch prior to this one getting underway:

Perhaps the presence of their family members and the relaxed atmosphere contributed to what was a slow start for the hosts. While they bossed possession, the United States struggled to penetrate a cohesive Irish back line early on, leaving coach Jillian Ellis noticeably frustrated on the sidelines.

RICH SCHULTZ/Associated Press

But patience was always going to be the order of the day here, and for all the flowing football put together in the opening stages of the game, it was a pretty ugly goal from Wambach that put the USWNT in front; the forward reacted sharpest to prod home a loose ball in the box.

As we can see here, Wambach’s mother was delighted to see her daughter notch the first goal, which came about after some kamikaze defending from the Irish:

As is so often the case, one strike was quickly followed up by another. Once again, it was Wambach who got the final touch, this time heading home from Carli Lloyd’s fizzing cross. It was a classic touch from the 34-year-old, who has been a major aerial threat throughout the entirety of her distinguished international career.

It was a landmark goal for Wambach too, as noted here by ESPN Stats & Info:

For Ireland, Niamh Reid-Burke had showcased a brilliant array of skills between the sticks. But as the whistle blew for the break, with a two-goal deficit to make up, the game seemed to be up for the visitors.

Luca Bruno/Associated Press

With a flurry of substitutions made at half-time for the hosts, the match was sapped of some momentum initially. But the crowd came to life when Lori Chalupny was introduced, as it was her 100th appearance in the iconic USWNT jersey:

As Paul Carr of ESPN noted, she joins a select crop with this milestone appearance:

Her introduction seemed to jolt the hosts into life, and they made the game absolutely safe thanks to a subtle header from Johnston, who was quickest to get on the end of Lauren Holiday’s whipped corner.

Here’s a look at that goal:

The game continued in similar style, and Wambach spurned a relatively simple chance for her hat-trick 20 minutes from time. In the end, Ireland were spared any more misery, as the United States preserved their three-goal lead up until the final whistle.

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

There will be tougher tests to come for Ellis’ side, but this match and the upcoming clashes with Mexico and Korea Republic represent ideal opportunities to experiment ahead of the World Cup opener against Australia on June 8. The atmosphere was pretty languid here, but expect things to get a lot more serious as the tournament edges nearer.

While there are some bright young talents in this squad, it was the experience of players like Wambach and Lloyd that was most crucial in constructing this clinical win. You suspect that if this team is going to triumph in Canada this summer, their influence—along with other seasoned campaigners—will be absolutely vital.