U.S. wins opener vs. Colombia in SheBelieves Cup

WOMEN’S SOCCER

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Ally Sentnor, right, of the U.S. hugs Sam Coffey as Yazmeen Ryan runs up to help celebrate Sentnor’s goal against Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. Michael Wyke / AP

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The Associated Press

HOUSTON — Catarina Macario and Ally Sentnor scored goals and the United States beat Colombia 2-0 in the SheBelieves Cup opener for both teams on Thursday night.

The U.S. extended its unbeaten streak to 21 matches since losing to Mexico 2-0 on Feb. 26, 2024. The U.S. has outscored its opponents 43-10 in that span with 13 clean sheets after goalkeeper Jane Campbell added another Thursday.

Macario found the back of the net in the 32nd minute, taking a cross from Yazmeen Ryan in the middle of the box and firing a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Katherine Tapia.

Sentnor scored her first career international goal in the 60th minute, launching a right-footed shot from above the half-circle and into the upper right corner of the net. Sentnor nearly had a second goal in the 74th minute, but her right-footed shot was saved.

Sam Coffey was down on the turf for several minutes after taking a clearing attempt from Colombia off the face in the sixth minute. After receiving attention from the trainer, Coffey sprinted to the sidelines before returning in the ninth minute.

Jenna Nighswonger took a corner kick from Lindsey Heaps in the 19th minute and hit one off the crossbar.

The U.S. plays Australia on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., before facing Japan on Feb. 26 in San Diego.

Colombia plays Japan on Sunday in Glendale before facing Australia on Feb. 26 in San Diego. Japan beat Australia 4-0 in the first game of the SheBelieves Cup on Thursday.

JAPAN 4, AUSTRALIA 0: Mina Tanaka scored a pair of first-half goals and assisted on a second-half goal as Japan opened the SheBelieves Cup with a 4-0 win over Australia on Thursday.

Tanaka scored on a right-footed shot from the right part of the box in the sixth minute. She later coralled a loose ball in the middle of the box and tapped a right-footed shot through goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s legs and into the net in the 33rd minute.

Maika Hamano scored from just outside the goalkeeper’s box in the 53rd minute off a centering pass from Tanaka to make it 3-0. Moeka Minami scored in the 75th minute on a header from just outside the right box off a pass from Hiraku Kitagawa.

Japan, ranked eighth in the latest FIFA rankings, was playing its first match under new manager Nils Nielsen.