Macario Shines as US Women's Team Secures Comfortable Win
The United States women's national football team delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, securing a 3-0 victory against Italy in an international friendly at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The match marked the first of two scheduled friendlies between the nations, with the second encounter set for 1st December in Fort Lauderdale.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The American side wasted no time establishing dominance, finding the net within the opening two minutes of play. The breakthrough came from Olivia Moultrie, who celebrated scoring in her second consecutive appearance for the team. The attacking move began with Lilly Reale, recently crowned NWSL champion with Gotham, finding Rose Lavelle. Lavelle then spread play wide to Alyssa Thompson before receiving the return pass and setting up Moultrie for a clinical finish.
"We talked about starting fast and starting strong, and I think the momentum carried out," Moultrie commented after the match. "We had a really good week of training, so I feel like it flowed into the first minutes of the game."
Macario Takes Centre Stage
The United States continued to press, and their persistence was rewarded in the 64th minute when Catarina Macario doubled the lead. The goal originated from Sam Coffey, who drove through the midfield before spotting Macario's run and slipping a perfectly weighted pass. Macario collected the ball and finished expertly to the far side of the goal.
Macario wasn't finished, adding her second of the night just twelve minutes later. This time, she was the beneficiary of a clever pass from the squad's youngest member, 18-year-old Lily Yohannes. Macario controlled the ball at the top right corner of the penalty area and unleashed another powerful strike into the far corner of the net.
These strikes brought Macario's international tally to 15 goals in 28 appearances. Remarkably, she has now been directly involved in 18 goals across her last 14 matches for the United States.
Team Performance Praised
While the attackers grabbed the headlines, the defensive unit ensured a comfortable evening for goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, who earned a clean sheet in just her fifth senior cap for the United States.
Veteran midfielder Rose Lavelle, earning her 116th cap, highlighted the collective effort. "I think obviously we wanted to keep building on the performances we had last camp, and the emphasis on coming out strong and sticking to our principles, and I think that's what we did," Lavelle stated. "Overall, I think a really good team performance."
For Macario, the match represented another positive step in her international career. "It was a great win, it's always a pleasure being with this team," said Macario, who has registered 12 goals and six assists since February 2022. "I feel so happy to be in this environment, and I feel like it really just helps you be the best version of yourself."
