#DosACero: USMNT Secures Sixth Consecutive Win Against Mexico

The U.S. Men’s National Team had an exciting 2-0 win over Mexico at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday. The Mexico-USA game is always promised to be a thriller due to the long standing rivalry between the neighboring nations. U.S. defender and Texas native, Omar Gonzalez, spoke about his excitement to play at home and contribute to the effort against Mexico:

“This rivalry is very important, you never want to lose to your neighbor. In the past, these games have been awesome to watch and they’ve been really tough games and important games. I’m Mexican-American and that has a lot to do with it as well. There’s just a lot of history in these games and they’re always exciting to be a part of.”

Continued Success Against Mexico
A sell-out crowd of 64,369 looked on as Jordan Morris and Juan Agudelo scored the only goals of the game. This was Morris’s first starting game and first international goal of his National Team career. Within minutes after subbing in for Morris,  Agudelo brought down a long ball by Michael Bradley and sent the ball into the goal between Mexico's Goalkeeper, Cirilo Saucedo, and the left post. The U.S. has yet to lose to Mexico in six games, and have yet to lose on home soil in 21 games.

Up Next: On June 5th the USMNT will face the Netherlands at Amsterdam Arena. The game will be available to watch on ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMás, and UDN at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Image and video courtesy of  U.S. Soccer.

WNT Dominate New Zealand at First Home Game

On April 4th, the USWNT held their first home match of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO. The international friendly, first in a send-off series to the World Cup, was played in front of a record crowd with an attendance of 35,817. The U.S. proved themselves to their fans as they netted in four goals to beat opponents New Zealand. The U.S. scored one goal in the first half, followed by three within a five minute span in the second half. Three of the goals were scored by defenders who provided great support to the team’s attack strategy throughout the game.

Dream-like Success
The U.S. developed numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game and continuously tested New Zealand’s goalie, Erin Nayler, who succeeded in blocking three shots on target. Midfielder Meghan Klingenberg scored the first goal of the game, and her second career goal with a long-range blast into the upper left corner in the fourteenth minute. Playing in her hometown, Defender Lori Chalupny was thrilled to score the second goal of the game:

“Just to be here playing in Busch Stadium and in St. Louis in front of friends and family is enough. Then, to score a goal is pretty amazing. I feel like I’m living in a dream a little bit. Absolute joy.”

A header by Julie Johnston sent the score to 3-0 minutes after Klingenberg’s goal, and Morgan Brian ended the scoring margin at 4-0 in the 81st minute.

Up Next for the USWNT
Catch the women in the second game of their send-off series, as they take on Ireland in San Jose, California on May 10, 2:30 P.M. ET. The game will broadcast on FOX Sports 1.

Image and video courtesy of US Soccer. 

Christen Press Headstarts Soccer-Inspired Workouts for the Nike 90-Day Challenge

The U.S. Women's National Team is working hard to prepare for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer. As part of the Nike+ Training Club 90-Day Better For it Challenge, key U.S. players will be sharing some of their best workouts. The series of workouts are meant to be outside women's comfort zones, but they will be "better for it" by accomplishing the challenge. This is a complete fitness program meant to quickly increase endurance and build strength, which are crucial necessities for soccer players. Christen Press is the first to release a workout on the Nike Training Club App, with workouts from Ali Krieger and Carli Lloyd to soon follow. 

Rekindled Romance
This summer Christen Press will be participating in her first major tournament as part of the USWNT. Press is a graduate from Stanford University, and is known for her intelligence on and off the field. While her intelligence benefitted her in the classroom, this same cerebral nature put her soccer career in jeopardy. During her collegiate career, Press says she was constantly over-thinking her actions on the pitch, re-watching videos and obsessing over her mistakes. Winning games and championships became a focus in her life:

“There were times in my life when I felt like if I didn’t win, I was not a winner. My entire identity was tied to championships."  

Despite her success in college achieving both All-America honors and the title of Stanford's all-time leading scorer, Press's overly critical mentality put her career at risk. Rather than staying in the states to play after graduation, she moved overseas to play in Sweden for a team that was not highly regarded or ranked. This move allowed Press to control many of the stress triggers that she had developed playing in America, and she was able to rekindle her love for soccer. 

Striving Striker’s Workout
As a striker, Press has a need for explosive movements on the field. Her workout will focus on strength, mobility, and stability exercises. Examples of the exercises include Lateral Forward Jumps and Side Plank with Forward Backward Touches. The regimen, inspired by Christen Press and the role of the dynamic striker, was designed by Nike Master Trainer Emily Hutchins. It is now available on the Nike+ Training Club App.

Images & video Courtesy of Nike.

MNT Fights Hard Against Switzerland: Game Ends in Draw

On Tuesday, March 31st, the U.S. Men's National Team battled No.12 ranked Switzerland in an international friendly held in Zurich. The game ended in a 1-1 draw; an improvement from the MNT's tough recent losses. The U.S. started strong in the first half. In the 45th minute, Brek Shea sent the ball into the top right corner after the U.S. was set up for a free kick, marking his second goal of the year. In the 80th minute, Swiss midfielder Valentin Stocker poked a shot from four yards away, ending the game with a tie.

Firsts for Many Players
Goalkeeper William Yarbrough made his international debut playing in the second half for Nick Rimando. Yarbrough plays for Club León in Mexico, but recently joined the USMNT training camp in preparation for this game. Jordan Morris, the replacement for forward Aaron Johannsson, entered the game in the 89th minute. Jozy Altidore received his first red card with the MNT after protesting a call made by the head referee.

Up Next for the MNT
The USMNT will face rivals Mexico on April 15 at 7:30 CT at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Images & video courtesy of US Soccer.