Crystal Dunn (white jersey) scored two goals in the USA's win over visiting Russia on April 9, 2017, in Houston, Texas, USA. (Photo: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)
HOUSTON – Crystal Dunn scored two goals and the United States women’s national team earned a 5-1 win over visiting Russia in an international friendly on Sunday in front of 11,347 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium.
With the victory, the Americans completed a two-game sweep of the friendly series between, also winning 4-0 on April 6 in Frisco, Texas.
The U.S. went ahead 1-0 in the 20th minute, when Carli Lloyd converted a penalty kick after Dunn was fouled inside the box.
In 37th minute, Rose Lavelle doubled the advantage with her first international goal, controlling Mallory Pugh’s long ball played over the top and finishing with her left foot from 10-yards out.
Dunn netted her first of the game in the 38th minute, simply sticking out her right foot at the doorstep to touch home Meghan Klingenberg’s precisely lifted cross from the left side of the box.
Russia pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute through Daria Makarenko’s successfully taken penalty kick, but an own-goal by Ksenia Kovalenko restored the host’s three-goal lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
Three minutes into the second half, Pugh assisted on Dunn’s second goal to complete the scoreline and her second consecutive brace.
The U.S. returns to action on June 8 with a visit to Sweden.
NOTES: Rose Lavelle was the Golden Ball winner at the 2014 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship … Goalkeeper Jane Campbell made her U.S. senior team debut, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Ashlynn Harris.
