Record Crowd Witnesses USWNT and England in Historic 0-0 Draw at Wembley Stadium

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30/11/2024 20h01

**USWNT and England Battle to 0-0 Draw in Record-Breaking Friendly at Wembley**

In an exhilarating contest at Wembley Stadium, the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) and England played to a goalless draw, witnessed by a record-breaking crowd of 78,346 spectators, marking the largest attendance ever for a women's international friendly.

Mary Earps stood out with an impressive performance, making three crucial saves in the first half to keep the USWNT at bay. The American side, currently the top-ranked team in the FIFA rankings, outshot the second-ranked English team 10-4, extending their unbeaten streak to 19 matches, a sequence that spans their gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Early in the match, in the fifth minute, Alyssa Thompson found herself in a prime spot inside the penalty area, courtesy of a swift run and precise cross from Emma Sears. However, her effort was thwarted by a spectacular left-sided lunge from Earps. Later, in the 32nd minute, Thompson switched to the role of provider, setting up Casey Krueger, whose attempt met a similar fate with Earps making another crucial low dive to deny the goal.

The USWNT maintained their offensive pressure into the second half. A notable moment came in the 53rd minute when Lindsey Horan's close-range shot was heroically cleared off the line by Leah Williamson. Controversy struck in the 64th minute when Yazmeen Ryan's shot led to a penalty being awarded after the ball appeared to strike the arm of England's Alex Greenwood. However, after a review from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the decision was overturned as the contact with Greenwood's arm was deemed indirect.

England's most promising opportunities emerged in the final third of the match but fell short of seriously challenging USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. The sole shot on target for the hosts occurred in the 55th minute when Williamson's headed effort from a Mead cross resulted in a routine save for Naeher.

This much-anticipated clash between the top two teams in women's soccer concluded without a victor, but demonstrated elite competitive spirit and thrilling moments, paving the way for future encounters on the world stage.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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