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U.S. forward Christen Press, left, and Argentina defender Romina Nunez collide while going for the ball during the first half of their SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match on Wednesday night in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Megan Rapinoe (15) scores a goal past Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra (1) during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Megan Rapinoe (15) celebrates after scoring a goal in front of Argentina midfielder Vanesa Santana, right, during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra, left, knocks the ball away as United States midfielder Jaelin Howell attempts a header on goal off a corner kick during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Megan Rapinoe (15) and Argentina defender Marina Delgado (4) compete for a ball during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Megan Rapinoe (15) celebrates with forward Carli Lloyd (10) after Rapinoe score her second goal during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Sophia Smith (17) competes for a header between Argentina defender Eliana Stabile (3) and midfielder Vanesa Santana (5) during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States midfielder Julie Ertz (8) and Argentina midfielder Clarisa Huber, below, compete for a ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States midfielder Kristie Mewis (22) and Argentina midfielder Daiana Falfan (20) compete for a header during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Alex Morgan (13) scores a goal between forward Christen Press (23) and Argentinal defender Aldana Cometti (6) during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Alex Morgan (13) and Argentina midfielder Vanesa Santana (5) compete for a header during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Carli Lloyd (10) and Argentina defender Aldana Cometti (6) compete for a ball during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States defender Margaret Purce (20) and Argentina midfielder Dalila Ippolito (10) compete for a ball during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra, below, blocks a shot attempt by United States forward Alex Morgan (13) during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States midfielder Kristie Mewis (22) attempts a shot on goal in front of Argentina midfielder Valentina Camara (17) during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States midfielder Kristie Mewis (22) is congratulated by midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) and forward Megan Rapinoe, right, after Mewis scored a goal during the first half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Alex Morgan (13) attempts a shot on goal in front of Argentina defender Adriana Sachs (21) during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Christen Press (23) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Christen Press, right, celebrates with midfielder Lindsey Horan after Press scored a goal past Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra (1) during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States defenders Becky Sauerbrunn (4) and Crystal Dunn (19) hold the championship trophy after a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with a high-kick after accepting her medal during the trophy presentation after a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States midfielder Rose Lavelle holds the most valuable player trophy after a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States players and coaches pose for a group photo during the trophy presentation after a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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United States players and coaches celebrate during the trophy presentation after a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Argentina, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Megan Rapinoe scored two first-half goals and the United States won the SheBelieves Cup title with a 6-0 rout of Argentina on Wednesday night.
Carli Lloyd, Kristie Mewis, Alex Morgan and Christen Press also scored, and the U.S. women also become the first team to have three straight shutouts in the SheBelieves Cup, which is in its sixth year.
The defending champion U.S. team blanked Canada in the round-robin tournament opener and then downed Brazil, 2-0, on Sunday. Earlier Wednesday, Brazil beat Canada, 2-0, at Exploria Stadium. Brazil finished second.
“Overall, very happy with how we performed and how we were able to unlock Argentina early in the game, and how we finished the game as well,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said.
With the win in hand, the U.S. extended its unbeaten streak to 37 games (34-0-3). The group hasn’t lost in its last 53 games on American soil.
Argentina, a late addition after Japan dropped out because of coronavirus concerns, did not win a match but did impress with gritty performances. It was also playing without one of its most dominant players, midfielder Lorena Benitez, who was diagnosed with a torn ACL after she was taken off the field on a stretcher during their 1-0 loss to Canada. Her absence showed as her team only managed 32 percent possession and failed to get a shot on target.
Rapinoe scored in the 16th minute with a well-timed strike on a through ball from Rose Lavelle for the early lead.
Rapinoe added another in the 26th minute, tapping in a cross from Lloyd. Rapinoe is the top SheBelieves career leader with seven goals, including three in this edition.
“We wanted to come out fast as always. It’s always dangerous to leave teams hanging around, so we definitely didn’t do that today,” Rapinoe said. “Just tried to find the space, be aggressive.”
Lloyd added a goal in the 34th. It was Lloyd’s 124th international goal and it came in her 299th appearance with the national team.
Kristie Mewis scored on an angle into the far corner for her fourth career international goal in the 41st minute, and the United States took a 4-0 lead into the half.
Morgan scored in 84th, her first goal since giving birth to her daughter Charlie last May. It was her 108th international goal, moving her into sole possession of fifth place on the team’s career list.
“I’m very excited to get my first goal back with the national team and join the list of moms on the team who have scored goals and played as a national team player,” Morgan said. “I just want to be an example for other female athletes who are moms or want to become moms, knowing that they still belong in the game.”
Press scored on a header before the final whistle for her 11th goal in her last 14 games.
Rose Lavelle was named the MVP for the tournament.
“Honestly I don’t know how I won that,” Lavelle said. “It’s always nice to be recognized, but I think there were other people that deserved it more.”
The U.S. highlighted its depth by making all of the allotted six substitutions and gave Jane Campbell the start in net, her first of the tournament.
The United States improved to 4-0 against Argentina.
Back-to-back. 4th overall.
Relive the win that sealed another SheBelieves Cup title for the @USWNT with our 90′ in 90″
pic.twitter.com/pNh57fIFM7
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 25, 2021
Talkin’ rock-the-baby celebrations and the @NWSL season
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 25, 2021
Alex Morgan scores her first goal as a mom! Sophia Smith serves it up, and Morgan scores for the first time since the 2019 Women’s World Cup with the #USWNT‘s fifth of the night #SheBelievesCup
(via @FoxSoccer) pic.twitter.com/GJ8g9GCLeA
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) February 25, 2021
Header or golazo, you gotta love when CP23 scores
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 25, 2021
Never gets old, @USWNT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 25, 2021
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