SAN DIEGO — Carli Lloyd scored two goals less than three minutes apart in the first half as the United States defeated China 3-0 Thursday night in a women’s soccer friendly in the first game since Tom Sermanni was fired as coach of the Americans.
The victory extended the United States’ unbeaten streak on home turf to 82 games (72-0-10) as Jill Ellis marked the start of her second stint as interim coach.
Lloyd took a pass from forward Lauren Holiday and beat China goalie Zhang Yue with a left foot drive just inside the right goal post in the 20th minute. In the 23rd minute Lloyd intercepted a pass and drilled a shot from 25 yards out that caught the inside of the left goalpost past Yue.
Lloyd has 50 goals in international play.
Prior to those two scores, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo had made a terrific hand save on a shot by Zhang Rui in the 11th minute of play.
Lloyd suffered a bloody nose in a collision late in the first half but did return to play. American defenseman Rachel Van Hollebeke suffered a twisted left ankle in the first half and did not return.
All-time leading scorer Abby Wambach made her first appearance at the start of the second half.
Forward Sydney Leroux scored the third goal of the game with an assist from Megan Rapinoe in the 46th miinute
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