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Closed Door vs. China

The 90-minute scrimmage featured different U.S. teams in each half with the Americans coming away with a 3-0 triumph on goals from Alex Morgan, Heather O’Reilly and Sydney Leroux.

The USA scored in the 10th and 12th minutes to take an early lead. The first came as Shannon Boxx won a ball and played it to Amy LePeilbet on the right flank. She hit a perfect pass over the top of the China back line into the right side of the penalty area, where Abby Wambach athletically looped a cross into the middle for the unmarked Morgan, who took the ball down off her chest and fired into the upper left corner.

The second goal was all O’Reilly as Rachel Buehler won the ball with a toe-poke to the USA’s right flank midfielder who then raced all the way to the right edge of the goal box before tucking her shot into the lower left corner from a sharp angle.

Leroux added a third in the 55th minute on an assist from Tobin Heath, who nice slipped a pass into the right side of the penalty area. Leroux eluded several defenders while cutting into the middle before finishing smartly into the lower left corner.

All of the players on the U.S. roster saw action except for goalkeeper Hope Solo, as back-ups Nicole Barnhart and Ashlyn Harris got some minutes, splitting halves.

And they promised video.  The Algarve is finally, really here.

Mittsy, what is that face.