After a comprehensive defeat to Germany at Wembley to end last year, England started 2015 much improved but vitally, again couldn't find a way to win against one of the worlds best, as Mark Sampson's team fell to the USA. Making five changes from the team that lost against the Germans last November, Sampson changed his favoured attacking diamond formation for a more solid 4-4-2 and brought in Jill Scott and Jo Potter to provide physicality in midfield. Laura Basset stepped in for the injured Lucy Bronze at centre back and Jodie Taylor and Fran Kirby were favoured up front, rather than their more experienced team-mates.
The United States, the two times World Cup winners but not since 1999, hadn't been in great form either, having arrived at Milton Keynes just 5 days after a 2-0 loss to France in Lorient. But were able to find a breakthrough despite resorting to long balls, as neither team played their best football.
USA's defence were rarely threatened, Becky Sauerbrunn and former Liverpool Ladies player Whitney Engen standing firm as England played on the counter attack and often had all 11 players in their own half. The US went ahead in the 25th minute when Alex Morgan got on the end of a perfectly weighted Lauren Holiday cross, which Karen Bardsley in the England goal couldn't keep out. That goal took Morgan to 50 international goals, the third fastest in USWNT history, taking only 79 matches.
England started brightly after the break and seemed to have drawn level in the 56th minute. Fran Kirby picked up the ball just outside the box before unleashing a shot which Ashlynn Harris could only tip onto the crossbar. Jodie Taylor followed up and tapped home, only for it to be called back as offside, a decision which the replay showed to be incorrect.
Despite pressing for an equaliser, the home side were unable to find a way through a strong US side. England head coach Sampson said after the match, "Tonight we have learned we can be a threat on the counter attack, which is a huge positive for us because normally we dominate possession."
The Lionesses launch their World Cup campaign against France on 9 June, with other group matches against Mexico and Colombia. USA are in 'The Group of Death' with Australia, Sweden and Nigeria. England continue their preparation for the World Cup next month in the Cyprus Cup, grouped with Australia, Finland and the Netherlands.
Teams
England: Bardsley (GK), A. Scott, Houghton (C), Basset (Clarke 90), Stokes (Greenwood 69), Nobbs (Williams 81), J. Scott, Potter (Aluko 79), Carney, Taylor (Sanderson 81), Kirby
Unused Substitutes: Bonner, Chamberlain (GK), Stoney, Chapman, Moore, Telford (GK)
United States: Harris (GK), Krieger, Engen, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg (Dunn 79), Press (O'Hara 92), Holiday, Brian, Lloyd, Morgan (Rodriquez 90), Wambach (C)
Unused Substitutes: Boxx, O'Reilly, Johnston, Chalupny, Heath, Van Hollebeke, Naeher (GK), Huster
Attendance: 14,369
England: Bardsley (GK), A. Scott, Houghton (C), Basset (Clarke 90), Stokes (Greenwood 69), Nobbs (Williams 81), J. Scott, Potter (Aluko 79), Carney, Taylor (Sanderson 81), Kirby
Unused Substitutes: Bonner, Chamberlain (GK), Stoney, Chapman, Moore, Telford (GK)
United States: Harris (GK), Krieger, Engen, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg (Dunn 79), Press (O'Hara 92), Holiday, Brian, Lloyd, Morgan (Rodriquez 90), Wambach (C)
Unused Substitutes: Boxx, O'Reilly, Johnston, Chalupny, Heath, Van Hollebeke, Naeher (GK), Huster
Attendance: 14,369
Game highlights [From US Soccer YouTube Channel]