AFP
Miami, United States
The United States came from behind to defeat Germany 2-1 and win the inaugural SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday in a repeat of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final battle.
Alex Morgan and Sam Mewis scored first-half goals for the American women after the hosts had been rocked by a 30th-minute Anja Mittag strike as Germany took the lead in Boca Raton, Florida. Victory meant the US women finished the four-nation tournament on top of the group with a 100 percent record after winning their matches against England and France.
The United States kicked off the match with the nucleus of the team which was victorious in the World Cup last year. Five of their line-up -- Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo, Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn and Tobin Heath -- had played more than 100 internationals each.
That core of experience proved vital after the hosts fell behind to Mittag's thunderous right-footed strike after half an hour. The goal ended a run of 781 minutes without conceding a goal for the in-form US team.
However, the hosts got back on level terms in the 37th minute after a fine piece of skill by Morgan, who latched onto a long pass, flicked the ball over her shadowing defender and then rammed home the finish. It was the 26-year-old Morgan's 64th international goal. Four minutes later and Mewis made it 2-1 when her shot from distance bobbled on the uneven playing surface and beat Almuth Schult in the Germany goal.
The victory extended a remarkable run of results for the American women, who are unbeaten in 2016 as they build towards the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where they will seek to defend their 2012 crown. In the day's other game, England and France ground out a 0-0 draw to finish the tournament at third and fourth in the table respectively with one point each.
