The U.S. women’s national team had a dream start to a July that it hopes will include a deep run at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic tournament.
The USWNT registered a convincing 4-0 Olympic tuneup win over Mexico in East Hartford, Conn., on Thursday and in the process saw one of its stars make an immediate impact in her long-awaited return. Christen Press netted twice and Sam Mewis scored again, but Tobin Heath’s goal after a lengthy spell on the sidelines was what had everyone talking postgame.
Out of action for six months with a combination of ankle and knee injuries suffered while with Manchester United, Heath couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying return to the field since she last played for Man United on Dec. 20.
She scored just 52 seconds after coming off the bench in the pouring rain at Rentschler Field. Her audacious drive from 30 yards out pinged off the left post and in, just how she had imagined it.