Catarina Macario shone brightly on Friday night, scoring two goals as the United States triumphed over Italy 3-0 in a friendly match held at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium. This encounter was the first of a two-part series, with the teams set to face off again on Monday in Fort Lauderdale.
Joining Macario on the scoresheet was Olivia Moultrie, while goalkeeper Claudia Dickey made her mark by securing her first shutout in only her fifth appearance with the senior national team. “We definitely wanted to build on our performances from the last camp,” reflected veteran midfielder Rose Lavelle, who earned her 116th cap. “Our focus was on coming out strong and adhering to our principles, and I think we did just that. Overall, it was a solid team performance.”
The U.S. wasted no time establishing dominance, making their intentions clear within the first two minutes. Fresh from winning the NWSL title with Gotham, Lilly Reale sparked the offensive play by linking up with Lavelle, who passed to Alyssa Thompson. Thompson quickly returned the ball to Lavelle, who then set up Moultrie for a swift finish—her second goal in as many appearances.
“We spoke about starting fast and strong, and that momentum definitely carried through,” Moultrie noted. “We had a fantastic week of training, which translated into our early game play.”
An offside call against Lavelle in the 48th minute thwarted Moultrie’s efforts for a second goal. However, the offense continued to click. In the 64th minute, Sam Coffey made a smart run down the center, feeding Macario, who took off on the left. With a precise shot to the far side, she extended the U.S. lead to two goals.
Macario then capped off a stellar evening in the 76th minute, receiving a well-placed pass from 18-year-old Lily Yohannes. From the top right of the box, Macario fired a beauty to the far side, marking her 15th goal in 28 international appearances. Over her last 14 games with the national team, she has now been involved in an impressive 18 goals.
“It was a fantastic win, and it’s always a joy to be part of this team,” Macario expressed. “I’m so happy to be in this environment; it really helps me become the best version of myself. Fortunately, [U.S. coach] Emma [Hayes] knows me well and understands what I can bring to the squad. This year has been about finding consistency and rhythm, and I think I’m on my way.”
