Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan and the U.S. Women’s National team rose to defeat Christine Sinclair and the Canadian National team 3-1 in an international friendly Sunday night at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. Horan and Sinclair each started for their international sides, with Horan going the full 90 and Sinclair putting in a strong 60 minutes of work. Horan's solid performance in the middle of the pitch earned her the Budweiser Woman of the Match honors.
The Yanks found an early lead in the match when Julie Ertz converted an 11th minute corner kick by Megan Rapinoe with a well placed header. Sinclair nearly equalized in the 31st minute, when a pass back by Horan fell into the path of the Canadian captain. Sinclair one-timed the ball with a sliding shot from the top of the box but the ball rolled just wide of the goal.
The teams returned from the break with the score 1-0 in favor of the host, but five minutes into the second half, Canada netted the equalizer. An impressive ball down the byline by Sinclair reached a sprinting Nichelle Prince, who then went on to find Janine Beckie who knocked it in to tie the match at 1-1.
However the U.S. would go on to find the back of the net two more times, as Alex Morgan made it 2-1 in the 56th minute before Carli Lloyd sealed the win with an 80th minute goal.
Allie Long and Emily Sonnett were also available off the bench for the USWNT in the match
