Courage at the Women’s World Cup: Dahlkemper, McDonald keep the USWNT train rolling

Abby Dahlkemper and Jessica McDonald were the only North Carolina Courage players to feature as the USWNT took on Chile on Sunday afternoon. The USWNT came away as 3-0 winners despite the efforts of Chilean goalkeeper Cristiane Endler and sit on top of Group F due to goal difference.

Jessica McDonald almost caps off her debut with a wonder strike

McDonald came in for her debut at the World Cup as the second half was set to begin and put in a great performance for the USWNT. She continued to harry the Chilean backline whenever she could and provided a great outlet for her teammates to find when they needed someone to hold up the ball. Playing further wide than she usually does, McDonald still provided a threat and almost had her first World Cup goal in the 62nd minute.

McDonald picked up the ball out wide, drove forward before cutting inside and sending in a curling effort that cannoned off the post with Endler completely beaten. It would have taken something that special to beat the Chilean goalkeeper who had been excellent all day long and McDonald was inches away from writing another epic chapter in her soccer career.

Dahlkemper and the USWNT backline keep another clean sheet

Two games, two clean sheet. That’s all Abby Dahlkemper could ask for at this stage of the competition. This time around Dahlkemper was the only one of the back four who played against Thailand previously who started this match as well. The NC Courage defender was substituted out of the match in the 82nd minute and will be happy with her overall performance. Chile did not get much of an opportunity to threaten the U.S. goal and Dahlkemper’s range of passing (and its accuracy) was on full display once again.

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

With the win, the U.S. have now qualified for the Round of 16 and will potentially face either Spain or potentially the Netherlands or Canada. The USWNT will now face Sweden on Thursday afternoon in a game that will decide who will finish first and second in Group F, thus also deciding who the USWNT will face in the knock out stages.