PARIS: Veteran Carli Lloyd became the first player to score in six consecutive Women’s World Cup matches as the United States eased to a 3-0 win over Chile on Sunday and joined Sweden in securing their passage to the last 16.

That the USA’s winning margin was nowhere near their record-breaking 13-0 hammering of Thailand in their opening game was largely down to the heroics of Chile’s brilliant goalkeeper Christiane Endler, but it was still a one-sided victory for the holders in Paris.

Sweden, meanwhile, beat Thailand 5-1 in Nice and must now defeat the holders in Le Havre on Thursday if they are to finish first in Group ‘F’.

Lloyd had been eager to show she was still worthy of a starting place in Jill Ellis’ US side and she came into the line-up as one of seven changes.

She netted twice in the first half either side of a Julie Ertz goal, as the USA followed the Swedes in advancing from Group ‘F’.

The score could have been worse for Chile without unshakable goalkeeper Endler, who finished with six saves and fended off a flurry of shots in the second half. Endler was selected player of the match.

In Nice, Linda Sembrant, Kosovare Asllani, Fridolina Rolfo and Lina Hurtig scored for Sweden before Elin Rubensson sealed their win from the penalty spot late on but the Thai squad was thrilled to have scored a goal after their humiliating loss to the Americans.

Kanjana Sungngoen found the net against Sweden in the first minute of stoppage time, with Thailand already trailing 4-0, but the team celebrated as if it had won.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2019