Alex Morgan’s missed penalty kick in the first half proved crucial when the U.S. women’s national team tied Colombia 0-0 in a friendly in Sandy, Utah, on Thursday.

Morgan squandered an opportunity for the lead in the 44th minute when her shot from the spot hit the right post after defender Daniela Arias had fouled Trinity Rodman.

Morgan rarely takes penalties for the national team. Of her 121 goals, four have been via penalties.

The teams play again Sunday in San Diego.

Ashley Hatch nearly gave the USWNT the lead in the 74th minute on the counter. Rodman sent a lead ball to the left side of the box, where Hatch forced a stop at the near post by Natalia Giraldo, one of her two saves for the match.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Sophia Smith put a shot off the left post that hit Giraldo in the back and rolled toward the goal line before being cleared.

U.S. goalie Alyssa Naeher made two saves her ninth shutout in 2023, one shy of her career-high total set in 2018 and matched in 2019. Casey Murphy has added four shutouts for the year.

With just two goals allowed in 15 matches (0.13 per match) this year, the U.S. is on pace for its lowest average, bettering the 0.40 in 2016 when opponents scored 10 goals in 25 matches.

The U.S. was coming off a pair of victories over South Africa in September that essentially served as farewell matches for retiring stars Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe.

This set of matches under interim coach Twila Kilgore starts the look ahead to the 2024 Olympics in Paris after the disappointing Round of 16 loss to Sweden for the Americans’ earliest exit from the Women’s World Cup.

The U.S. is 9-0-2 all-time vs. Colombia, which is ranked 22nd in the world. The U.S. is ranked third, behind Sweden and World Cup champion Spain.

Defender Becky Sauerbrunn started the second half for her first U.S. appearance since April. A foot injury kept her out of the World Cup, which would have been her fourth.

–Field Level Media