U.S. Women's Soccer Team Defeats China at Qualcomm Stadium

Carli Lloyd scored two goals in a four-minute span midway through the first half, helping lead the U.S. women's national soccer team to a 3-0 victory over China in an exhibition game at Qualcomm Stadium Thursday night.

Hope Solo needed to make just one save to record her 70th shutout in international play, one behind Briana Scurry's team-record 71, before a crowd announced at 12,857.

Lloyd took a pass from Lauren Holiday and put a 12-yard shot past Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Yue in the 20th minute.

Lloyd controlled a failed clearance attempt by Wang Shanshan and put a 24-yard shot inside the left post in the 23rd minute for the 50th goal of her international career.

Less than 15 seconds into the second half, Megan Rapinoe intercepted another failed clearance attempt by Wang, made a tap pass to Sydney Leroux who put a shot from just outside the six-yard box underneath Zhang.

The U.S. led 18-3 in shots and 12-2 in shots on goal in its first game in San Diego since 2010 tonight and first at Qualcomm Stadium.

Defender Rachel Van Hollebeke, a graduate of Torrey Pines High School, suffered an ankle injury two minutes into the game, tried to fight through the pain on the sideline, and was replaced by Whitney Engen in the seventh minute.

The victory extended the Americans' undefeated streak in games played in the U.S. to 82 games. The U.S. has 72 wins and 10 ties since its last loss in the U.S., a 3-1 setback to Denmark on Nov. 6, 2004, in Philadelphia.

The U.S. also extended its unbeaten streak against China to 23 games, dating back to 2003, and leads the series, 32-8-12.

The game was the first for the U.S. since Sunday's firing of coach Tom Sermanni, hours after a 2-0 victory over China in Commerce City, Colo. U.S. Director of Development Jill Ellis was appointed interim coach in connection with Sermanni's firing.

The U.S. is first in the rankings compiled by FIFA, soccer's worldwide governing body. China is ranked 16th.

—City News Service