Soccer rolls into Portland on Wednesday, Nov. 28 as the U.S. women’s national team squares off against the Republic of Ireland in the sixth game of its fan tribute tour. This will be the first time the two teams have played since 2008, when the U.S. beat Ireland 2-0 at Toyota Park in Illinois. The team has been on tour since Sept. 1.
COURTESY OF Soccer by Ives
On the pitch: The 2012 gold medalists bring their exhibition tour to PDX.
The 2012 Olympic gold medalists have compiled a record of 3-0-2 since then, trouncing Costa Rica before notching two wins over Australia, then tying twice with Germany in a back-to-back grind between the two top-ranked FIFA teams. The Republic of
Ireland is currently ranked 34th, but looks to gain some valuable international match play against the United States.
The Olympic Games in London marked the third consecutive gold medal for the U.S. team. The championship match showcased a blistering back-and-forth struggle between the U.S. and Japan, ending in a 2-1 win for the Americans on the strength of two goals by midfielder Carli Lloyd. The victory was especially sweet, as they had lost the FIFA World Cup the previous summer in a brutal match that went to penalty kicks after a late rally by Japan.
The women’s national team will find an enthusiastic reception in soccer-mad
Portland before moving on to Arizona for a second match with Ireland on Dec. 1.