Cat Macario helps lead USWNT to victory over Italy…
Cat Macario scored two targets and the United States defeated Italy 3-0 on Saturday evening in a pleasant match at Inter&Co Stadium.
It was the first of two friendlies between the groups, with the second scheduled for Dec. 1 in Fort Lauderdale.
Olivia Moultrie also scored while goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned the shutout in just her fifth look at the senior stage.
United States midfielder Catarina Macario (20) celebrates her purpose against Italy with ahead Jaedyn Shaw (8) and midfielder Lily Yohannes (7) during the second half of an worldwide pleasant soccer match, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. AP
“I think obviously we wanted to keep building on the performances we had last camp, and the emphasis on coming out strong and sticking to our principles, and I think that’s what we did,” said U.S. veteran Rose Lavelle, who earned her 116th cap. “Overall, I think a really good team performance.”
The United States wasted no time in attacking Italy’s goalie Laura Giuliani, scoring inside the first two minutes.
Fresh off their NWSL title with Gotham, Lilly Reale discovered teammate Lavelle to start the sequence. Lavelle then went large to Alyssa Thompson, who rapidly returned the ball. Lavelle discovered Moultrie, who went far facet for her second purpose in as many appearances with the staff.
“We talked about starting fast and starting strong, and I think the momentum carried out,” Moultrie said. “We had a really good week of training, so I feel like it flowed into the first minutes of the game.”
An offside call on Lavelle at the 48-minute mark denied Moultrie her second purpose.
In the sixty fourth minute, Sam Coffey dribbled down the center and discovered Macario breaking on her left. Macario took the move and fired a shot far facet to give the United States a two-goal lead.
The United States have a good time with Catarina MacArio #20 after a purpose in the second half against Italy during an International Friendly recreation at Inter&Co Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Getty Images
Macario added her second in the 76th minute when she snared a move from the staff’s youngest participant, 18-year-old Lily Yohannes, and fired a shot from the top of the best facet of the box to the far facet of the purpose.
It was Macario’s fifteenth purpose in 28 worldwide appearances. Macario has now been concerned in 18 targets in her last 14 U.S. appearances.
“It was a great win, it’s always a pleasure being with this team,” said Macario, who has 12 targets and six assists since February of 2022. “I really feel so completely happy to be in this setting, and I really feel prefer it actually just helps you be the best model of your self.
“Lucky enough that (U.S. coach) Emma (Hayes) knows me very well, and she knows what I can bring to the team. This was a good year … in which I have just been trying to find some consistency … just trying to find my rhythm.”
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