FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Concacaf Women Championship - Group A - Jamaica v United States - Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico - July 7, 2022 Trinity Rodman of the U.S. scores their fifth goal REUTERS/Pilar Olivares/File Photo
(Corrects spelling of coach Andonovski's name in paragraph 3)
(Reuters) - Trinity Rodman made a compelling case for herself as a Women's World Cup starter on Sunday, as she scored a brace to give the United States a 2-0 win over Wales in their final tune-up match before the tournament.
Sophia Smith drew out the Welsh goalkeeper and crossed to 21-year-old Rodman, who finished into a open goal to break the deadlock in the 76th minute in San Jose, California.
Rodman, who came on as a second-half substitute after coach Vlatko Andonovski opted to start 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson up front, added another goal 11 minutes later.
The U.S. had not been held goalless in the first half since January but were utterly flummoxed against the 30th-ranked Wales' tight formation, before Andonovski sent on a flurry of substitutes, including Rodman.
"Today was another stepping stone for us," veteran defender Crystal Dunn said in a post-match interview. "Obviously wasn't our tidiest game but I think this is a great moment for us to build on what we're working on right now."
The friendly gave fans a final glimpse at their four-times champions before they travel to New Zealand, where they begin their World Cup campaign against Vietnam in Group E on July 22.
The 23-player squad are in pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive title and were treated to a post-match ceremony in front of 18,000 fans before they were expected to board a plane hours later.
Veteran Megan Rapinoe, who announced on Saturday that she would retire at the end of the season, did not play in the match but was greeted to roars of celebration as she stepped out onto the pitch and gave the crowd a wave.
The World Cup kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
(This story has been corrected to fix coach Andonovski's name in paragraph 3)
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
