|
Solo, playing her 199th international match in the game in
Belo Horizonte, was greeted by thousands of fans shouting
"Zika!", in reference to a Twitter photo she published last
month, every time she cleared the ball or took a goal kick.
"Not sharing this!!! Get your own!" the 35-year-old had written
on Twitter, where she was photographed wearing a mosquito net
and holding a jumbo-sized bottle of insect repellent.
Solo later downplayed the picture but the Rio Games, the first
in South America, have been beset by concerns over an outbreak
of the virus, which can cause birth defects in newborn children.
Several athletes, particularly male golfers, have withdrawn due
to their concerns of contracting the mosquito-born virus.
The chant, based on similar chants used by fans all across Latin
America, was one of the talking points in a game the U.S.
controlled without dominating.
They took an early lead after just nine minutes thanks to
captain Carli Lloyd, who got on the end of a cross to wrong foot
New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler and send a looping header
into the corner of the net.
Alex Morgan got the second less than a minute into the second
period when she ended a nice move by firing home between Nayler
and the post from 12 yards out.
"They are very physical team and technically they were strong
and they are strong throughout," said Nayler. "There were
moments when we broke them down but we couldn't score."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
