U.S. midfielder Ashley Sanchez plays the ball during the first half of their exhibition match against Colombia on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. defender Sofia Huerta follows through on a shot against Colombia during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Margaret Purce (23) and Colombia’s Manuela Vanegas (2) vie for the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Margaret Purce (23) and Colombia’s Manuela Vanegas (2) watch the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Margaret Purce, rear, battles against Colombia’s Manuela Vanegas (2) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Margaret Purce (23) and Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabali (19) vie for a head ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe watches during the first half of the team’s international friendly soccer match against Colombia on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Margaret Purce (23) is defended by Colombia’s Jorelyn Carabali (19) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe takes a shot against Colombia during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. defender Sofia Huerta (8) and Colombia’s Nancy Acosta (14) jump for a head ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S. midfielder Lindsey Horan defends against Colombia’s Leicy Santos (10) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Elexa Bahr of Colombia fights for the ball with Emily Sonnett of the United States during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Elexa Bahr of Colombia fights for the ball with Sofia Huerta of the United States during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Rose Lavelle of the United States fights for the ball with Lorena Bedoya of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Megan Rapinoe of the United States fights for the ball with Lorena Bedoya of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Nancy Acosta of Colombia fights for the ball with Midge Purce of the United States during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Emily Sonnett of the United States fights for the ball with Leicy Santos of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Emily Sonnett of the United States fights for the ball with Leicy Santos of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Alex Morgan of the United States shoots the ball against Diana Ospina of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Trinity Rodman of the United States competes with Catalina Usme of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
The United States’ Kelley O’Hara, left, celebrates her goal with teammate Trinity Rodman during the second half of their exhibition victory over against Colombia on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. The Americans won, 2-0, in their final tuneup for World Cup qualifying. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The United States’ Kelley O’Hara, left, celebrates her goal with teammate Trinity Rodman during the second half of their exhibition victory over against Colombia on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. The Americans won, 2-0, in their final tuneup for World Cup qualifying. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
U.S.defender Kelley O’Hara, center, celebrates with forward Trinity Rodman, left, and midfielder Taylor Kornieck, right, after scoring during the second half of their exhibition match against Colombia on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The United States’ Kelley O’Hara, right, celebrates her goal with teammate Trinity Rodman during the second half of their exhibition victory over against Colombia on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. The Americans won, 2-0, in their final tuneup for World Cup qualifying. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Emily Sonnett (14) of the United States celebrates a goal with her teammates during a game against Colombia at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Rose Lavelle of the United States fights for the ball with Lorena Bedoya of Colombia during a game at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 28, 2022 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe waves to fans following the team’s international friendly soccer match against Colombia on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SANDY, Utah — Kelley O’Hara scored in the 77th minute after a lengthy lightning delay, and the U.S. women’s soccer team beat Colombia, 2-0, on Tuesday night in their final exhibition tuneup ahead of World Cup qualifying.
The United States extended its unbeaten streak to 69 games on home soil. Lightning was reported near Rio Tinto Stadium in the 75th minute, causing play to be suspended for more than 30 minutes.
It was the second of two games against Colombia as both teams prepare for World Cup qualifying in July. The U.S. will try for a third straight World Cup title next summer in Australia and New Zealand.
The Americans went ahead on an own goal from Colombia’s Manuela Vanegas off a cross from U.S. right back Sofia Huerta. It was the fifth own goal from a U.S. opponent this year.
O’Hara, a veteran defender, scored her third international goal and first since 2016.
“The takeaways were that we do have a very good team and that we found a way to get goals in different ways,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “Even though today I would say it was not our best performance, we still managed to score goals and get off the field successfully.”
Carson Pickett started for the United States, becoming the first player with a limb difference to appear for the national team. A defender who plays for the North Carolina Courage, Pickett was born without a left hand and forearm.
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan started after coming off the bench for the team’s first game against Colombia, a 3-0 victory on Saturday in Commerce City, Colorado. Morgan had a good chance in the waning moments of the first half, but her shot hit the crossbar.
The United States will next head to Monterrey, Mexico, for the CONCACAF W Championship. The top four teams earn berths in the World Cup, and the winner also gets a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“It was the type of game that we’re most likely going to have, or the type of opponent most likely we’re going to face in the CONCACAF championship,” Andonovski said about Tuesday’s friendly. “It was physical and very, tight. It was good for us to prepare.”
The U.S. team is set to depart for Mexico on Wednesday. Their W Championship opener against Haiti is set for Monday.
Colombia hosts the Copa America Femenina starting on July 8, which will determine CONMEBOL’s three direct qualifiers for the World Cup.
