WELLINGTON, New Zealand — U.S. women's national team midfielder Rose Lavelle is available to start against the Netherlands in the USA's second match of the Women's World Cup, coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Wednesday. «Rose is fine, and I'm happy she's available for selection,» Andonovski said.
Lavelle added: «I feel pretty good. I feel ready for the second match.» Lavelle came on for the USWNT in the second half of its World Cup opener against Vietnam and provided a spark in creating scoring chances for the Americans.
Despite playing only 27 minutes, she generated an expected assists of 0.24, the fourth-highest of any American. Lavelle injured her knee in a friendly against Ireland on April 9.
At the time, Andonovski called it «a little knock» and held her out of a friendly three days later for what he described as «a precaution,» but she didn't feature until the Vietnam game.