Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe were on the mark for the US women’s national football team as they scripted an impressive 2-0 victory over Brazil in the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday.

Manchester United forward Press opened the scoring for USNWT with a neat finish in the 11th-minute of the first half at the Exploria Stadium.

Although Brazil, powered by talismanic Marta, clawed from an equaliser in the second half, they ended up scuffing several goal-bound opportunities wide.

Finally, in the 87th minute, Rapinoe turned Super Sub as she put the game to bed with a lethal volley off a cross from Lindsey Horan.

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In the first half, Press rewarded an attacking US start by taking the ball down the left-wing, cutting inside and blasting a right-footed shot inside the far post for her 59th career international goal.

Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara blocked a hard shot from US midfielder Rose Lavelle in the 15th minute as the hosts kept attacking, but they couldn’t manage another first-half tally.

Press managed another chance in the opening seconds of the second half but Brazilian defenders cleared her centring kick.

Sustained US pressure produced another chance in the 61st minute for Alex Morgan but her shot was smothered.

In the 82nd minute, Brazil’s Debinha managed a right-footed shot from the heart of the penalty area but it went wide of the far post.

A centring pass from Brazilian right-wing Ludmilla brought calls for a US handball from Marta in the 83rd but no whistle came and Rapinoe scored an insurance goal off a rebound to seal the US victory.

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Sitting atop the standings with just one more round to go, the USWNT can now smell the trophy.

The Americans took their 16th consecutive victory and stretched their unbeaten run to 36 games. They have not lost a match since falling to France in January 2019.

The US women, champions in three of five prior SheBelieves Cups, can complete a round-robin sweep with a Wednesday triumph over Argentina.

Meanwhile, later this evening, third-placed Canada is set to take on basement side Argentina later in Orlando’s Exploria Stadium.