The USWNT highlighted its dominance with a 3-0 victory towards South Korea at Allianz Area. The win supplied a promising glimpse of their type forward of the Paris Olympics. New coach Emma Hayes has led the staff to a different success, that includes each youthful and older gamers.
Rose Lavelle, a stalwart of the USWNT, marked her one hundredth look for the nationwide staff. Lavelle is understood for scoring essential objectives, together with the game-winner within the 2019 Girls’s World Cup remaining. Witnessing 16-year-old Lily Yohannes rating her first worldwide objective made her centenary match unforgettable, along with her objective.
“I’ll all the time keep in mind my one hundredth cap as a result of it was Lily’s first cap and first objective,” Lavelle stated, emphasizing the emotional significance of the evening.
Yohannes, making her debut, netted the ultimate objective of the match within the 82nd minute. Subbing in ten minutes earlier, she calmly transformed a nook kick. That approach, she secured her place because the third-youngest objective scorer in USWNT historical past.
Raised in Virginia and later transferring to the Netherlands, Yohannes stays eligible to play for each the US and Dutch nationwide groups; till she participates in a aggressive worldwide match.
How did USWNT play in second South Korea pleasant?
Emma Hayes, in her second match in cost, used the pleasant to experiment along with her lineup forward of finalizing the 18-player roster for the Paris Olympics. Hayes, beforehand profitable with Chelsea’s girls’s staff, made 9 adjustments to the beginning lineup from their earlier 4-0 win towards South Korea. One vital change noticed Crystal Dunn return to her former place as a ahead, a job she hadn’t began since 2017.
Dunn’s return to the attacking entrance was marked by an early objective within the thirteenth minute, capitalizing on a deflected cross from left-back Jenna Nighswonger. This objective, Dunn’s twenty fifth worldwide rating and her first since 2018 set the tone for the match.
“It’s about being versatile and being adaptable,” Dunn stated, reflecting on her function change. Her versatility was on show as she shifted again to protection after the hour mark to accommodate the introduction of younger forwards Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith.
Sophia Smith, one other key participant, scored within the 67th minute, doubling the U.S. lead. Her objective adopted a skillful backheel go from Swanson, showcasing the depth and synergy of the staff.
Ready for Olympics
Hayes’ focus was not solely on profitable but additionally on assessing her roster and implementing her tactical imaginative and prescient. The match towards South Korea offered a platform to judge gamers in varied positions and combos. It’s essential for refining methods forward of the Olympics.
The staff’s preparations will proceed with two extra friendlies in July towards Mexico and Costa Rica. These matches function remaining rehearsals earlier than the Olympic group stage, the place the USWNT will face Germany, Australia, and Zambia.
Reflecting on the week, Hayes expressed satisfaction with the staff’s progress however acknowledged the necessity for additional growth. “Between now and subsequent camp, [we’ve] bought to research all of the issues we’ve bought to get completely proper main into the Olympics,” she stated.
The USWNT’s victory over South Korea, that includes standout performances and strategic experimentation, underscores their readiness for the upcoming Olympic problem. Hayes’ mixture of skilled veterans and shiny rookies bodes effectively for the staff’s Paris gold quest.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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