America Ladies’s Nationwide Staff defeated Iceland, 3-1, Thursday evening in Austin, Texas, to start its Olympic victory tour.
Head coach Emma Hayes should stability contemporary faces, returning gamers and a celebration of the group’s gold medal run at this summer season’s Olympics in lower than two weeks. Listed here are the principle takeaways from the People’ first of three October friendlies:
The youngsters took over
Alyssa Thompson made an emphatic return to the nationwide group after practically a 12 months away, scoring her first USWNT purpose.
The 19-year-old is brimming with confidence, having netted 5 objectives in her final eight matches for Angel Metropolis FC within the NWSL. She credit her present type to membership teammate and goal-scoring legend Christen Press. Her purpose on Thursday evening was paying homage to the previous USWNT ahead.
Jaedyn Shaw, additionally 19, now has eight objectives in 17 appearances for her nation, six coming this 12 months. She was the first American participant ever to attain in her first 5 begins.
Her game-winning purpose marked her first for the USWNT for the reason that She Believes Cup in April, exemplifying Shaw’s distinctive talent and dedication in assault.
She advised TNT Sports activities after the sport that being sidelined for the whole Olympics with harm “made me hungrier to return again and produce the identical if no more.”
American followers will likely be delighted with the plethora of younger expertise at Hayes’ disposal because the squad prepares for the 2027 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
Emily Sonnett joins the 100 membership.
Sonnett, one of many USWNT’s most versatile gamers the previous decade, performed her a hundredth recreation for her nation Thursday.
A two-time World Cup winner, she has performed as an out of doors again, heart again and defensive midfielder throughout her nationwide group profession, stepping in wherever obligatory to make sure the group’s success.
Sonnett’s a hundredth look underscores the shift from her era to the youthful one. Solely 5 gamers on this camp, together with her, have performed 100 or extra video games for the US. She is certainly one of solely 5 gamers of their 30s as nicely.
The milestone highlights the dichotomy between celebration and transition for Hayes throughout this era.
Congratulations are to ensure that Yazmeen Ryan and Hal Hershfelt
Hayes chosen six gamers on this camp who’ve but to make their debut, with two of them taking the sector Thursday.
On an evening dominated by teenage expertise, Ryan, 25, and Hershfelt, 23, will doubtless rejoice essentially the most.
Ryan deserves this opportunity with the nationwide group after main NY/NJ Gotham in possibilities created and touches within the opponent’s 18-yard field this season. She’s key to Gotham’s probability to repeat as champions.
Hershfelt, a defensive midfielder for Washington Spirit, was an alternate this summer season in Paris however by no means rostered. She earned her first look in purple, white and blue for her contribution to the gold medal-winning group.
