Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher performed her closing recreation for the United States girls’s nationwide staff in a 2-1 win towards the Netherlands on Tuesday to shut out the 12 months for the staff. Naeher ends her worldwide profession with 115 caps and 69 shutouts. Although there wasn’t a clear sheet towards the Netherlands, she got here up with a number of key saves, together with a leaping response block within the thirty eighth minute and a sprawling cease together with her ft within the 69th minute.
It was a poor first half from the United States. Head coach Emma Hayes made an uncommon shift in her lineup, pushing Rose Lavelle into the left-wing place whereas lining up Sam Coffey, Korbin Albert and Lindsey Horan in midfield. But they have been ineffective within the center, which, mixed with Jenna Nighswonger having a foul recreation at left again, left the protection largely uncovered.
The Netherlands took full benefit, operating the midfield and urgent deep whereas the U.S. struggled enjoying out beneath stress. In the eleventh minute, the Netherlands scored the opener from a set piece as Albert didn’t mark her participant within the field tightly sufficient, leaving 18-year-old Veerle Buurman in the best spot for a header that looped over Naeher’s outstretched glove to make it 1-0.
Netherlands celebrates scoring the opening aim towards the U.S. (Maurice Van Steen / Getty Images)
Buurman headed in one other aim for the Netherlands, though it was into her personal web within the forty fourth minute, gifting the U.S. the momentum going into the break at 1-1.
Hayes made two modifications to begin the second half, bringing on Lynn Williams for Jaedyn Shaw and Emily Sonnett for Nighswonger whereas shifting Emily Fox to left again. She additionally withdrew Lavelle deeper, though she had already been dropping all through the primary half, in addition to switching sides of the sector to search out an outlet for the assault.
Hayes went with virtually a whole line rotation within the 67th minute, subbing out Horan, Albert, and Lavelle for Lily Yohannes, Hal Hershfelt, and Alyssa Thompson. This was Yohannes’ first cap for the U.S. since formally declaring her intention to play for the staff. Yohannes was utilized in an attacking-midfield position behind Williams whereas Thompson assumed her traditional spot on the left wing and Hershfelt dropped deep in midfield.
Williams gave the U.S. the lead within the seventieth minute, neatly ending a cross delivered from Yazmeen Ryan on the best. Ryan was a continuing supply of vitality all through this recreation, following up a equally shiny efficiency within the earlier recreation towards England.
The U.S. celebrates Williams’ go-ahead aim. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
The 17-year-old Yohannes regarded barely nervy on the ball, which was comprehensible given she was enjoying towards the opposite nation courting her senior nationwide staff allegiance. Dutch followers booed and whistled every time Yohannes was on the ball, presumably in disapproval of her determination to play for the U.S.
Hayes’ closing sub was Ally Sentnor for Ryan within the eighty fifth minute in a like-for-like swap.
The U.S. had a late probability on aim as Thompson fought her well beyond a defender and tried to place in a tough shot on aim at a steep angle. Thompson, like Ryan, as soon as once more regarded comfy in her place within the minutes she had on the sector.
Conversely, a couple of apparent positions have been missing on this recreation, with Albert wanting disconnected from the entrance line within the midfield to Nighswonger getting overwhelmed on protection. Horan additionally couldn’t discover the best sense of timing or urgency on the ball. With Hershfelt, Yohannes and Shaw all circling beginning roles, Hayes will undoubtedly experiment additional all through 2025.
(Top picture: Pau Barrena / Getty Images)
