THE HAGUE — Alyssa Naeher‘s last match for the United States girls’s nationwide staff ended in a 2-1 victory towards the Netherlands on Tuesday evening. With the victory, Emma Hayes prolonged her unbeaten run as USWNT coach, as her staff delivered Naeher a profitable send-off for her one hundred and fifteenth and last cap. Lynn Williams scored a 71st-minute winner for the USWNT, nevertheless it needed to work for its victory towards the hosts.
The Dutch dominated the USWNT within the opening half, getting loads of pleasure down the proper wing, and opened the scoring after quarter-hour by way of a Veerle Buurman header. Despite mustering just one shot heading in the right direction within the first half, the USWNT grabbed a fortuitous Forty fourth-minute equaliser by way of a Buurman personal aim. But Hayes’ halftime substitutions swung the stability again within the USWNT’s favor as she launched Emily Sonnett and Williams.
In Naeher’s last match, we had one other glimpse of Lily Yohannes‘ unimaginable potential. Yohannes, 17, was given her likelihood within the 66th minute — having declared her allegiance to the USWNT as an alternative of the Netherlands final month — and he or she performed a task in Williams’ winner simply 5 minutes later.
For Hayes, it meant she ended her first yr in control of the USWNT unbeaten in 15 matches, a run that features 13 wins. That additionally included the unimaginable gold medal on the Paris Olympics in August, and on this last two-match tour that noticed the U.S. play England and the Netherlands, Hayes examined the staff’s depth however nonetheless got here away with a 0-0 draw towards the Lionesses and this 2-1 victory towards the Dutch on a bitterly chilly evening. — Tom Hamilton
Naeher exhibits what USWNT will miss
When Naeher made her USWNT debut in December 2014 towards Argentina, she in all probability by no means imagined bringing the curtain down on her outstanding worldwide profession on a freezing evening, in torrential rain, within the Dutch capital. The Dutch staff gave her a bouquet of flowers earlier than the match, recognizing her astonishing document of getting been a part of two USWNT World Cup-winning sides, indispensable to its 2024 Olympic gold, and likewise the 2021 bronze as well. She bids farewell with 69 shutouts, and even reached seventeenth place on this yr’s Ballon D’Or voting.
So it was hardly a case of her leaving by way of the exit door — and he or she proved whereas she’ll be desperately missed after a string of good first-half saves by which she stored her staff within the match. The Dutch ought to’ve been three or 4 targets up on the break, however Naeher’s shot-stopping and positioning was a key cause why the groups had been locked at 1-1.
The greatest Naeher stops had been off Daniëlle van de Donk in both half and because the Dutch peppered the USWNT’s left facet, it was her commanding presence that helped preserve her opponent at bay. She can be missed. Thoughts of her successor can wait; this was Naeher’s evening because the USWNT bid farewell to a legendary goalkeeper. — Hamilton
Hayes cleans up preliminary tactical mess
As is usually the case within the sport, Tuesday’s win was a story of two halves.
In the primary, the USWNT had been tactically overwhelmed in a formation that left simply Sam Coffey and Korbin Albert to fend for themselves within the coronary heart of the XI. In what typically seemed like a 4-2-4 going ahead, Hayes’ setup was extraordinarily weak to the fast counters that the Netherlands threw with numbers in assist.
With the fortune of Naeher’s efficiency in internet and an personal aim from the opposition, the USWNT was then in a position to regroup within the second half with extra of a presence within the midfield. As seen by a complete of 5 substituions made by the 67th minute, Hayes was in a position to considerably retool her ways and pack the center of the pitch, whereas additionally going to a again three.
This stifled the Netherlands, and all of the sudden with extra momentum for the U.S., Williams’ winner adopted in a resurgent second half.
The blessing that Hayes has is a depth of expertise that may clear up conditions like these, but when the Netherlands had been extra medical within the first half, or if there was no fortuitous own-goal, the lone try by Williams wouldn’t have been sufficient on a unique evening. — Cesar Hernandez
Yohannes makes her mark
It took Yohannes solely 10 minutes to make her mark in a USWNT shirt again in June when she scored towards South Korea in her debut. But since then, she has been on the heart of a really public tug-of-war between the Netherlands and the U.S. for her providers.
The U.S. have stayed respectful, letting her have her time and area, whereas the Dutch mounted a barely extra public appeal offensive to get her to go for the Leeuwinnen. She’s considered one of many world’s greatest younger midfielders and, to the delight of Hayes and her teammates, opted for the USWNT.
The Dutch did little to cover their frustration — with Dutch coach Andries Jonker saying it could’ve saved them “lots of work” had she stated from the beginning she needed to play for the U.S. And there are few baptisms by fireplace fairly just like the one she had Tuesday night, carrying the white of the U.S. on a patch of grass simply 34 miles from the place she performs her membership soccer at Ajax.
She acquired her likelihood within the 66th minute, as she changed Lindsay Horan — the long run getting into the sneakers of the current, receiving an total optimistic welcome from the partisan crowd. And she made her mark simply 5 minutes later, because it was her properly weighted header that put Yazmeen Ryan into area to cross for Williams to attain the staff’s second. She obtained a couple of boos late on, however this was an assured exhibiting. — Hamilton
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Krieger predicts ‘large’ USWNT future for Lily Yohannes
Speaking in September, Ali Krieger was stuffed with reward for 17-year-old Lily Yohannes and predicted she’ll have a vivid future.
Netherlands really feel Miedema’s absence
The Netherlands are as soon as once more going through a world break with out Vivianne Miedema. The Manchester City attacker is sidelined by a knee damage, leaving Jonker with an important query: Who will step as much as rating targets for Oranje?
During the final European Championship qualifiers, Miedema scored in one of many two video games she performed. Lineth Beerensteyn was the one different participant to seek out the web within the qualifiers, scoring three of solely 4 targets in six matches. Historically, the Dutch staff has been prolific in entrance of aim, however with out Miedema, the hole is obvious. It’s laborious to exchange a striker who has scored 96 targets in 120 worldwide appearances.
In latest matches towards the USWNT, the Netherlands created seven probabilities however scored solely as soon as. Despite taking pictures seven instances within the first half, the Dutch could not capitalize on their alternatives to safe a lead.
Jill Roord is one other participant to observe for targets. After recovering from an ACL damage, Roord is step by step regaining her kind, however she has but to hit the goal-scoring heights she as soon as did. Despite a number of good probabilities towards the U.S., Roord was unable to seek out the again of the web.
The first aim for the Netherlands got here from Buurman, who’s on mortgage at PSV Eindhoven from Chelsea. The younger attacker was given the chance to start out towards one of many world’s hardest groups. Jonker selected her over captain Sherida Spitse, and Buurman rose to the problem. She demonstrated her set-piece capacity, and her efficiency confirmed potential. Perhaps Oranje have discovered their Virgil van Dijk in Buurman — one other future star within the making. — Sjors Grol
Who stepped up for the Dutch with out Yohannes?
The Dutch are within the means of rejuvenating their squad, and Yohannes would definitely have added worth to this transition. But the midfield is holding up properly in her absence. Dutch followers in all probability seen the vitality round Yohannes’ arrival on the pitch, with cheers ringing out from each Dutch and American supporters.
In a notable resolution, Jonker picked Buurman over captain Spitse within the beginning lineup. That wasn’t the one change, although –19-year-old Wieke Kaptein was given an opportunity in midfield. Both gamers justified Jonker’s religion in them with robust performances towards the world’s No. 1 staff.
The Dutch staff is gearing up for the UEFA Women’s Euro in 2025, with a mixture of seasoned stars and rising skills. Kaptein, particularly, impressed along with her maturity on the ball and her defensive capabilities. She was typically fouled by the Americans, a testomony to her rising affect within the sport. Playing for Chelsea in latest months has sharpened her defensive sport, and he or she proved she will be able to deal with the stress of going through a few of the world’s greatest gamers.
Although Buurman scored an unlucky personal aim, she held her floor towards the Americans’ high attackers. Dutch followers can be relieved to know that Buurman would not maintain twin nationality, guaranteeing her dedication to the nationwide staff. — Grol
Defensive questions on full show for the USWNT
Although many of the early criticism must be pointed in the direction of Hayes’ preliminary tactical strategy, the gamers themselves must also be scrutinized for the defensive fragilities that had been current.
In the midfield, Albert was typically left remoted within the beginning formation, however that should not excuse the variety of moments by which she seemed a step behind throughout a protracted listing of counters within the first half. Looking on the backline, Jenna Nighswonger did not cowl herself in glory. As arguably the weak hyperlink of the XI, the left again struggled to shut down the runs that the Netherlands discovered themselves with by way of the midfield.
Possibly rattled by the scenario at hand, different defenders resembling Emily Fox and Naomi Girma did not carry out poorly however did look to be barely off of their sport within the early levels.
The excellent news is that the USWNT was in a position to repair its issues by bringing out Nighswonger and switched to a again three, however surviving that first wave of stress meant the staff wanted a large efficiency from Naeher.
But with Naeher not within the image going ahead and questions on who’s subsequent in line between the sticks, the U.S. won’t be capable of afford to make the identical defensive errors going ahead. As for Hayes, this additionally means some further work with fine-tuning the backline. — Hernandez
