The U.S. Women’s National Team fell to England 2-1 at the iconic Wembley Stadium in front of an electric crowd of 76,893, making it the highest attended friendly match in USWNT history. The result ended the USWNT’s 13-game winning streak that dated back to the team’s second match of this year against New Zealand.
Report from USsoccer.com
In response to the findings of the Sally Yates investigation and in a show of unity and common cause, players from the USWNT and England took the field wearing teal armbands to stand in solidarity with sexual violence survivors. Before the match, both teams stood together at midfield and unfurled a banner reading “Protect the Players.”
The clash between the reigning World Cup champions and recently crowned European champions lived up to the anticipation from the jump as forward Sophia Smith fired off the first warning shot of the match in the first minute, dribbling into the box from the left side and putting a strike on frame that forced a save from England goalkeeper Mary Earps. England responded as forward Beth Mead tested goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for the first time just four minutes later.
First Strike
The Lionesses struck first in the 10th minute after an excellent build out from the back took the ball up the right flank and Mead sent a cross into the box. U.S. defender Alana Cook slid to clear but couldn’t turn the ball away from danger. Forward Lauren Hemp latched onto the loose ball and finished easily from six yards out. The USA responded well, continuing to put pressure on the hosts with quality attacking play despite trailing for the first time in 2022
The U.S. then created the equalizer in the 28th minute. England attempted to build out of the back, as they did the entire match, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. This time midfielder Lindsey Horan pounced to force a turnover which put the ball at Smith’s feet at the top of the box. She turned on frame and buried a powerful, dipping shot into the left corner to level the score. It was Smith’s team-leading 10th goal of the year and gave the 22-year-old her 11th career goal in her 24th international appearance.
England Penalty
England reclaimed the lead just five minutes later after a VAR review on a high kick at the top of the penalty box ruled that defender Hailie Mace had kicked Lucy Bronze in the face. Mace had been forced into action in the 22nd minute due to an injury to outside back Emily Fox. The ensuring penalty kick was buried by Georgia Stanway low and into the right corner to make it 2-1 as U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher dove the other way.
The Americans equalized yet again four minutes later, this time courtesy of forward Trinity Rodman who finished a pass from Smith after a run down the right flank, but the goal was waved away due to an offside call on Smith – by the slimmest of margins — following a VAR review.
Second Half
The second half was a much tighter contest as both teams looked to break each other down. England’s best chance came from defender Lucy Bronze in the 55th following a quality run of play, but her driven shot after a nice build up went wide right. The USA’s most dangerous chance came five minutes later after Horan found Rapinoe with a clever pass to split two defenders inside the box toward the left side, where she turned and fired a powerful strike that deflected off a defender and out for a goal kick.
After coming into the match in the 84th minute at 17 years and 334 days old, forward Alyssa Thompson became the 70th teenager all-time to earn a cap for the USWNT and the youngest player to debut for the USA since January of 2016 when Mallory Pugh made her debut at 17 years and 269 days of age. Thompson played in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the USA in August in Costa Rica, a tournament in which she had a goal and an assist.
Upcoming Games
The USA will now travel to face Spain at El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Spain drew with Sweden, 1-1, today in its first match of the FIFA window.
Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 8-Sofia Huerta (19-Crystal Dunn, 63), 3-Alana Cook (4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 83), 12-Naomi Girma, 23-Emily Fox (5-Hailie Mace, 22); 17-Andi Sullivan (14-Sam Coffey, 63), 16-Rose Lavelle, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.); 6-Trinity Rodman (2-Ashley Sanchez, 83), 11-Sophia Smith, 15-Megan Rapinoe (13-Alyssa Thompson, 84)
Substitutes not used: 18-Casey Murphy, 21-Aubrey Kingsbury, 7-Ashley Hatch, 20-Jaelin Howell, 22-Kristie Mewis, 25-Savannah DeMelo
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
ENG: 1-Mary Earps; 2-Lucy Bronze, 5-Millie Bright (Capt.), 6-Alex Greenwood, 3-Rachel Daly; 7-Beth Mead, 8-Georgia Stanway, 4-Keira Walsh, 11-Chloe Kelly (22-Lauren James, 91), 10-Fran Kirby (18-Ella Toone, 68), 9-Lauren Hemp
Substitutes not used: 13-Ellie Roebuck, 21-Sandy MacIver, 12-Esme Morgan, 14-Katie Zelem, 15-Lotte Wubben-Moy, 16-Jess Carter, 17-Nikir Parris, 19-Jessica Park, 20-Demi Stokes, 23-Ebony Salmon
Head coach: Sarina Wiegman
