A second-half equalizer from captain Lyndsay Horan helped rescue a point for the USWNT against a strong Dutch side. USA stay top of the group going into the match with Portugal.
USA 1 Netherlands 1
Report by USSoccer.com
The U.S. Womenâs National Team tied the Netherlands 1-1 in the teamâs second group stage match at the 2023 FIFA Womenâs World Cup. A goal from midfielder and team captain Lindsey Horan helped the USA earn a point as it rallied to come from a one-goal deficit in what was a thrilling match between the two finalists at the 2019 FIFA Womenâs World Cup.
With the result, the USWNT stays atop Group E, tied with Netherlands on four points but with an advantage on goal differential (USA +3, NED +1). Portugal and Vietnam, both of whom lost their first matches, play later in the day. The Group E berths into the Round of 16 will be decided during the final round of matches.
The USA extends its unbeaten record in group stage matches to eight and the match marked just the second time in the USA’s World Cup history that the Americans have come back to win or tie after trailing at the half. It was the first such result since coming back to beat Germany 3-2 in the quarterfinal of the 1999 Womenâs World Cup.
First Half
Although the USA had a bit of a stuttering start in the first half, the Americans dominated the match, outshooting the Netherlands 18-4 while piling up 11 corner kicks to just one for the Dutch. The U.S. defense was stellar, holding the Netherlands to just one shot on goal, which unfortunately went in, but U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was not forced to make a save.
The USA created chances down the wings while using the speed and skill of forwards Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman to serve some dangerous crosses into the box as midfielders Savannah DeMelo and Horan did well to pull the strings in the attack.
The U.S. had a couple of close chances in the first half, but it was Netherlands who opened the scoring, capitalizing on a quick attack that started in their own half and ended with midfielder Jill Rood finishing with a low shot from 17 yards out into the lower left corner.
Just one minute later, forward Trinity Rodman came close to equalizing with a shot from almost 25 yards out that forced Dutch goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar to make an impressive flying save, but the U.S. headed into the break down by one despite forcing five corner kicks in the first half.
With the result, the USWNT stays atop Group E, tied with Netherlands on four points but with an advantage on goal differential (USA +3, NED +1). Portugal and Vietnam, both of whom lost their first matches, play later in the day. The Group E berths into the Round of 16 will be decided during the final round of matches.
The USA extends its unbeaten record in group stage matches to eight and the match marked just the second time in the USA’s World Cup history that the Americans have come back to win or tie after trailing at the half. It was the first such result since coming back to beat Germany 3-2 in the quarterfinal of the 1999 Womenâs World Cup.
Second Half
The USA came out determined in the second half and got some creative spark as midfielder Rose Lavelle came into the match for DeMelo.
As the contest got more intense and physical, the U.S. earned a corner which was interrupted by an exchange of words between Horan and midfielder Danielle Van de Donk, who moments earlier had dished out a nasty challenge near the left sideline on her Olympique Lyon teammate.
The referee let advantage play on, and the Americans earned that corner kick. The referee then spoke with both players before resuming the game and Lavelle proceeded to serve in the corner kick which Horan met with a brilliant header on a run toward the near post, burying the equalizer to send the stadium into an eruption of USA chants.
The USA picked up the pace even more after the goal and continued to test the Dutch time after time with creative combination play and strikes on goal led by the trio of forward, all of whom caused problems for the Dutch defense over the 90 minutes.
The USA looked like it would get a game-winner as it pushed hard in the last 10 minutes, and perhaps the best of those chances came off another corner in the 84th minute as Morgan flicked a headed pass back to Smith inside the box on the right side and she fired a powerful half-volley on frame that was cleared off the line by the head of forward Lieke Martens.
Rodman also had a golden chance when she got behind the defense in the 82nd minute in the left side of the penalty area and with only Van Domselaar to beat, sent her shot left-footed shot just wide of the right post
Line Ups
USA
1-Alyssa Naeher; 23-Emily Fox, 4-Naomi Girma, 8-Julie Ertz, 19-Crystal Dunn; 17-Andi Sullivan, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.), 9-Savannah DeMelo (16-Rose Lavelle, 46); 11-Sophia Smith, 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Trinity Rodman
Substitutes not used: 18-Casey Murphy, 21-Aubrey Kingsbury, 2-Ashley Sanchez, 3-Sofia Huerta, 5-Kelley OâHara; 6-Lynn Williams, 7-Alyssa Thompson, 12-Alana Cook, 14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 22-Kristie Mewis
Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski
NETHERLANDS
1-Daphne van Domselaar; 8-Sherida Spitse (Capt.), 3-Stefanie van der Gragt (4-Aniek Nouwen, 46), 20-Dominique Janssen; 17-Victoria Pelova (18-Kerstin Casparij, 86), 6-Jill Roord (13-Renate Jansen, 90+4), 14-Jackie Groenen, 10-Daniëlle van de Donk, 22-Esmee Brugts; 9-Katja Snoeijs (21-Damaris Egurrola, 71),11-Lieke Martens
Substitutes not used: 16-Lize Kop, 23-Jacintha Anouchka Weimar, 2-Lynn Anke Hannie Wilms, 5-Merel van Dongen, 12-Jill Baijings, 15-Caitlin Dijkstra, 19-Wieke Kaptein
Next Game
USA will take on Portugal on Aug. 1 at Eden Park in Auckland/TÄmaki Makaurau (7 p.m. local / 3 a.m. ET) while the Netherlands faces Vietnam at the same time in Dunedin.
