THE HAGUE — Alyssa Naeher‘s last match for the United States ladies’s nationwide crew led to a 2-1 victory in opposition to the Netherlands on Tuesday evening. With the victory, Emma Hayes prolonged her unbeaten run as USWNT coach, as her crew 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, however it needed to work for its victory in opposition to the hosts.
The Dutch dominated the USWNT within the opening half, getting loads of pleasure down the fitting wing, and opened the scoring after quarter-hour by a Veerle Buurman header. Regardless of mustering just one shot on track within the first half, the USWNT grabbed a fortuitous Forty fourth-minute equaliser by a Buurman personal aim. However Hayes’ halftime substitutions swung the steadiness 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‘ unbelievable 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 12 months in command of the USWNT unbeaten in 15 matches, a run that features 13 wins. That additionally included the unbelievable 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 crew’s depth however nonetheless got here away with a 0-0 draw in opposition to the Lionesses and this 2-1 victory in opposition to the Dutch on a bitterly chilly evening. — Tom Hamilton
Naeher reveals what USWNT will miss
When Naeher made her USWNT debut in December 2014 in opposition to Argentina, she in all probability by no means imagined bringing the curtain down on her exceptional worldwide profession on a freezing evening, in torrential rain, within the Dutch capital. The Dutch crew 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 12 months’s Ballon D’Or voting.
So it was hardly a case of her leaving by 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 saved her crew 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 motive why the groups have been locked at 1-1.
The most effective Naeher stops have 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 shall be missed. Ideas 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.
Within the first, the USWNT have 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 usually regarded like a 4-2-4 going ahead, Hayes’ setup was extraordinarily weak to the fast counters that the Netherlands threw with numbers in help.
With the fortune of Naeher’s efficiency in web and an personal aim from the opposition, the USWNT was then capable of 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 capable of considerably retool her techniques 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 have been extra scientific within the first half, or if there was no fortuitous own-goal, the lone try by Williams wouldn’t have been sufficient on a distinct 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 in opposition to South Korea in her debut. However since then, she has been on the middle 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 attraction offensive to get her to go for the Leeuwinnen. She’s thought to be 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 might’ve saved them “loads of work” had she stated from the beginning she wished to play for the U.S. And there are few baptisms by fireplace fairly just like the one she had Tuesday night, sporting 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 obtained her likelihood within the 66th minute, as she changed Lindsay Horan — the long run entering into the sneakers of the current, receiving an general optimistic welcome from the partisan crowd. And she or he 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 crew’s second. She obtained a couple of boos late on, however this was an assured displaying. — Hamilton
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Alyssa Naeher ‘at peace’ with USWNT retirement resolution
Alyssa Naeher thanks Emma Hayes for understanding the goalkeeper’s resolution to retire from worldwide soccer with the USWNT.
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 Metropolis attacker is sidelined by a knee damage, leaving Jonker with an important query: Who will step as much as rating targets for Oranje?
Over the past European Championship qualifiers, Miedema scored in one of many two video games she performed. Lineth Beerensteyn was the one different participant to search out the web within the qualifiers, scoring three of solely 4 targets in six matches. Traditionally, the Dutch crew has been prolific in entrance of aim, however with out Miedema, the hole is obvious. It is onerous to switch a striker who has scored 96 targets in 120 worldwide appearances.
In latest matches in opposition to the USWNT, the Netherlands created seven probabilities however scored solely as soon as. Regardless of capturing seven occasions within the first half, the Dutch could not capitalize on their alternatives to safe a lead.
Jill Roord is one other participant to look at for targets. After recovering from an ACL damage, Roord is regularly regaining her type, however she has but to hit the goal-scoring heights she as soon as did. Regardless of a number of good probabilities in opposition to the U.S., Roord was unable to search out the again of the web.
The primary 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 in opposition to 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 means, and her efficiency confirmed potential. Maybe 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 strategy of rejuvenating their squad, and Yohannes will surely have added worth to this transition. However the midfield is holding up properly in her absence. Dutch followers in all probability seen the power 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. Each gamers justified Jonker’s religion in them with sturdy performances in opposition to the world’s No. 1 crew.
The Dutch crew is gearing up for the UEFA Girls’s Euro in 2025, with a mixture of seasoned stars and rising skills. Kaptein, particularly, impressed together with her maturity on the ball and her defensive capabilities. She was usually fouled by the Individuals, a testomony to her rising affect within the sport. Taking part in for Chelsea in latest months has sharpened her defensive sport, and he or she proved she will be able to deal with the strain of going through a few of the world’s greatest gamers.
Though Buurman scored an unlucky personal aim, she held her floor in opposition to the Individuals’ high attackers. Dutch followers shall be relieved to know that Buurman does not maintain twin nationality, guaranteeing her dedication to the nationwide crew. — Grol
Defensive questions on full show for the USWNT
Though a lot of the early criticism needs to be pointed in direction of Hayes’ preliminary tactical strategy, the gamers themselves also needs to be scrutinized for the defensive fragilities that have been current.
Within the midfield, Albert was typically left remoted within the beginning formation, however that should not excuse the variety of moments by which she regarded a step behind throughout an extended listing of counters within the first half. Trying 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 the midfield.
Probably rattled by the state of affairs at hand, different defenders equivalent to Emily Fox and Naomi Girma did not carry out poorly however did look to be barely off of their sport within the early phases.
The excellent news is that the USWNT was capable of repair its issues by bringing out Nighswonger and switched to a again three, however surviving that first wave of strain meant the crew wanted a large efficiency from Naeher.
However with Naeher now not within the image going ahead and questions on who’s subsequent in line between the sticks, the U.S. may not be capable to afford to make the identical defensive errors going ahead. As for Hayes, this additionally means some further work with fine-tuning the backline. — Hernandez
