The USA defeated Australia 2-1 of their ultimate group stage fixture on the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games, securing their first-place end in Group B and increasing their unbeaten streak underneath Emma Hayes to seven video games.
The U.S. Girls’s Nationwide Crew already secured their knockout berth on the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games after defeating Zambia and Germany of their opening two fixtures. Emma Hayes may have rested her starters forward of the quarter-finals, however the brand new supervisor determined to ship out a largely unchanged XI to maintain constructing the USA’s chemistry on the pitch.
How the sport unfolded
Simply three minutes into the match, the USA suffered a blow when Samantha Coffey picked up a yellow card after a sloppy sort out on Katrina Gorry. The 25-year-old will probably be suspended for the quarter-finals for yellow card accumulation within the group stage, leaving a giant gap within the midfield for the USA.
Regardless of dominating possession for the complete first half, the Stars and Stripes struggled to search out the standard wanted within the ultimate third to get previous Australia’s low block. After a irritating 43 minutes, the USA lastly discovered the breakthrough off a nook performed by Rose Lavelle. Sophia Smith headed the ball towards the again publish, and a streaking Trinity Rodman acquired on the tip of it simply three years out to offer the USA the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The beginning of the second half was somewhat uneventful for each side. Australia couldn’t discover something near the standard wanted to beat the USA’s stout backline, not to mention Alyssa Naeher. The USA, in the meantime, managed the sport effectively, sustaining possession and persevering with to push ahead. Korbin Albert would go on to seal the sport with a robust right-footed strike from 20 yards out within the 77th minute.
The Matildas made a late-game surge, scoring what can be only a comfort aim within the 92nd minute because of Alanna Kennedy.
GK: Alyssa Naeher – 5/10 – Naeher has little to do tonight in opposition to an Australian group that spent nearly the complete sport pinned in their very own half, and conceded the primary actual likelihood she confronted.
RB: Emily Fox – 6/10 – Fox is among the most constant gamers for the USWNT, and she or he labored laborious to hyperlink up with Trinity Rodman to get the Stars and Stripes previous Australia’s low block.
CB: Naomi Girma – 6/10 – Girma was as stable as ever on the again for the Stars and Stripes, working effectively with Sonnett within the wake of Davidson’s harm.
CB: Emily Sonnett – 5/10 – Sonnett had a stable efficiency filling in for the injured Tierna Davidson, however didn’t monitor Kennedy on Australia’s late-game aim.
LB: Crystal Dunn – 5/10 – Dunn continues to shine on protection, however lacked high quality service within the ultimate third to offer the USA extra possibilities on aim.
CM: Lindsey Horan – 6/10 – Horan had a quiet first 45 minutes, however acquired way more concerned within the second half as soon as the sport opened up, linking up effectively with the entrance three.
CM: Samantha Coffey – 5/10 – Coffey’s sport was marred after she picked up a useless yellow card within the third minute, incomes herself a suspension for the quarter-finals.
CM: Rose Lavelle – 6/10 – Lavelle was as soon as once more essentially the most impactful midfielder for the USWNT, delivering nice set items and consistently pushing ahead to probe and assault the Matildas’ again 5.
RW: Trinity Rodman – 7/10 – Rodman netted the opening aim for the USA simply earlier than halftime, scoring her second aim of the event.
ST: Mallory Swanson – 6/10 – Swanson was stored off the scoresheet for the primary time on the 2024 Paris Olympics, however she nonetheless made her presence felt up prime within the few alternatives she had.
LW: Sophia Smith – 7/10 – Smith continues to have a standout event, aiding the USA’s opening aim and finally creating essentially the most harmful possibilities for her facet within the ultimate third.
Substitutes
SUB: Jenna Nighswonger – 6/10 – Nighswonger got here on at halftime for Dunn and seemed proper at residence on the left flank as she helped the USA handle the sport.
SUB: Lynn Williams – 5/10 – Williams couldn’t get on the tip of what would have been the sport’s third aim.
SUB: Korbin Albert – 6/10 – Albert struggled to search out her rhythm early, choosing up an pointless yellow card on nearly her first contact of the sport, however she scored her debut aim for the USWNT to seal the sport.
SUB: Casey Krueger – 5/10 – Krueger made a vital block within the 79th minute to maintain the USA’s lead in tact.
SUB: Croix Bethune – 5/10 – Bethune made her Olympic debut, approaching to play the remaining ten minutes of the match.
Supervisor
Emma Hayes – 8/10 – The large story coming into the 2024 Olympics was how badly the USA struggled within the ultimate third in opposition to a compact protection. Australia despatched out a again 5 in opposition to the Stars and Stripes immediately, however the USWNT discovered the breakthrough they wanted (after which some) to gather all three factors, one thing they might not do exactly two weeks in the past in opposition to Costa Rica.
Emma Hayes’ affect on the squad is shining by means of with every sport the ladies play on the Olympics as they proceed to construct chemistry and momentum heading into the quarter-finals in opposition to Japan.
