USA vs Netherlands: In a match against the Netherlands that served as the first real test of the Americans’ ability to win a third straight Fifa Women’s World Cup championship, the U.S. women’s national team battled to earn a 1-1 draw.
By defeating Portugal and keeping their plus-2 goal difference against the Netherlands, the two-time defending champions may take the top slot and a path to the final that most certainly wouldn’t include Germany, England, or France.
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USA vs Netherlands: Lindsey Horan saves points for the US
The 17th-minute goal by Jill Roord put the defending champions behind early, but Lindsey Horan‘s second goal of the competition made up for it in the 62nd minute. The USWNT assault wasn’t at its best early in the game, but it became better as the game went on. Meanwhile, the American defense strengthened its position as the team’s main bulwark in its title defense.
USA vs Netherlands: Rose Lavalle saves points for the US
When Rose Lavalle lined up to take a corner kick, Horan was still yelling at the referee for a heavy foul she had received from Danielle Van de Donk. Before burying it with a powerful header, Horan tracked the ball the entire way and outmuscled multiple Dutch defenders.
In the final 30 minutes, the Americans had several great opportunities, including a goal by Alex Morgan that was disallowed for offside. A screamer by Trinity Rodman just missed the target, while a shot by Sophia Smith was blocked off the line.
A Netherlands team that tormented the U.S. in the first half was halted by manager Vlatko Andonovski’s tactical adjustments, which included bringing on halftime substitute Rose Lavelle, who had started off the bench in each of the first two games. The USWNT’s string of 13 straight victories at the World Cup was broken with the draw, but the Americans are still in first place in Group E with one game left against Portugal on August 1.
Nevertheless, the way the game concluded on Wednesday — with the United States barraging the Dutch penalty area and narrowly missing scoring a second, third, and fourth goal — was very different from the way it had started.
With a 3-1-4-2 system that shredded the USWNT’s midfield and resulted in the game’s first goal on a shot from the top of the box at the 17-minute mark, Netherlands manager Andries Jonker dominated the tactical fight in the first half.
In place of Savannah DeMelo for the second half, midfielder Rose Lavelle scored the game-winning goal in the USWNT’s 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the championship match. In the second match of the group stage, the Americans are down 1-0.
Lavelle, who was also a substitute against Vietnam, has been out for the past few months due to a knee ailment. The Americans hope she ignites the field like she did in 2019.
Lavelle received a yellow card for a strong tackle on a Dutch player early in the second half.
According to ESPN, the USWNT is down in a Women’s World Cup game for the first time since the quarterfinal encounter against Brazil on July 10, 2011.
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