Late goals from Jaedyn Shaw and Sophia Smith ensured the U.S. women's national team were victorious in their first game since winning Olympic gold, beating Iceland 3-1 at Austin, Texas' Q2 Stadium on Thursday.
Emma Hayes started 10 members of the gold medal-winning team, offering the 11th spot to Alyssa Thompson as she continues a strong season with Angel City. The 2023 Women's World Cup player did not waste her opportunity, scoring the game's first goal in the 39th minute through an impressive solo effort, which was also her first international goal.
Despite the lead, the USWNT and Iceland traded shots in fairly equal measure for much of the game, allowing the visitors to score an equalizer in the 56th minute. Space freed around Selma Sol Magnusdottir and so she dashed toward goal and shot from distance, taking advantage of a ball-watching USWNT in the process.
The U.S. pressed for a go-ahead goal but were struggling to generate quality opportunities until the dying moments of the game when they scored two in quick succession. Shaw scored her first USWNT goal since April after skillfully receiving Casey Krueger's ball, while Smith acted quickly three minutes later after receiving a loose ball and taking a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The USWNT return to play on Sunday to complete a doubleheader against Iceland at Nashville's Geodis Park before closing out the international window against Argentina at Louisville's Lynn Family Stadium on Wednesday.
While this camp is meant to reward the gold medal-winning team, Hayes had the chance to call upon some in-form NWSL players, including Thompson. The Angel City attacker has five goals and seven assists in league play this season, earning a return to the national team and making those minutes count with her first international goal. It will be no easy feat to break into the USWNT's always-loaded attack, but with time on the clock until the 2027 Women's World Cup, she's one of the first players to state her intent on breaking into Hayes' team.
Thompson's goal also adds to an important theme this year for the USWNT. She's the fourth teenager to score for the team this year, the most since six teens scored for the team in 2000. The USWNT have historically relied on their veterans but Hayes has criticized the limited minutes for young players, something that has changed in the year-plus since the 2023 Women's World Cup disappointment. Expect this to be the first of many opportunities handed to young players over the coming months.
Hayes also used Thursday's friendly to reward Yazmeen Ryan and Hal Hershfelt with their first caps, making substitute appearances with under 30 minutes left on the clock. Like Thompson, the pair enter the USWNT fold after strong play in the NWSL – Ryan is a crucial member of the NJ/NY Gotham FC that won last year's Championship, while Hershfelt was an unused alternate at the Olympics. Ryan was particularly impactful, taking 22 touches and making 14 passes in 24 minutes.
The head coach said this would be the first of a few opportunities in the short-term to identify new talent, with the futures camp in Los Angeles in January serving that specific purpose. Ryan and Hershfelt are the first of hopefully many to get a shot in the coming months, and perhaps the first of a few more to play their first international game this month. Four more players on the USWNT's current roster are still waiting for their first caps, and may just get them in the next two games.
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Well, that escalated quickly. The USWNT come out on top of a fascinating tactical matchup, in the end matching their possession advantage with a dominant offensive display. They ended up outshooting Iceland 13 to nine and beating them in the expected goals battle 1.28 to 0.54, the late flurry of chances -- and goals -- helping their cause considerably.
88' And just like that, it's 3-1 to the USWNT. Smith receives the ball on the edge of the penalty area and wastes no time sending that ball towards goal, catching Ivarsdottir by surprise and scoring her ninth international goal this year.
85' The USWNT are officially back in the lead, with Shaw scoring a go-ahead goal. She receives the ball around the edge of the penalty area and outworks the Icelandic defenders, skillfully sending the ball into the back of the net with a toe poke.
79' Play was stopped for a few minutes now while Iceland's goalkeeper Ivarsdottir is being treated after an altercation with Ryan. She's back up and playing, though, and the match has resumed.
72' Hayes calls on a couple more substitutes, this time bringing on Smith and Hershfelt for Williams and Coffey. Hershfelt, a rookie with the Washington Spirit and an alternate on the Olympics roster, is also earning her first cap tonight.
66' Hayes goes to the bench for the first time today, bringing on Krueger, Shaw and Ryan for Fox, Horan and Swanson. This marks a debut for Ryan, who is rewarded with her first international cap after strong play with Gotham over the last couple of seasons.
62' The USWNT are now clearly on the hunt for a go-ahead goal, with Lavelle making a run down the left flank and sending the ball into the box, though no one can get a quality touch on it.
56' Iceland have their equalizer, courtesy of a banger from Magnusdottir. The midfielder has some space as the U.S. are caught ball-watching and she decides to go for it, running into a more central position before taking a shot from distance and scoring. You can't say they haven't earned it, though -- they have nine shots and four on goal today, more than the USWNT.
52' The teams are slowly but surely racking up the shots, with Iceland sending the ball across the face of goal in one moment and Thompson and Swanson combining at the other end a little bit later. Neither team has much to show for it yet in the second half, but the intensity of the first half is clearly sticking around.
No changes for the USWNT at halftime but Iceland go with three -- Agustsdottir, Arnadottir and Halldorsdottir are on for Viggosdottir, Antonsdottir and Jessen.
A fun fact to keep you occupied at halftime -- Thompson is one of four teenagers to score for the USWNT this year, setting a record in the process. It's a notable development for the USWNT, who have historically leaned heavily on their veterans, though that is something Hayes is intent on changing. She brought one of the U.S.' youngest major tournament rosters to the Olympics, and has spoken about getting young players valuable minutes in international games.
The half closes out with a freekick from Horan, who's close to scoring but can't get the shot on frame. All in all, a strong first half from both teams as they put together interesting tactical profile for this game. Iceland have been game, keeping up with the USWNT's speed and physicality and bold enough to play out of the back even though the hosts are well-positioned to disrupt their play.
Both sides have had strong chances but in the end it's the U.S. with the lead thanks to Thompson, who is so far making the most of her national team return with her first international goal.
39' Thompson marks her USWNT return with the game's opening goal, and what a strike it was. She receives the ball on the left side of the pitch and makes her way into the box, opting to shoot from an angle and scores. It's her first international goal, and comes in the midst of a strong season in NWSL play.
33' The USWNT continue to find themselves in and around the box, opting to generate a majority of their chances by interrupting Iceland's plans. The visitors prefer to play out of the back, with Coffey and Lavelle tasked with stopping their flow and switching the direction of play. It's not a bad strategy but it hasn't exactly resulted in a ton of quality chances -- the USWNT have four shots but just one on target, lagging behind Iceland's five shots, two on target.
24' Iceland almost score from a corner, exploiting the space left by the USWNT's defenders but Naeher is up for the task and collects the ball with ease. Quickly, the USWNT have a couple of chances at the other end but Pugh and Williams send the ball over the net with their respective chances.
17' The USWNT have another freekick near the penalty area, and Coffey swings the ball into the box. Williams is there on the receiving end but can't get the right touch on it and sends the ball wide of the net.
7' The USWNT are now making their way towards goal and have launched a couple of attacks. Their best chance of the game so far comes via freekick, with Girma getting on the end of a shot but sending the ball straight at goalkeeper Ivarsdottir.
5' It's early in this one but Iceland are the ones with some meaningful possession, making their way into the box and getting in a couple of threatening positions. They also have the first shot of the game, but the USWNT survived the moment with little issue.
The USWNT's Olympic victory tour is officially underway at Austin's Q2 Stadium.
Alyssa Thompson is one of three players who are back in the USWNT camp for the first time in a long time, a list that includes Ashley Sanchez and Hailie Mace. While Sanchez, like Thompson, was part of the 2023 World Cup team, Mace last played for the USWNT in Nov. 2022. Their inclusions offers a look at what exactly Emma Hayes means by expanding the player pool -- in addition to recruiting less experienced players, Hayes seems intent on rewarding anyone who is performing well.
This trio received the call-up after strong showings in the NWSL this season. Mace is part of a talented Kansas City Current team, while Thompson has five goals and seven assists for Angel City and Sanchez has five goals and four assists for the North Carolina Courage.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir, a nominee for this year's Ballon d'Or, starts in Iceland's defense ahead of today's friendly against the USWNT. Here's a look at their lineup in full.
Iceland starting XI: Ivarsdottir, Arnardottir, Viggosdottir, Heidarsdottir, Anasi, Zomers, Antonsdottir, Magnusdottir, Jessen, Andradottir, Jonsdottir
Though no one will make their USWNT with a start today, six players in this month's camp await their first cap. Emma Hayes said some will get the chance to play for the national team for the first time in the coming days, with the October friendlies serving as the first real chances to identify new talent. It will not be the last, though -- Hayes has big plans for 2025 as she aims to broaden the player pool.
Emma Hayes calls upon 10 gold medalists to start today but also offers a spot in the lineup to Alyssa Thompson, who was part of the 2023 Women's World Cup team and is enjoying a strong season with Angel City. Today's game also marks the 100th cap for Emily Sonnett. Here's a look at the lineup.
USWNT starting XI: Naeher, Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Nighswonger, Coffey, Horan, Lavelle, Thompson, Swanson, Williams
The USWNT are back in action for the first time since winning gold in Paris, but the real work for Emma Hayes arguably begins today. The head coach was hired not only to achieve results but evolve the USWNT in an increasingly competitive women's soccer world, and she might finally take the first step today in Austin by offering a first glimpse at her long-term vision for the team.
Stick around for team news, pre-game coverage and live updates once the game begins.
