The USWNT needed penalties and another ridiculous shootout performance from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, but Emily Fox scored the winning penalty to defeat Canada for the SheBelieves Cup trophy on Tuesday night. Despite Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett’s misses in the shootout, Naeher once again played the role of hero, making three saves in the shootout and, as is her new standard, converting her own shot. This is the seventh SheBelieves Cup trophy for the USWNT.
Sophia Smith scored both USWNT goals in the second half, after Canada took the lead late in the first period. Canada equalized late after Crystal Dunn was adjudged to have brought down striker Adriana Leon in the box, with Leon converting the penalty to make it 2-2. Canadian center back Kadeisha Buchanen almost scored the winning goal via her head, but the United States was saved by the crossbar on the last notable chance of the match.
Earlier in the evening, Brazil and Japan also used penalties to determine the third-place team. Brazil ended up with the honor, as Japan struggled to convert their attempts in the shootout.
With good weather and no torrential rain, we finally got a real taste of what a real soccer match between the United States and Canada looks like right now – although one way or another otherwise, we found ourselves in the exact same place where penalties were needed to decide the winner, as many American fans made their displeasure with Korbin Albert known multiple times throughout the night. Here are the takeaways from this edition of this matchup.
Naeher’s redemption
Even at her peak during the 2019 World Cup cycle, few would take Alyssa Naeher to be a sweepstakes keeper. The Chicago Red Stars goaltender is an exceptional goaltender in her era and a capable defensive orchestrator, providing a level-headed approach that kept games from getting derailed. However, she is not the type to converge on a ball before an attacker prepares his shot, and is more of a traditional goalkeeper who stays close to the net.
Canada’s first goal revealed this fact, a fact that has become more and more evident as the years have gone by.
OBJECTIVE 🇨🇦
ADRIANA LEON OPENS THE SCORING FOR THE #CANWNT 🇨🇦
A serious error in defense on the part of the #USWNT GK opens the door for Léon to finish easily 😎
🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/U5a3xnQRqP
– OneSoccer (@onesoccer) April 9, 2024
Even without the “Naeher won’t beat Ashley Lawrence in a foot race” factor, Naeher decided to close the angle far too late in Canada’s counter. Any split second of indecision works against a goalie who needs to time this challenge, and it was probably the difference between a last-gasp clearance and the actual result, which was an attempted clearance off Lawrence’s shin all the way up. ‘to Deanne Rose. The indecision also cost the USWNT time to adjust its defensive shape, leaving Rose with an easy pass to Adriana Leon for a finish into an empty net.
Of course, the resolution of the game – another tournament that ends with Naeher stopping at least one penalty in a shootout – reinforces his bona fides in the big moment. She remains one of the best in the world, even its standard bearer, in terms of managing penalties in an important moment. His determination helped the United States bounce back after Rodman saved the first penalty of the shootout. Naeher took control of the moment by making his own save, then immediately stepping in to fire the United States’ third shot, then turning around and making two more saves. It was total domination.
That said, and it goes without saying: a team only gets shots on goal if it fails to win in the 90 or 120 minutes preceding it. When a team concedes goals like the one that opened the scoring tonight, winning a penalty shootout is an obligatory reward.
If the team is determined to play a possession-based game that invites opponents to threaten on the counter, Naeher’s decision-making in similar situations could make or break the USWNT’s quest to win a medal. gold.
The American fan base is still largely unhappy with Albert
Korbin Albert was a substitute in both games, and in both games she received boos upon entering the court, although they were clearly audible even on Tuesday night’s television broadcast. In Columbus, where the stadium announcer had to repeat the substitution announcement when Albert replaced Shaw, Albert was booed twice, and again after the game when his name was read during the signing ceremony. trophy.
Leaving aside the fact that the team looked worse when Albert came on – who wouldn’t look worse with Shaw replacing the No.10? — it’s clear that some fans are unhappy with Albert’s apology and subsequent statements from USWNT leadership that, while condemning anti-LGBTQ behavior, they are handling the issue privately.
Score a double for Smith
Look, it’s absolutely crucial for the USWNT to get Sophia Smith back in this scoring form, but her two goals help illustrate the kind of success this team can see when they move the ball with purpose and land their first touch or a- the passing of time.
A BEAUTY IN CONSTRUCTION AND WE ARE FORWARD! #USWNT X @vw pic.twitter.com/zeBj6HkEuM
– United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 10, 2024
We saw how a more direct approach worked this year in the Gold Cup against Colombia, and when you think about the attacking talent (and depth of that talent) on this team, the direct approach actually offers more options. Smith will get credit for Tuesday’s two goals, but it was the introduction of Swanson and the return of Shaw to the number 10 that allowed for more successful interplay between the forward line – and as we noted above, Shaw was involved on both goals in the build-up.
SOPH EQUAL!!!! #USWNT X @vw pic.twitter.com/m7CfgN2JtS
– United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 10, 2024
His decision to simply drop Smith for the equalizer, in particular, was the perfect example of what happens when you make a quick, simple decision and trust the player on the other side of that call.
The double pivot is back…ish
Against Canada, the United States opted for a more defensive configuration with Sam Coffey and Emily Sonnett in a double pivot. But playing Coffey and Sonnett together there – and keeping Lindsey Horan in midfield as well – requires you to move Jaedyn Shaw out of midfield, which is what happened when Shaw moved to the wing LEFT. Shaw, 19, looked a little disconcerted at first; it would have been really interesting to see her start at 10th two games in a row, instead of asking her to adapt to her position. With more experience, this is the kind of shift Shaw will undoubtedly make more fluidly, but in this game it left the U.S. looking for some sort of outlet to get into the box from Canada.
The United States changed tactics a bit in the second half, moving Shaw back to 10th by replacing Coffey with Mal Swanson. With Shaw closer to Smith, this allowed Smith to drop into the pocket in the half-space instead of staying wide and having to fight past a defender, helping to create the tying goal in the second half. Shaw also helped create the second goal by picking out Rodman on a well-weighted pass.
Having looked at both setups over the course of halves, it seems difficult to make a case for the more mind-numbing double pivot, although this may have been affected by players adjusting their positions between games and the loss of Naomi Girma on injury. He also suffered from confusing use of Dunn, who sat alone on the sideline in space for long minutes without ever recovering the ball.
Of course, there is no rule that the United States must use one formation forever, and against Canada in a friendly, why not look at a more defensive setup and see if you can get something out of it profit ? The team’s willingness to make adjustments in the second half ultimately paid off, and that’s really what matters.
(Top photo: Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)