The U.S. women’s national team is back and just like she did in every game at the Olympics, Emma Hayes led her side to victory on Thursday night.
It wasn’t a particularly emphatic win, but Hayes likely won’t be too disappointed with a 3-1 victory over Iceland in a friendly that wasn’t decided until the final five minutes.
Alyssa Thompson opened the scoring in the first half on her USWNT return, but Iceland struck back early in the second half with a stunner from Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir.
Just when it looked like the U.S. may have to settle for a draw in its first game after the Olympics, two moments of individual brilliance proved decisive.
Jaedyn Shaw scored an 85th-minute winner after some slick dribbling in the box, while Sophia Smith added the exclamation point three minutes later with a rocket of a half-volley.
Here are three takeaways from the USWNT’s win at Q2 Stadium in Austin.
USWNT(eens)
Thompson hadn’t put on a USWNT jersey for nearly a year before Thursday, while Shaw had her Olympics wrecked by injury.
But the two 19-year-olds showed on Thursday why they aren’t just the future of the USWNT, but very much part of the present as well.
Thompson caused plenty of danger down the right flank in the first half, but it was her switch to the left side that ultimately produced the night’s first goal.
From Iceland’s perspective, Thompson had way too much time and space to waltz into the box, but the teenager still had a lot to do after receiving Sam Coffey’s pass.
Thompson cut onto her right foot and cracked an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner for her first USWNT goal.
Shaw then made her mark off the bench with an absurd individual effort, showing the kind of close control at pace that few players possess.
With the ‘Triple Espresso’ trio pretty firmly entrenched as the USWNT’s top attacking options, finding consistent minutes for Thompson — or any other attacker for that matter — will be a challenge moving forward.
For Shaw, her ability to play across the midfield will help her cause considerably.
Regardless, if the two teens perform like they did on Thursday, Hayes will have to find a way to get them onto the pitch.
More changes to come
When accounting for players either injured or just returning from injury, Hayes fielded something very close to her best available XI on Thursday.
Hayes then waited until the 66th minute to make her first substitution, eventually making five changes.
With two more games over the next six days, there’s little doubt that the next two lineups Hayes puts on the field — starting with Sunday’s rematch against Iceland — are going to look much different.
Hayes said prior to the match that she isn’t planning on playing anyone for more than two full games, having consulted with NWSL teams eager to get their players back in pristine condition ahead of the final matchday of the season.
The coach promised we would see debuts over this window and on Thursday there were two, as Hal Hershfelt and Yazmeen Ryan earned their first cap.
That leaves four uncapped players remaining on the current roster: Eva Gaetino, Alyssa Malonson, Emily Sams, and Emma Sears. There may not be any uncapped players left after Wednesday’s finale against Argentina.
Smith looking just fine
There were some eyebrows raised when Sophia Smith was named to the October roster, given she hadn’t played in more than a month due to an ankle injury.
But Smith saw the field with the Portland Thorns over the weekend, coming through a 30-minute substitute appearance seemingly unscathed.
If there were any lingering questions over Smith’s fitness, she answered those emphatically in an 18-minute appearance that included a casual banger of a half-volley.
Yep, she’s back.