The United States Women’s National Team got a reality check tonight after losing 2-1 to Portugal on a breezy night at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Before the action kicked off, the stadium celebrated the achievements of USWNT legend Alex Morgan, as the friendly doubled as a send-off match for the superstar. Rose Lavelle scored the lone goal for the U.S. while Diana Gomes and Fátima Pinto tallied goals for Portugal.
The lineup for the U.S. featured just a sampling of veterans and focused more on youth. Phallon Tullis-Joyce has been chosen to take over the goalkeeping throne left by Alyssa Nahaer and the many legends who came before her. The Spirit’s own Tara McKeown started on the backline with Avery Patterson, Emily Sonnett, and Emily Fox. Experience ranneth over in a midfield that featured Lindsey Heaps, Rose Lavelle, and Sam Coffey. But the scariest, most threatening front three we’ve seen from the U.S. came out tonight, in a powerful, speedy combination of Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson and Catarina Macario, and KC Current’s Michelle Cooper.
Portugal, which sits 23rd in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking, also brought a loaded roster for the friendly. Jéssica Silva, who recently transferred to Saudi club Al Hilal, started on the bench for the match. Coach Francisco Neto opted for the striking pair of Carolina Santiago (Sporting CP) and Diana Silva (Benfica). The lineup also featured Barcelona’s Francisca Nazareth, Levante’s Dolores Silva, and a host of players from Sporting CP and Benfica.
The USWNT wasted no time getting to work as Rose Lavelle broke the deadlock in under a minute. Portugal lost possession early, leaving the ball for Catarina Macario. After penetrating the final third, she held up play just above the box. A deflected pass landed at the feet of Rose Lavelle, who wasted no time taking a shot on target and beating goalkeeper Inês Pereira. It took just 33 seconds for the U.S. to take the lead.
In the 4th minute, Portugal created their first chance thanks to the quick play of Lúcia Alves. With quick footwork, she sent her defender to her right side as she sprinted left. Looking up after about 10 yards, she played a ball forward that broke the backline. A sprinting Diana Silva had a step on her defender but lacked one against Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who quickly ran out of position to claim the ball.
Rose Lavelle almost had a second goal in the 8th minute, but her attempt went off the post. The link-up play of Macario and Lavelle happened once more, except this time, Lavelle was sent through on a line drive that ricocheted off the keeper. Bouncing behind Pereira with no teammates in sight, the ball bounced off the post and was eventually cleared.
Portugal made headway in the 39th minute. Deep in their opponents’ final third, Tatiana Pinto connected with Francisca Nazareth for a quick 1-2, with Pinto forcing Tullis-Joyce into action. The Manchester United keeper made the save and deflected the ball out for a corner kick. On the ensuing corner, Nazareth sent in a cross into the box, which found the head of Diana Gomes in traffic. She headed the ball low and to Tullis-Joyce’s near side, beating her to bring the match level at one apiece just before halftime.
The U.S. came out much more aggressively in the second half. In search of the go-ahead goal, head coach Emma Hayes sent out a slew of youngsters in hopes of jumpstarting the attack. Emma Sears, Claire Hutton, Yazmeen Ryan, and Lily Yohannes entered the fray in hopes of lighting a spark.
Unfortunately for the U.S., that spark was put out in the 72nd minute. Portugal, for the second time on the night, scored a goal from a set piece. Once again, Nazareth took the corner kick and played the ball into the penalty area. In traffic, Fátima Pinto struck the ball with her right foot and took a deflection before rolling into the lower right-hand corner.
“We started the game really strongly. Sometimes you can start a game like that and think to yourself, ‘I hope we don’t sit back and be passive,’ but that’s what we did,” Emma Hayes began after the match. “We mistimed everything. We didn’t win our duels at the right moments. Our attack felt like we hadn’t played together in a long time. We rushed everything, went direct, we didn’t look like the team we’ve been working on. But that’s what happens when you have 113 days apart.”
“Credit to them, they made it difficult for us,” said Lindsey Heaps of the USWNT. “But I think, as Emma (Hayes) said at the end, we didn’t play like a team. We need to be more as a team, more energy as a team. We scored that first goal, and I think we built momentum off of that, but it went the opposite direction.”
Tonight’s match was the first of three for the USWNT in the October FIFA window. The ladies will run it back with Portugal in hopes of exacting revenge this Sunday, Oct. 26, in Hartford, Conn. The match will honor another legend, former USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. The final match of the window sees the U.S. take on New Zealand on Oct. 29 in Kansas City, Mo., at CPKC Stadium.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Eyoel Fassil