Photo Credit: Jamie LeBlanc-Imagn Images
A day before the U.S. women’s national team takes on world No. 1 Spain, head coach Emma Hayes called Patri Guijarro one of the opponent’s most underrated players.
It took the Spanish midfielder just three minutes into his side’s 2-0 win on Saturday to prove Hayes right.
The USWNT were still entering the game at Audi Field for their first international match in four months, when Quijarro fired in a shot from outside the box to score the opening goal.
It was a scary start for the hosts. Hayes’ side entered the FIFA window in October looking to make a statement against former international underdogs turned World Cup champions.
The two scheduled home matches against Spain represented litmus tests less than a year before the 2027 Women’s World Cup. They also offered the United States, previously considered the dominant side in women’s soccer, a chance to stake their claim to be the best in the world.
Now No. 2 USA was playing to catch up.
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