WASHINGTON — Emma Hayes and the U.S. took solace in the abundance of scoring opportunities created in a matchup between two of the top teams in women’s soccer at a sold-out Audi Field on Saturday.
They were pleased with the few chances they conceded in their 2-0 loss to No. 1 Spain and the spirit they showed during an unfulfilling second half.
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But in those first 14 minutes, when the reigning World Cup champions scored twice without much resistance…
“You can’t give them a head start,” Hayes said. “They are very good.”
That’s not all.
There were all the missed opportunities – in both halves, from inside the penalty area, from distance, missed connections, waiting too long to shoot and even a penalty kick.
Add it all up and the Americans will head into next summer’s World Cup in Brazil as clear favorites, looking at Spain, who have brought their artistic game to the sport over the past three years and avoided a dramatic dip in form, rather than stumble here and there with England, leaving the nation’s capital.
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“You can’t afford to go two nil down against the best team in the world, especially because we conceded those goals,” Hayes said.
Spain midfielder Patri Guijarro (R) scores from outside the box three minutes into Saturday’s 2-0 win over the United States at Audi Field in Washington.
(Patrick Smith via Getty Images)
It was very easy. Spain’s build-up and the USWNT’s inability to close space allowed Patri Guijarro to score from the edge of the box three minutes into the match.
The second goal was an end-to-end drive that ended with Eva Navarro unmarked in the heart of the box to slot past beleaguered goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
“We know we’re better than this and we have to own it and we know we have another opportunity on Tuesday,” captain Lindsey Heaps said. “So that’s a good thing.”
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Indeed, the sides will clash again on Tuesday night at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, as part of the build-up to the World Cup.
The first friendship was defined by the early failures of the United States, the effectiveness of Spain and the ineffectiveness of the United States.
“Did I think we tried hard enough to score? Of course we did,” Hayes said. “Did we do enough to score more goals? Absolutely. We just didn’t make the right decisions and execute. … A lot of things we did were good, but not those.”
Falling behind by two goals and failing to score is rare for the reigning Olympic champion USA.
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Just three times since mid-2021, the Americans have trailed by multiple goals, and Spain were responsible for two of them. (Mexico was the other.) The U.S. was also eliminated for the second time in its last 27 games.
“As the game went on, we had more venom and more chances and chances,” right back Emily Fox said. “So I think it’s positive. But at the end of the day, we don’t want to lose 2-0 to anyone, least of all the world champions.”
With the 2027 World Cup nine months away, Emma Hayes sees reasons for optimism despite yet another defeat to Spain.
(Brad Smith/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Hayes and the players talked about the importance of details.
“Look: When you play the best team in the world, you have to do everything well,” Hayes said.
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Aside from scoring chances during the game, the USA wasted a penalty kick in the second half.
Heaps usually takes them, but he had already left the match. Second on the list based on experience in training is Lili Johannes, a 19-year-old midfielder and the youngest in the 26-man squad.
Johannes’ proposal was not precise enough and Adriana let Nanclares fill it in.
“I’m bored. My responsibility,” said Johannes, who grew up in the DC area. “I took the initiative to take it and I didn’t score, that’s on me. Yeah, I have to put it away.”
Hayes saw long-term benefits in Johannes. After all, friendlies nine months after the World Cup are for learning and growing.
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“It’s part of managing the pressure right now,” Hayes said. “He’ll be better for it. It’s good for me to miss the penalty. We missed enough, so the penalty contributed to that. It felt like it wasn’t going to go away today. But I don’t put it down to bad luck. I put it down to poor execution, including the penalty.”
The second half saw the return of Triple Espresso, the front line that ran amok in the 2024 Olympics. With Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson sidelined for extended periods while on maternity leave, Trinity Rodman has been the only regular. Wilson returned last spring and Swanson returned Saturday as a single.
“It’s one thing to get back in the game, but it’s another thing to do it at the highest level,” said Swanson, who scored the winner in the Olympic gold medal match against Brazil. “I’m so grateful to be back here and have been supported throughout this journey.”
Saturday’s match also saw the return of sub Ashley Sanchez, whose rise to the top of the NWSL points table this season earned her a spot after a two-year international absence.
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These were positive moments. But when yields peak next summer, the U.S. knows it needs to do better.
“I’m disappointed, I’m disappointed, but I’m not deterred,” Hayes said. “We’re going to get better with it. We’ve got really, really good players and regardless of today’s result, we’re a really good team. I think we’re closer to that. [Spain] than we were three years ago. definitely.”
He will learn more on Tuesday.