CHESTER, Pa. – It was a tale of two halves for the US Women’s National Team in their final match of the October window.
Second-half goals from Ashley Sanchez and Mallory Swanson helped Emma Hayes’ side hold 1st-placed Spain to a 2-2 draw at Subaru Park. It was a comeback result for the Americans, who lost 2-0 to the reigning Women’s World Cup winners just three days earlier.
“Great fight, great determination to come back from 2-0 down and get something out of the game,” Hayes said in his press conference after the match.
Hayes made four changes to his starting line-up after Saturday’s defeat, bringing in goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, defender Gisele Thompson, midfielder Claire Hutton and the aforementioned Sanchez.
Tullis-Joyce was tested early by Spain’s Clara Pinedo in the 14th minute, punching home an angled shot from the Athletic Bilbao winger.
Despite increasing possession for the USWNT, Spain found a breakthrough goal through longtime midfielder Alexia Putellas in the 27th minute. Clara Serrajordi was left open on the right wing and made a low pass that Pinedo allowed to run to Putellas for a one-time finish.
It was Putellas’ 42nd career international goal in his 150th game.
Five minutes after breaking the deadlock, Putellas was the distributor of Spain’s second goal in the first half. A poor clearance from Tullis-Joyce fell to Putellas, who raced upfield and curled in an elbow low finish with winger Salma Paralluelo.
Four minutes into the second half, the USWNT reduced the deficit thanks to a great finish from Sanchez. The 27-year-old cut into the box from the left before curling a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
It was Sanchez’s fourth international goal and first since 2022.
As the second half wore on, Hayes made eight substitutions, two of which were involved in the USWNT’s equalizer.
Michel Cooper raced onto the ball and spun around for possession to find Swanson with some space inside the Spain box. Swanson took a touch before curling a half volley into the bottom left corner for his 39th international goal.
It was Swanson’s first goal since scoring in the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal match.
Lily Yohannes came close to winning the match in stoppage time for the USWNT, but Spain goalkeeper Misa made a heroic save, diving to her left and punching away Yohannes’ deflected effort.
That’s how the top two teams would end the night as the USWNT avoided a fourth loss in 2026.
“They are world class, I have not learned anything about them [Spain]I didn’t know anyway,” Hayes said. “We’re still going. They are [Spain] are worthy world champions and our job is to hunt them down. You see the importance of squad depth. Our strength is the size of our package.”
The USWNT will face El Salvador in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Championship this November.