The U.S. ladies’s nationwide group defeated Iceland 3-1 on Thursday in its first match following its gold-medal run this summer time on the Paris Olympics. and , each nonetheless youngsters, scored first earlier than offered a late dagger to seal the end result.
Thompson was the one participant to begin who didn’t play on this summer time’s . The 19-year-old was extensively anticipated to be known as again into the nationwide group following a superb run of kind with in . She didn’t disappoint in Austin, Texas, offering the opening objective, which was additionally her first worldwide objective.
Absolute LASER from {the teenager} ☄️
“I get in these conditions loads in video games, so I knew what to do: put it in with my proper,” Thompson mentioned throughout her halftime interview.
For the reason that NWSL’s return from the Olympic break, Thompson has scored 5 objectives with Angel Metropolis and famous she’s spent additional time after coaching engaged on slicing in off the wings with an eye fixed for objective alongside her NWSL teammate . Thursday night time, she received one other good alternative to point out what these additional reps have unlocked.
Thompson final performed for the U.S. in 2023, that includes within the ultimate match of the 12 months in Texas. Regardless of her inclusion within the 2023 World Cup roster, she missed out on an Olympic spot below head coach Emma Hayes.
4 – 4 youngsters (Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw, Lily Yohannes, Alyssa Thompson) have scored for the in a single calendar 12 months for the primary time since 2000 (6). Future.
“Simply coming onto the sphere and sporting the jersey at first, I used to be like, ‘That is surreal,’” Thompson mentioned throughout halftime. “With the ability to get my first objective, I can’t describe how I really feel. I’m simply so completely satisfied.”
Iceland equalized within the second half when Selma Magnúsdóttir scored within the 56th minute with an effort from exterior the field that beat goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher within the backside left nook. However the tie didn’t final.
Shaw was a second-half substitute, however that didn’t cease her from scoring. Whereas her Olympics went in an sudden course after she picked up a muscle damage in France, Shaw had no points returning to her scoring methods with the nationwide group having totally recovered.
“It was a very powerful month for me,” Shaw mentioned of the Olympics after the match. “However it was additionally the very best month of my life. I discovered loads from it. It simply made me hungry to return again and produce the identical, if no more.”
Smith additionally picked up some USWNT minutes, after lastly making her NWSL return for the in a restricted capability final weekend. Smith had an ankle damage resurface in September and had missed out on a number of Thorns matches. Smith, one-third of the “Triple Espresso” ahead line on the Olympics, added the exclamation level along with her objective within the 88th minute.
⚡⚠️ ¡QUÉ GOLAAAZO DE SOPHIA SMITH!
🇺🇸 Estados Unidos 3-1 Islandia 🇮🇸
’s earned her first U.S. cap Thursday night time, subbing on within the 66th minute alongside Shaw and . of the additionally lastly earned her first cap for the USWNT on this match, after touring with the group to France this summer time as an alternate.
Coach Emma Hayes known as up six uncapped gamers as a part of her 26-player roster for the October window, although solely 23 gamers can costume for every match.
“We regarded a bit rusty,” Hayes mentioned in her postgame press convention. “We haven’t performed collectively because the Olympics, and I feel we seem like a group with numerous gamers on the again finish of the season.”
Whereas she favored their brief passing sport, Hayes mentioned the efficiency within the ultimate third throughout the first half wasn’t adequate and that they weren’t switching the ball rapidly sufficient. Each have been addressed at halftime.
“It’s as much as us to inject that urgency into the sport,” she mentioned. “The gamers that got here from the bench did that.”
The USWNT nonetheless has two extra matches on this worldwide window. They play Iceland once more Sunday in Nashville (5.30 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, Max, Universo and Peacock), earlier than their ultimate match on U.S. soil this 12 months subsequent Wednesday in opposition to Argentina in Louisville (7 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, Max, Universo and Peacock).
This text initially appeared in .
US Ladies’s nationwide group, Iceland, Soccer, NWSL
2024 The Athletic Media Firm
