The U.S. women's national team finished 2024 on a high on Tuesday, scraping together a 2-1 win at the Netherlands to extend their unbeaten run to 20 games.
The visitors survived a poor first half with the Netherlands having nearly 60% possession and outshooting the USWNT 14-1. The U.S. seemed unable to cope with the Netherlands' press and had a passing accuracy of just 76.4% in the first half, much of which they spent down a goal. The hosts were rewarded for their bright start with a goal in the 15th minute from 18-year-old Veerle Buurman, who scored off a corner.
Even as the hosts racked up shots, a combination of heroics from USWNT veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in her final international appearance and their own wastefulness created openings for Hayes' side. As a result, the visitors were able to go into the break on level terms thanks to a surprise own goal from Buurman in the 44th minute.
Hayes made a handful of personnel changes throughout the second half, carving their way back into the game as the Netherlands' spark disappeared during the second half. The more even pace of the game eventually benefitted the USWNT, who found the go-ahead goal courtesy of substitute Lynn Williams in the 71st minute. The pass for the goal came from her NJ/NY Gotham FC teammate Yazmeen Ryan, who notched her first international assist.
Lily Yohannes, the much-hyped 17-year-old midfielder, played her first game for the USWNT since choosing to represent them over the Netherlands. Her substitution, alongside fellow midfielder Hal Hershfelt and forward Alyssa Thompson in the 67th minute, offered new energy as the USWNT successfully looked for a go-ahead goal.
The USWNT return for a training camp in January that will feature veterans and rising talents, and their competitive schedule resumes in February with the SheBelieves Cup.
USWNT's poor first half
The USWNT played their worst half of soccer since Hayes took over in June during the first 45 minutes in The Hague, requiring the head coach to make tactical adjustments before halftime and then later making several intentional substitutions. Hayes did not mince words post-game as she reflected on the team's win.
"Of course, I was disappointed with the way we played in the first half because, listen, if we're not going to be at our best with the ball, we better be at our best without it and I thought we got bullied and harassed and that frustrated me a little bit," Hayes said. "When I got the opportunity to regroup, I just adapted so that we could build in a three just to buy us a little bit more time and space. They were player-for-player everywhere and the Dutch should've been up 2-0 in the first half. We were fortunate to come in at halftime [1-1]."
She praised her halftime substitutes Williams and Emily Sonnett, who were just one part of the tactical reset that allowed them to capitalize when the Netherlands were unable to come into the second half with the same intensity they brought in the first.
"[I] made a couple of changes because I wanted to bring Sonnett's leadership back into the back line just to give us the opportunity to be able to get Tierna [Davidson] and Sonnett either side of Naomi [Girma] in possession and then Lynn in just to stretch the line out. We all know that Lynn Willaims is the best sub in the world and she came into the game when the team really needed to stretch out a little bit and I felt like second half, we got our foot stuck in which, for me, is like a basic and so I'm pleased we got that part right but we also rode our luck. I'm not sitting here and saying we were the better team but you can still win football matches and not be at your best and I thought today we demonstrated, by not being at our best both in and out of possession, but finding a way to win is a sign of a great team."
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Naeher finishes on a high
Naeher came up big in her 115th and final cap for the USWNT, making six saves and keeping the U.S. in the game as the Netherlands racked up shot after shot in the first half. Though it was perhaps a signal that the longtime USWNT goalkeeper still had plenty left to give, it was a fitting sendoff for one of the team's most reliable players.
"I wanted to go out on a high," she said post-match. "This decision wasn't a decision I made overnight, wasn't something that I just decided on a whim ... Part of why I've been able to play with so much extra joy and smiles and really enjoyed this year, even more, is [that] I really felt like it was the last the whole time. You wait until the end, you want to reassess and reevaluate based on how the year goes but I feel like in my heart, I would love to keep going. In my head and my body and mind, I feel like it's the right time and then I think it's the right time with this team as well as it builds towards the future and it builds towards 2027. This environment, this team is an incredible team to be a part of, but it's also really hard and really challenging in a lot of ways as well and I feel like I've given everything I have to give for this team and that's why I feel at peace with that."
The race to succeed Naeher will begin early next year, with no shortage of contenders vying for that spot. The North Carolina Courage's Casey Murphy is the most experienced with 20 caps but players who've recently participated in USWNT camps include Jane Campbell, Aubrey Kingsbury, Mandy Haught and Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Hayes said she will likely give a wide range of goalkeepers several chances over the next year to discover who the next first-choice shotstopper is, especially considering everyone's inexperience at the international level.
