The US women's national team lost back-to-back games for the first time in five years after a 2-0 defeat to Spain on Tuesday.
Laia Codina opened the scoring in the 39th minute after the U.S. failed to clear a corner kick. Esther Gonzalez gave Real Madrid a 2-0 lead with a sweet volley after floating in between three U.S. defenders.
The U.S. women have lost back-to-back games for the first time in 13 years.
Player ratings, best and worst performers, highlights and notable moments, post- match quotes, and key statistics are included.
The U.S. will play England and Spain in October in order to work through some of the team's issues before the World Cup. The two losses exposed a lot of them.
It was the first back-to-back losses for the U.S. women since the SheBelieves Cup last year.
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This time around, it was a loss to Spain that followed one to England, and the combination of poor performances with the context of Spain fielding a second-choice team makes this a low point.
It is a familiar feeling for U.S. fans. The U.S. lost to France 2-0 in Lorient on the first day of the year. The friendly answer to personnel questions is an overlooked part of the World Cup triumph. The U.S. won the World Cup after a loss in Le Havre to start the year.
Much needs to be changed if the same pattern is to continue. Individual personnel issues and larger questions with the system are addressed.
The U.S. had to reach deep into the bench in both games because of the injuries. The Sally Yates report has a heavy weight on players.
It is necessary. The U.S. needs to correct its performance against Germany at home in November.
In Friday's 2-1 victory over the USWNT, England completely controlled the middle of the field and played out of the U.S.' high press with great composure.
On Tuesday, Spain weathered the early high press and played out of it in their signature style -- even without most of their start players -- and soon found the game and blocked Rose Lavelle in the middle.
There is a big question about this U.S. system. The midfield just got put under its most strenuous two tests to date and was outplayed in both of them.
Lavelle moved up to the wing position in the 64th minute of the Spain match after struggling against the Spaniards from a deeper position. Julie Ertz was the only one to fill the defensive midfield role in the previous cycle. It's not possible to replace Ertz by one person.
It's time to change systems. Sullivan and Sam Coffey could combine to give more cover in a double pivot. If more resources need to be allocated to defensive roles, how does Lavelle get more support in the buildout?
The X-factor here is Sam Mewis, who has not played all year due to a knee injury that started out as being described by U.S. Soccer and the Kansas City Current. Multiple U.S. deficiencies can be aided by the box-to- box option of Mewis. From 2020-21, she became a top player.
It has long been thought that a switch away from the 4-3-3 would be impossible. The SheBelieves Cup disaster, when France tore apart the three-back, made it clear that something needed to be changed. This is a very similar moment because of the back-to-back losses.
Spain earned a draw against Sweden and a win over the United States. The victory over the U.S. could give Spain an outside chance of being one of the top six ranked teams in the world when the rankings are released on Thursday.
All that happened this week with 15 of the federation's top players who were not called up for the games because of health concerns. The implication was that head coachJorge Vilda fostered this environment.
The players could face serious suspensions according to Spain's federation. Vilda pulled players from Spain's successful youth program, which currently holds the U 17 and U 20 World Cup titles. The result means a lot to those players.
The problems in Spain are serious and the dichotomy of them in the wake of the Yates report in the US is disturbing. Vilda refused to discuss those who weren't in the camp and demanded the "utmost respect" from his teammates.
Vilda and the Spanish federation are going to retaliate against some of the best players in the world. They might not even know it is such.
Spain's young players should be happy. Spain is a federation and Vilda is the coach.
The USWNT is made up of people who are 6 years old. A girl named Hailie Mace is six years old. A woman is 5 years old. The person is 6 years old. There is a 6 year old named CARSON PATTY. Andi Sullivan is five years old. Lindsey Horan is five years old. Rose Lavelle is five years old. Sophia Smith is six years old. Trinity Rodman is five years old. Megan Rapinoe is five years old. Sam is six. A person is 5 years old. There is a 5 year old girl named SOFIA HUerta. There is a 5 year old girl named Ashlynchez. The person is CrystalDunn, 5. The person is 6 years old.
Misa Rodriguez is five years old. Ivana is six. Rocio Galvez is seven years old. Laia Codina is seven years old. There is a person named Olga Carmona. A 7 year old girl named Oihane. Maitane Lopez is six years old. Maite Oroz is six years old. A person is 6 years old. Esther Gonzalez is seven years old. Alba Redondo is six years old. Ane Azkona is 6 years old. Athenea del Castillo is six years old. The person is 6 years old.
Olga Carmona is the best.
Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith were shut down by the left wing-back who was great 1-v-1 both in wide and central areas.
Lindsey Horan is the worst.
Twice they gave the ball away in dangerous positions in the U.S.' defensive third and couldn't find the game with the rest of the U.S.TrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkia
Spain was the more dangerous side as they found the back of the net twice.
In the 39th minute, Laia Codina scored her first goal.
Spain takes the lead against the USWNT‼️ pic.twitter.com/Iz2czPnsdv
— espnW (@espnW) October 11, 2022
The USWNT looked flat in the second half and the visitors' hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 72nd minute.
The strike by Esther Gonzlez made it clear that this was over.
What a TOUCH 😤
Spain makes it 2-0 over USWNT! pic.twitter.com/qEq8IxpRsv
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