The new era of the U.S. women's national team feels like it has begun. Five USWNT players got their first caps in a two-game series in Australia, as a result of the retirement of legend Carli Lloyd.
The games marked a full page-turn from the summer's 2020 Olympics, which saw the U.S. win the gold medal. The trip abroad was a good test for the American team that is very much in transition after failing to meet expectations in Japan.
The team is in transition. Their weakest spot, central defense, was even more vulnerable because of a new pair, 17-year-old debutant Jessika Nash and 19-year-old Courtney Nevin. Tony Gustavsson had no choice but to change the back line because it had conceded 36 goals in 15 games. The USWNT was the better team in the first game, and they looked destined for another win until giving up a late goal in the second.
The Americans switched to a back-five defense in a new formation at one point as Andonovski was experimenting with tactics and new players. Playing in front of a record-sized crowd in Australia is as good a test as a pair of games is, after all, the USWNT doesn't usually go abroad.
Who rose to the challenge and raised their stock in the USWNT pool?
Murphy is the GK.
Murphy was unflappable between the posts for the U.S.
In her first two caps for the USWNT, Casey Murphy showed that the USWNT may have found its next starting goalkeeper. It's no secret that Naeher is a likely candidate to lead the U.S. to the World Cup. The USWNT hasn't had a real battle for the starting goalkeeper spot in at least a decade, after the abrupt change that put Naeher in her spot.
Murphy could change that. The NC Courage keeper faced 10 shots on goal in the two games, and she made nine saves, some of them difficult ones that showed off her impressive wingspan. If she gets more reps, the 6-foot-1 goalkeeper will only get better because of her good communication with her defenders, quick reactions, and good command of the box. She out-performed the goals conceded stat, which projected two goals for Australia, and Murphy, who conceded one on a deflection.
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Australia worked their way back into the game, forcing several key saves out of Murphy, despite the USWNT's easy win.
The last 10 minutes of the first half were used by Andonovski. She came up huge when we needed her the most. It was good for her. She gained a lot of confidence.
Play.
The USWNT scored three goals in their win over the Aussies.
Lindsay Horan is a model.
She was an engine in the middle of the field, creating danger and holding possession, and she had the most touches on ball of any American across both games. She danced through yellow shirts and eventually found the third goal, albeit on a penalty, in the first game.
It's not surprising to see him do well. She was the best player in the NWSL in the year she won the league's Most Valuable Player award, a run of form that helped her solidify her spot on the USWNT. During the World Cup, which was held in the fall of 2019, the hard part of being consistent was taken away from her by a different person, so that she's been locked into a battle ever since.
Can she step up in every game? A more consistent showing could have vaulted him further.
In the first game against Australia, Horan led the way with the best passing accuracy of any American starter, but the second game was tougher. The Portland Thorns player still got plenty of touches, but completed less than half of her passes and was less effective in helping the USWNT move the ball. When a player has a high ceiling, the expectations are raised even higher.
She did lead the way in expected assists for both games, despite being the captain. While she may not have sewn up a starting spot, she continues to factor into Andonovski's plans in a big way. He is a player to watch.
Fox showed that she can be the left-back of the USWNT's next generation, freeing her up to play in a more attacking role.
Emily Fox is a person.
With the news that attacker-turned-defender Crystal Dunn is pregnant, the left-back spot is open for the taking, at least for a little while, and Emily Fox did not pass her opportunity up. If a better left-back had come along, there's reason to believe that Dunn would be deployed elsewhere, even though she has been the USWNT's best option at left-back. Over the past several years, there has been a lack of viable options, but now it seems Fox is changing that.
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Fox rarely put a foot wrong, getting into one-on-one battles and closing down space, because of the task of trying to contain fast forwards and even faster fullbacks. She was a threat up the field as well, and looked comfortable playing through pressure.
FW Trinity Rodman.
Two players are not in the camp. Both of the players and Andonovski have not said why they have opted out. After the USWNT roster was announced, Pugh missed an NWSL playoff game. The Australian government mandated that all players have to be vaccine free to play in the friendly.
It was a lost opportunity for both of them, as both were trying to reestablish themselves with the national team, and Rodman was looking for her first USWNT cap.
The forward position is an area where we felt we needed to increase the competition, so we have to give them games like this in tough environments like this. We have to see where they are.
The crop of forwards in Australia mostly looked up to the task, and unfortunately for Pugh and Rodman, the slate of newer call-ups didn't leave any obvious flaws. While Hatch led the way with two goals in two games, all of the attackers earned more time with the USWNT to fight for a spot against veterans like Alex Morgan and Christen Press, who were not part of this camp.
The Australia friendly was one of many that will come between now and the World Cup, which will likely not start until January 23, 2023, and Andonovski said Pugh and Rodman will have another chance soon.
He said that the January window is open. Mal and Trinity are two of the most exciting players in the league this year. We are excited to have them in the camp.
