The USWNT got clocked 2-0 by Spain on Saturday, with the reigning World Cup champs hitting the back of the net twice in the first 14 minutes and leaving the Americans chasing the game from the jump. It was a sellout crowd of 19,220 at Audi Field, and for a team that has set the standard for women’s soccer for decades, being down multiple goals is a seriously rare sight, only the third time in 96 matches over the last five and a half years. What happened to our finishing touch?
Spain Came Out Firing, USWNT’s Defense Struggled Early
From the opening whistle, Spain, the world’s No. 1 team, looked like they were playing a squad dozens of spots below them, not the Olympic champions. About three minutes in, the Americans found themselves behind after just failing to clear their end. Laia Codina got the ball in midfield, then Spain’s build-up was lightning fast and totally elusive. Four passes later, Patri Guijarro had space outside the box and absolutely ripped a right-footed shot perfectly into the far side-netting. What a finish, but where was our defense?
It got worse, way worse, just 11 minutes later. In the 14th minute, Spain cruised end to end like it was nothing. Goalie Adriana Nanclares launched a long ball to midfield, Lucia Corrales headed it to Edna Imade, who sprung Salma Paralluelo free on the left wing. Paralluelo worked Tierna Davidson, chipped a cross right into the heart of the box, and Eva Navarro was just chilling there, unmarked, for an 11-yard one-timer into the near side. Two-nil. Spain and Mexico are the only teams to do that to the USWNT recently, and man, it just stings to see. Coach Emma Hayes rolled out seven players with World Cup or Olympic experience, but that four-woman backline had never played together. With Naomi Girma and Emily Sonnett both out injured, Tierna Davidson and Kennedy Wesley were thrown into central defense, and you have to wonder if that inexperience played a part against Spain’s relentless attack, even with them missing their own stars Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey.
Chances Galore, Zero Goals. The Finishing Has to Be Better!
Credit where it’s due: the Americans didn’t just roll over after going down two. For the remaining 76 minutes, they created an absolutely enormous number of opportunities. The problem? Zero finishing touch. We’re talking about a missed penalty kick here, folks! How do you not bury that in a game like this? Trinity Rodman had two heavy touches in the box that went nowhere. Alyssa Thompson was wrecking shop on the right wing, creating havoc, only to have her shot cleared off the line. Sophia Wilson unleashed a wicked drive that Spain’s keeper Nanclares somehow touched off the crossbar, and then Wilson later missed the far post by a yard. Lily Yohannes also missed the far post by a yard. We had the chances, we had the looks, but the ball just wouldn’t go in. Is it bad luck, or do we have a serious finishing problem to address?
This was just the first of two friendlies, so the result doesn’t tank anything major right now. But it definitely screams that Spain is for real, they are the top dogs, and they’re gonna be a huge favorite for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil in nine months. These titans meet again Tuesday night at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. After that, it’s all about the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament late next month in the Dallas area. The USWNT has to win just one game against 78th-ranked El Salvador to keep their streak of playing in all 10 World Cups alive. We need to see that finishing come alive, and we need to see it Tuesday night. Let’s get it together, ladies!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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