USWNT plagued by 'poor execution' in 0-2 loss to Spain

Emma Hayes has been steadfast. 

The series against Spain would test the USWNT’s readiness before Brazil next summer.

There are some caveats with the late injuries to Sam Coffey and Naomi Girma, but Hayes did not give her squad the lesson plan required to pass this test. The midfield of Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Heaps, and Lily Yohannes had obvious deficiencies, and Spain exploited that lack of defensive presence through the midfield to an early 2-0 lead. 

That speaks to the crux of what happened here. 

Pre-match, Hayes said she wanted to field the 11 best players in the USWNT’s opener, but the problem came when the manager’s 3 best midfielders are all best suited as dual 10s. Yohannes and Heaps can play well together; they were often paired with Melchie Dumornay at OL Lyonais, but that requires a club-level understanding of the rotations, and international soccer doesn't offer that luxury. 

So, Spain capitalized on their first two opportunities thanks to Patri’s golazo – could have been pressured – and Ava Navarro’s late-arriving run – completely unmarked through the middle of the pitch. 

Following that goal, the US tightened up, but the final execution still lacked. At the half, both sides had equal opportunities. Spain finished theirs while the US either took an extra dribble or failed to beat Adriana Nanclares.

The 2nd half saw Giselle Thompson replace Avery Patterson on the left side, and the US jumped out of the gate. Despite the better play, an offside goal, a penalty kick, and 6 shots on target to Spain’s 0, the US couldn’t break through.

Emma Hayes was left with a few important questions:

Should Lily Yohannes take a PK over Sophia Smith or Ashley Sanchez (subbed on for Alyssa Thompson in the 66th minute)?

"I don't put those things down to poor luck, I put it to poor execution, including the penalty,” Hayes said post-match. “We were the team that created the most chances, but they were the most efficient."

Has Hayes seen enough of Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes together to try something different as her preferred midfield? 

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the US looked better in the 2nd half when they were on the front foot and outdueling Spain 31 to 9, but that wasn’t the case early, and it’s easy to point out the lack of defensive responsibility on both of Spain’s opening goals. Once Claire Hutton and Mal Swanson replaced Heaps and Lavelle, it seemed as if the US had more control. 

Ultimately, Hayes shouldn’t worry much about a performance where the US generated 3.02 xG on target to Spain’s 0.71… that’s a match the US should win more often than not.

If the purpose of the series with Spain was to prepare for Brazil, then Hayes has to show she can learn from this start. As much as I have praised Hayes for expanding the player pool and instituting the U23 camp to keep players involved, this isn’t the first time that her initial game plan and roster selection have led to a poor performance out of the gate. 

The US has the players to make up for these starts – if Sophia Wilson is a step onside, if a shot doesn’t roll just wide past the post, if Rodman’s shot isn’t directly at Nanclares, if Alyssa Thompson doesn’t take an extra dribble after cutting inside, if Yohannes takes a better penalty – but it doesn’t have to be this way. 

Ultimately, this was a better performance than the 2-0 loss 3 years ago but Hayes has to find the balance through the midfield... or at least find more opportunities to run downhill behind a relatively slow Spanish backline. It is possible, but a start like this could turn into another early World Cup exit… no one can sleepwalk to a quarterfinal anymore. 

It’s a good thing everyone recognizes the problem:

Now, they have to bounce back on Tuesday.

Looking ahead.

There are a few rotations that I would like to see in the second match. Sophia Wilson has been back to her old self, and I do think she needs the reps for this version of Emma Hayes’s attack.

Pietra Tordin at the 10 with Michelle Cooper at RW is a look that I would like to see with Trinity Rodman playing all 90 minutes today (assuming there is going to be a fresh lineup). All three players have been elite NWSL attackers this season and it could be a good look with either Sanchez or Alyssa Thompson on the opposite wings. 

That rotation isn’t as important as understanding what Hayes will do in the midfield. 

Is this Jaelin Howell’s time? Or can Hutton be the solidity needed underneath the attacking options?

Sometimes we think about the midfield too linearly, but there needs to be a ball winner who can make those deep recovery runs even if the rest of the midfield is a position-less rotation.

It’s most likely Phallon Tullis-Joyce in goal and Tara Rudd replacing Kennedy Wesley, but that isn’t as important as the rotation in front of them.

Emma Sears, Lilly Reale, Kate Del Fava, Evelyn Shores, and Trinity Byars weren't included in this one, Hayes might look for opportunities to involve them as well.

At the end of the day, it wasn’t as disastrous an outing as the scoreline would suggest… but it was frustrating.

The USWNT will have to show growth on Tuesday.