Breaking News: USWNT downs Iceland behind strong play from young players

USWNT downs Iceland behind strong play from young players

The Olympic Gold Medalists U.S. women’s national team returned to action on Thursday night with a 3-1 win over Iceland.

Alyssa Thompson scored her first USWNT goal in her return to international duty before Jaedyn Shaw and Sophia Smith added late second-half goals to pad the victory. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made three saves in the result.

The first half was an exercise in possession for the USWNT, controlling 70% of the ball while finding their best opportunities through set pieces. The smothering counterpresss fed the possession but also allowed Iceland chances on occasion which they could not capitalize on.

As Emma Hayes looked to improve her own team’s clinical finishing following a successful Olympics campaign in her first ten matches at the helm, it was the only starter on the night who missed out on the tournament who provided the spark. Continuing her red-hot club form, Thompson put her work in the “Christen Press school of finishing” to use for her first national team goal in typical fashion cutting in from the left wing onto her right foot for a powerful finish.

“I get in those situations a lot in games so I kind of knew what to do. Cut in, whip it in with my right,” Thompson shared in her halftime interview. “Coming onto the field and wearing this jersey in the beginning, I was like ‘this is surreal’ and being able to get my first goal I can’t describe how I feel. I’m just so happy.”

The 19-year-old’s pure reaction of shock followed immediately by utter joy and excitement at her finish brought a similar smile to the face of Hayes and every USWNT fan watching.

“I have been watching her performances since the Olympics. I know she’s committed to looking for the next level in her play. I think you see just how threatening and dangerous she is. It’s not an easy goal. Chop in from the left hand side and roof it in the top corner,” Hayes praised. “But she’s someone who, her international career started at a very early stage. Thats why I believe it does take time. Maybe she wasn’t ready before but I can see from tonight’s performance she offers a lot for us going forward. I was super pleased for her goal and the performance.”

Iceland responded with a banger of their own ten minutes after the break courtesy of Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir’s left foot. In eleven games, it was just the third goal conceded by the USWNT in the Hayes era.

Looking for a winner, Hayes opted for a triple substitution just after the hour mark including a national team debut for NJ/NY Gotham FC winger Yazmeen Ryan. 363 days after her own debut, it was fellow substitute Shaw who provided that winner in the 85th minute with a zig-zagging run through Iceland’s defense finished off with a toe-poke nutmeg.

Two goals from two 19-year-olds marked the first time a pair of teenagers scored for the USWNT in the same game since Ally Marquand, Laura Schott, and Cat Whitehill all scored vs. Norway on March 17, 2001. The future is bright.

“Her ability to create and score goals is second to none in this country,” Hayes raved about Shaw. “Her feet were fabulous. She took her goal well and looked very threatening.”

Three minutes later, the third piece of the triple substitution, Smith, put the game to bed with a pinpoint finish from the top of the box to cap off the Olympic celebration with a 3-1 victory.

This EURO-qualified Iceland team will get another shot at the USWNT in Nashville on Sunday as the 13th-ranked team in the world will want to make a statement against the world’s top team after fumbling a draw late on. For the USWNT, a window of growth and improvement has only just begun.

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Breaking News: USWNT downs Iceland behind strong play from young players

USWNT downs Iceland behind strong play from young players

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