The U.S. women’s national team kickstarted its involvement at the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a shutout victory over its biggest Concacaf rival.
Mallory Swanson scored twice in the first half as Vlatko Andonovski’s squad defeated Canada 2-0 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. Alyssa Naeher made three saves to earn her first clean sheet of the tournament.
The USWNT started the match on the front foot, being denied twice in the opening three minutes. Swanson’s shot from a tight angle in the first minute was caught by Kailen Sheridan before Sheridan punched away Ashley Sanchez’s long-range effort in the third minute.
Swanson boosted the USWNT in front 1-0 after slotting home Alex Morgan’s assist into the bottom-left corner. It was Swanson’s fourth goal of 2023 after scoring a pair of goals in New Zealand in January.
The USWNT would double its lead in the 34th minute as Swanson arrived on the spot to slam home a rebound. Trinity Rodman’s original effort was denied by Sheridan but Swanson finished off her second goal of the night.
Canada’s best effort of the first half came off the foot of Janine Beckie just before halftime. Beckie’s long-range shot was punched away by Naeher, keeping the Canadians down by a two-goal margin.
The USWNT tried to extend its lead but Ashley Hatch and Lindsey Horan were both denied by Sheridan on respective attempts.
Canada’s Jordyn Huitema and Vanessa Gilles both delivered headed attempts towards goal in the 74th minute and 90th minute respectively, but Naeher stood tall to lock down the shutout win.
The USWNT will next meet Japan on Sunday at GEODIS Park in Nashville.
fun game to watch for USWNT fans, showing signs, next game another great test
Swanson continues to impress and impact across the entire field in all phases.
Sullivan continues to look more comfortable and intentinal all the time. Vlatko slipping Horan into the build out play 6 role and relieving Sullivan of that key responsibility seems to have opened her up to do everything else she does very well, and she was even making plays to break lines as the game wore on. Obviously she’s a key player in a key role so really good to see it.
Naeher used to make me nervous but that was years ago. now it’s the opposite and has been for some time
Dunn is the dynamic player that makes it click imo, and won’t explain why. if Fox can continue to apply the defensive focus like last night and recently, they both have a huge part to play in the final analysis
Sanchez, once she got after it defensively with the pressure element when the pressure was hers to apply, she impacted much more. maybe she tired, I think she did because of it, but with the other 10 players out there tactically, when she busts around like that for as long as she can, she fits well
Rodman, the time is now, just another blossoming player, maybe not like Swanson is doing right now, but in her own development phase
all this with no Lavelle, Smith, Macario, others.
I admit I did not expect a performance as dominant as last night. the whole team stepped up, result could’ve been even more lopsided
Canada looked poor, slow in some key spots, still thug balling it out there too. we’ll see how they do the rest of the way with this group
“The USWNT would double its lead in the 34th minute as Swanson arrived on the spot to slam home a rebound. Trinity Rodman’s original effort was denied by Sheridan but Swanson finished off her second goal of the night.”
Am I missing something, or is that absolutely not how the second goal was scored?
that it is interesting
you’re missing nothing, that’s not how it happened