The U.S. women’s national team remained unbeaten in 2023 by holding off South American giants Brazil to capture its fourth-consecutive SheBelieves Cup crown.
Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson both scored as Vlatko Andonovski’s squad held on for a 2-1 victory in Frisco, Texas. Brazil made things interesting late following Ludmila’s goal in the 90th minute, but the Americans would hang on to move to 5-0-0 in all competitions this year.
Both teams had early chances to break the deadlock, but the score would stay level at 0-0 for majority of the first half. Alex Morgan propelled the USWNT in front before halftime after striking a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner after Mallory Swanson’s original effort was blocked.
It was Morgan’s 120th international goal of her career.
Brazil came close to tying things up in the 49th minute as Adriana’s long-range shot rattled the crossbar. Kerolin’s low drive in the 60th minute looked destined for the bottom-left corner but Alyssa Naeher dove down and repelled the effort.
The USWNT added breathing room in the 63rd minute as Swanson’s right-footed shot off a Rose Lavelle pass nestled into the bottom corner. It was Swanson’s sixth goal of the year for her country.
Ludmila’s headed finish in the 90th minute pulled one goal back for Brazil, but the visitors could not muster up a tying goal as the Americans picked up the home win.
Naeher finished with three saves, including two important ones in the second half to close out the victory.
The USWNT will now enter a lengthy break before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. A pair of home friendlies against the Republic of Ireland are reportedly on the cards for the Americans in April, but no official announcement has yet been made.
Vlatko slid Sullivan back into the 6 hole for the build out, she looked nervous to me and the attack tried to go thru Horan further up the field playing the 8, easier to defend, and it wasn’t so good, and we’ve seen that exact scenario play out before.
I think I get what Vlatko wants, with Rose and Lindsay higher they combine well together and break lines to get players in. But that specific aspect to the role just isn’t Andi’s strength evidently, at least thru today, so a tough ask imo. Horan did slide back there to help, and Mewis does it better than Sullivan imo, but Sullivan does the rest of it better than all of them imo; she has shown she can be useful in the build out but not as the primary, my opinion.
Swanson…awesome to watch her just explode into top level form, putting things together, getting better still even. she knows she can now. awesome
the Morgan goal was sick, and after being ruled offside on a previous (I think she was in a close one), what a response
If only the men had a finisher as clinical as Morgan
If only the men played against women.
Team gets back Sofia Smith and Macarrio look out the attack is going to be even more lights out. Still question marks at outside back and CM.