The U.S. women’s national team closed out 2024 with a comeback 2-1 win over the Netherlands on the road at Bingoal Stadium in Hague on Tuesday evening.
Lynn Williams delivered the winning goal in the second half after the two teams played out a 1-1 scoreline through 45 minutes. USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made six saves in her final appearance before international retirement.
Veerle Buurman propelled the Dutch in front after 15 minutes, giving the hosts an early advantage.
However, the USWNT would fight back before halftime as a Buurman own goal gave Emma Hayes’ squad a lifeline.
Two of the USWNT’s attacking players connected on the eventual winning goal as Yazmeen Ryan assisted Williams with a cross to complete the comeback. It marked Williams’ fourth USWNT goal in her 16th cap this year.
Alyssa Thompson, Ally Sentnor, and Hal Hershfelt were among the six substitutes for the USWNT on the night.
The USWNT closed out the year by extending their unbeaten streak to 20 matches.
To all the pundits out there (not necessarily here on this board) who failed to note Ryan’s impressive performance vs. England, and said no newbies impressed vs. England…haha, right here she’s gotten her callouts, and from before this window
anyway, the goal was excellent but I thought Williams was only ok up until then. the officiating was absolutely horrendous and is always allowed to be hyper physical when we play the goons from the Netherlands. They play like a bunch of thugs, and Van de Clunk missing that final volley just dessert as she is the biggest dirty player out there
so unnecessary because the Dutch are good, but it’s clear they go into these matches with the USWNT with a thug chip on their shoulder, and it’s allowed for some reason. Don’t forget the World Cup game when they fouled like dogs all game, including the first half with 10 whistles and most to stop counter attacks–and no cards, LOL
terrible matchup for Nighswonger, who struggled mihjtily with the physicality, and also had Lavellw playing above her who also really struggled in this one, repeatedly getting wall passed and 1-2’d; the whole team got 1-2’d through the D
again, we saw a team man mark the USWNT and slow them down. if the fouling isn’t carded it’s very very effective. If it’s carded, it is not
pretty simple equation on that FIFA
I have the biggest crush on Yasmine Ryan, omg why did it take forever for her to get callups, she is very underrated and got that jet speed like me.
This was a good test for the many newcomers to the team. The Netherlands badly outplayed the US women in the first half, controlling the match, and outshooting the US 14-1. In reality, the scoreline should been 4-0 at the break. Hayes made the adjustments at the break to make the 2nd half more evenly played. As for which newcomer stood out, I’d have to go with Yazmeen Ryan. Impressive..!
it’s interesting you said it was a good test for the newcomers, because ironically enough we didn’t really see said newcomers until the second half(other than Yazmeen Ryan). Why did we need to see Horan and Lavelle start 2 games in a row? They were arguably 2 of our worst players, especially Horan which has become a common theme for 2 years now, and Lavelle has seemingly lost her mojo in terms of looking for her own shot and trying to take the game to the opponent.
Nighswonger has not impressed me since she’s been getting call ups and was bad again last night, so to were the entire midfield and the front line, except Yazmeen Ryan. Ryan has been a gem for two straight camps and imo has solidified her place on the team going forward!