Spain dominate with clinical finishes while USWNT’s decision-making leaves ‘details’ behind

The U.S. women’s national team dropped the first of two friendlies against Spain 2-0 at Audi Field on Saturday, with the visitors scoring twice in the first fifteen minutes of play while the home team was left lost in front of goal.

FC Barcelona midfielder Patri Guijarro struck first with a wonder shot that soared past U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey in the fourth minute. The U.S. essentially played without a true defensive midfielder to cover the middle of the field, which allowed Spain’s already dominant midfield to control the counter, and 10 minutes later, Real Madrid’s Eva Navarro finished a volley to double the lead.

While the second half saw a spark of life from the U.S., the attack failed to convert in the final third. With chance after chance either fizzling or heading straight to Spain goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares, the team’s best chance came from a penalty earned by Sophia Wilson in the 70th minute. Nineteen-year-old Virginia-native Lily Yohannes stepped up to take the kick, which was saved by Nanclares.

“I know what we have to work at. I know that the players are disappointed,” head coach Emma Hayes told the TNT Sports broadcast after the game. “For the amount of chances we created, we’ve got to be clinical. That’s the difference. They’re efficient. We weren’t.”

A trio of halftime subs, Mallory Swanson, Ashley Sanchez and Claire Hutton, added to the attacking effort, but the finishing wasn’t there. The U.S. ultimately outshot Spain 13 to 6, but La Roja’s early goals proved the most important stat of the night.

The problem from the start(ing XI)

Midfield starting combinations continue to prove problematic for the U.S. women, with head coach Emma Hayes opting for Rose Lavelle as the No. 10, pairing Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes behind her. For that trio to work, the U.S. must retain possession and withstand Spain’s counterpress. The early goals exposed how this trio was the wrong combination for Hayes, who needed to either replace Heaps directly with a true defensive midfielder or replace Yohannes with one and allow Heaps to stray further up the field and provide more offensive options. 

While generally Sam Coffey would have been in the starting XI if she wasn’t in England dealing with an injury, Hayes still had options on the bench in Hutton and Jaelin Howell. Spain’s first goal can be directly tied to the lack of bite from a defensive midfielder — after the turnover, Heaps was on Alexia Putellas’ shoulder, then lost her as the ball went across Heaps’ body. She followed it, only to have it passed directly back to a now-free Putellas. Spain put together one more triangle between Putellas, then Edna Imade with her back to goal, who then fed it to Guijarro. Heaps, dragged out of the center of the triangle, had no chance to meaningfully step to Guijarro to prevent her long-range strike.

The most perplexing part of this midfield combination to start is that Hayes opted for it in a match against Spain when she had neither of her starting centerbacks (Naomi Girma, who took a knock in Chelsea training, and Emily Sonnett, who is facing a long recovery from a torn patellar tendon). The team’s defensive shape was always going to be a challenge on Saturday, but Hayes seemed to want to crank up the difficulty factor.

—Meg Linehan

Spain have long left the underdog claim behind

Seven years after the U.S. knocked Spain from the 2019 World Cup, the balance of power in women’s soccer looks considerably different. 

The reigning world champions defeated the U.S. on Saturday, delivering another reminder of how far they have come and how much work remains for Emma Hayes’ squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The last time the two teams met at a World Cup, the Americans were on their way to a fourth title, while Spain was still emerging as a serious contender on the international stage. Now, Spain are the ones setting the standard. 

Once La Roja set the bar early, head coach Sonia Bermudez’s side dominated the game with depth and pace throughout the 90 minutes, using their signature precise passes and physicality that turned the friendly into a battlefield at times – earning Spain four yellow cards and one red. They showed what they are known for: an ironclad midfield that left little space for opponents to create while attacking nonstop, and an organized backline that left no room for the USWNT to score. Even without goalkeeper Cata Coll, backup Nanclares proved she is ready if needed. 

If you thought that Spain were going to give their biggest rivals a jolly afternoon match-up, think again. Right now, it still seems few can stop Spain from a successful title defense in Brazil.

— Asli Pelit

Second half U.S. changes couldn’t fix the ‘details’

Rather than opting for a midfield change at the half, Hayes did get a spark out of defender Gisele Thompson swapping in at left back for Avery Patterson after the first 45 minutes. It’s been clear that Hayes has been evaluating her options at left back, with Patterson, Gisele Thompson and Lilly Reale all currently in the mix. With a back line in flux due to injuries, only right back Emily Fox is a given. 

Midfield substitutions also finally came at the 66th minute, with Heaps and Lavelle exiting after a puzzling pause in the final third that left neither World Cup champion with a chance on goal. Alyssa Thompson exited as well, with Sanchez and Swanson taking the field for the first time since 2024. Meanwhile, Hutton finally stepped in as the No. 6 more than an hour into the match.

Despite the return of Triple Espresso and Sanchez finally getting her moment based on her impressive NWSL form, the U.S. was still unable to finish their chances. The game had leveled off considerably from how wide open it was in the first half, but arguably, the U.S.’s best looks at goal came early — along with a missed penalty kick from Yohannes. 

A late red card shown to Athenea Del Castillo for pulling Michelle Cooper’s hair gave the USWNT a brief player advantage, but it was not enough to provide even a late consolation goal.

The U.S. now heads to Philadelphia for a rematch on Tuesday and plenty of “details” to think about, as both players and coach reflected on after the game.

— Linehan

 

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

US Women’s national team, Spain, NWSL, Women’s Soccer, FIFA Women’s World Cup

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