The second one! After beating the Republic of Ireland 4-0 on Thursday night, the United States Women’s National Team will play them once again this afternoon.
Neither of the Washington Spirit players in this US camp — Croix Bethune and Tara McKeown — played in the first match, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for them today.
Chat about the match here!
USA vs. Republic of Ireland
Advertised Kick-off Time: 3:00pm Eastern, 12:00pm Pacific
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Available TV: TBS, truTV (English), Universo (Spanish)
Available streaming: Max (English), Peacock (Spanish)
Let’s go for the only exciting, vibrant, forward thinking, dynamic, and deeply likable team based in the US I currently root for!
I’m pumped to see what a loaded squad coached brilliantly does this afternoon
Mckeown gets the start, also excited to see Bugg build on an eyebrow raising debut, in terms of class on the ball
Sams also on the backline. Interesting dynamic, all of these defenders have to work together cohesively, yet they’re all realistically looking to topple the others and start with Girma
Croix starting too!
Yeah, I noticed, just find the backline dynamic fascinating. Hope Bethune does well!
Also, please tell me I’m not gonna be talking to myself on this thread, this is a fantastic time slot to watch a soccer game
We certainly look like we’re playing more of a back three in possession
Must be so frustrating to block our skill plays, only to remember how much more athletic we are even in defensive transition
Nice goal!
Who else but Lynn to open it. Great cross by Sears
I do find it interesting that Hayes values something I pretty much always employ in soccer video games- a right winger playing on their dominant foot to be able to do crosses like that
Just a little too much hesitance on that set piece
I was a little worried about Bethune in the first 15 minutes, but she seems to have adjusted her positioning to make more of an impact.
In some ways, it’s like her pre-injury reputation is playing against her, it was such a spectacular patch of purple form. Thankfully, everyone’s rooting for her to get back there, but it must be mentally tough to acknowledge how far short you currently are of your own bar
Bethune puts the shot well wide, but glad she got that first chance out of her system
Great chipped ball in from Sams, Ryan gets a questionable call for a foul. Very classy ball in, though
Mesa is no doubt a talented player, but it must be crushing to have even a single play ending pass out of bounds knowing you’re competing with Coffey, Heaps, Hutton, and Yohannes
Ireland may not be balling out, but they’re very proficient at last second shot blocking
Mckeown does a phenomenal job of nipping the rare Ireland countrr
I thought I remembered Sheva, just looked her up, she did have a stint with the Spirit. Remember seeing a game live, and being impressed with her activities at halftime on the field, but don’t think I ever saw her play
Izzy Rodriguez thumps home the rebound
2-0
Surely we don’t have to bring “THE Ohio State” into soccer
Yeah, kinda gross
Must be tough to be representing your country, and only really have the power to combine your best efforts to minimize a thrashing
Ireland: Oh, great, Coffey and Sentnor coming in fresh.
Do you have the Triple Espresso, too? We want to be destroyed, you see.
Ryan scores from a Moultrie assist off a heads up plays by Sears.
None of those are locks to make the WC, we’re just that good
Ryan does a phenomenal job to play from behind the midfield line on the dribble and give Sears a chance at true WOTM honors, but Sears dallies too long
Man, imagine being such a folk hero for a national team that, 3-0 up in a settled friendly, the crowd starts a universal cheer for you to make a late appearance.
Rose Lavelle, everyone
There are also managers that would hear that from the crowd, and would antagonize that sentiment by keeping the player planted. Hayes sends her out to train almost immediately
Hutton to Alyssa for a brilliant finish. A shame they’re going to retire soo… what’s that you say? They’re HOW young?!?
To say that Hayes is impressive in her management is an understatement. Basically replacing squads against a stodgy team while leaving some of your biggest stars in Europe, and getting two 4-0 victories is masterful.
Talonesque and Annie, I also am watching and appreciate your comments. I just rarely post when a game is in progress.
I do think that Tara McKeown, my favorite Spirit, is developing as the USWNT’s #3 center back. And Croix Bethune crafted some nifty passes as the match progressed.
Mckeown might actually be the most likely partner for Girma. Sonnett is intense, but brittle in terms of technique. It seems she’s ahead of Bugg and Sams still, and I can’t think of another player really in contention.
Tara is an incredibly able and judicious tackler with a lot of offensive capabilities. I’d be surprised if she’s not considered second to Girma