Midfield magnificence for U.S., with set piece perfection from Rose Lavelle and goals from Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton and Yazmeen Ryan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – It was set piece magic that led the U.S. women's national team past Canada 3-0 on a sweaty, sweltering and sold-out Wednesday night, with 19,215 fans jaming Audi Field for the Allstate Continental Clásico.
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes went with a familiar starting lineup – almost identical to the first of three summer friendlies last week against Ireland – with the only adjustment Lynn Biyendolo starting as the No. 9.
The first half was a USWNT domination of Canada on all sides of the ball, their backline under pressure through the first 45 minutes of play. The USWNT balance of Sam Coffey in the middle and an attack-minded Rose Lavelle in front of her, created endless chances. In just the 5th minute, Biyendolo had a 2v1 chance against Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and tried to cheekily chip her, but the ball went over.
Not long after, the USWNT had a set piece opportunity from outside the 18-yard box and executed like it had been drawn up many times this week.
Lavelle served a lofted ball that forced Canada to step out of the box and clear – yet a poor clearance landed at the foot of 19-year-old Claire Hutton, who laid it off perfectly to set up Coffey for a one-time strike to put the Americans ahead 1-0. It was Coffey's third goal in her last five USWNT appearances.
In the 35th minute the USWNT had another set piece opportunity, again served in by Lavelle. She took the corner and found a jumping Hutton just outside the box, who headed it home for her first international goal.
The USWNT continued to press the pedal, dominating the second half, as well. Hayes made several subs late, and there wasn't any real momentum shift. Washington Spirit's own Tara McKeown entered the match, on her birthday, and drove down the flank just moments after stepping on the pitch. She then slipped the ball centrally to Yazmeen Ryan, who finished to make the game 3-0.
The win pushed Hayes' record to 21-2-2 in her first 25 games in charge of the USWNT, and wraps her team's play for the summer. As for what's next?
“I will start by going to the Euros," Hayes said on TNT. "I want to see top-level European opponents live. I think that’s important because we don’t get a lot of windows to play them. I’ll take a break in August, but my big goal is that we work toward what we call the "Goldprint." That is an actionable framework that we’ll be able to sort ’27 and beyond."
The USWNT players in the NWSL will return to their clubs as the season re-starts at the beginning of August.
GOAL rates the USWNT's players from Audi Field.
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Claudia Dickey (8/10): Dickey actually got some action for a change, making three saves on Canada's five shots on goal. Dickey definitely wasn't bored, as she was against Ireland, but was still able to maintain composure in the rare moments that Canada broke through.
Naomi Girma (8/10): Another unsurprising;y solid performance, who was excellent with her distribution out of the back and organization defensively.
Emily Sonnett (8/10): Sonnet's balance next to Girma is brilliant, as one of the two is always stepping higher. Sonnet was great on the ball and looked natural playing alongside Avery Patterson.
Avery Patterson (8/10): Patterson is everything Hayes wants out of an outside back. She's aggressive, she's good on the ball, and she gets the little things. Patterson not only was locked in behind the ball, but was also able to push up the pitch and create with the attacking line.
Lilly Reale (8/10): Reale, in just her second cap. looked as if she's been playing alongside Girma forever. She was great on the ball and found ways out, whether it was a slip ball into the midfield to Coffey or Hutton or out wide to Cooper.
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Sam Coffey (9/10): At this point, Coffey is in the running for Golden Boot. All jokes aside, her game is at another level recently and long gone are the days of her being a sit-back defensive midfielder – now she's involved in the attack and scoring goals. Coffey's finish in the first half was perfectly placed and created the early momentum for the USWNT.
Claire Hutton (9/10): Hutton was lights-out for the USWNT. Her on-the-ball handling and off-the-ball movements were well beyond her years. Hutton also scored her first international goal, a major milestone for any player in the USWNT crest.
Rose Lavelle (9/10): This team is so much better with Lavelle. Her two set-piece services were the difference-makers in the score – with both goals coming from her ball in. When Lavelle wasn't taking set pieces she was adding a crucial piece to the USWNT's attack, involved in every play and often sitting just close enough to offer support to Thompson and Cooper.
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Lynn Biyendolo (7/10): Biyendolo in the No. 9 feels right, and she was effective almost the entire match. When she stretched up high and allowed space underneath her for Lavelle and the midfield to run, she had more success.
Michelle Cooper (7/10): Cooper didn't see a lot of action in the first half, although as the game went on she worked her way into it. When she was able to turn on her gas and run at Canada, they couldn't find a solution for her speed. Just needs a little fine-tuning of her service.
Alyssa Thompson (8/10): Thompson doesn't need to score to prove her effectiveness up top. She was absolutely ruthless on the right side, running Canada into the ground. Although she didn't get a goal, her dynamic runs and fearlessness in front of the box was effective. If there's one forward that should be on the field for the USWNT after these friendlies, it's Thompson.
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Emma Sears (6/10): After Sunday's match, it was surprising to see Sears with the same pep in her step with all the 120 yard sprints she did. Yet, the forward was disciplined and played smart, despite not seeing much action.
Ally Sentnor (6/10): Sentnor always has a better performance when she's starting, but still managed to create some chaos up top, despite not seeing much of the ball. Her off-the-ball movement continues to be a work of art.
Sam Meza (6/10): Meza didn't see much of the ball, but positionally played well, keeping the midfield organized both on the attack and defensively.
Yazmeen Ryan (7/10): Getting subbed late into the game is never easy, but Ryan handled her role accordingly and managed to score, her second goal in two games for the USWNT.
Tara McKeown (7/10): McKeown entered the match in the 88th minute and didn't have a lot of time to make an impact, yet did. Seconds after stepping onto the pitch and getting serenaded with a "happy birthday" chant from the packed crowd, McKeown drove with the ball up the pitch and slipped in a sneaky pass to Ryan, which eventually led to final goal of the game.
Emma Hayes (9/10): Well done, Coach. Now, go enjoy some Euros, you deserve it. Because after the summer, it's back to business as the 2027 World Cup gets closer and closer.