There was only one real variable as the United States women’s national team faced their third game of the 2024 Olympics soccer competition – and the third major world tournament game of coach Emma Hayes’ impressive career.
Hayes has won seven Women’s Super League titles in England and five FA Cups, her most significant achievements all recorded at the club level. This is her first big shot in the international game, and she signaled she plans to be aggressive in this position.
Although the USWNT accomplished so much in their first two games as to render this one nearly irrelevant – it didn’t hurt to win 2-1 over Australia in Marseilles, but it wasn’t essential – Hayes made only a single change to the starting lineup from the decisive victory Sunday against Germany. And that was by necessity, as central defender Tierna Davidson was injured in that game and still bothered by a leg contusion.
And that decision, at least in one instance, turned out to be reckless.
Sam Coffey entered the game with one yellow card on her record, one away from a game suspension, and yellow cards sometimes can be the cost of doing business as a central midfielder. Replacing her for this game was an obvious choice, but Hayes opted to continue building continuity.
It only took until the 4th minute before Coffey blew her chance to appear in Saturday’s quarterfinal on an overzealous tackle in the attacking end. She’ll miss a much more important game than this one as a result.
The U.S. went 2-0 in their first two Group B games and prevailed by a combined six goals. Germany’s goal differential after one victory and one defeat was even. Australia, also 1-1, owned a goal differential of minus-2.
In the simplest terms, Australia would have needed an 8-0 victory over the USWNT to win the group. That never was going to happen.
MORE: Full schedule, results, and bracket for men's an women's soccer at 2024 Olympics
Starters
Alyssa Naeher (goalkeeper): 6.5
It would have taken an almost magical stop to prevent the goal Australia scored. But there still is a question of how sharp Naeher really is. In the 89th minute, there was an opponent’s attempt on which Naeher seemed just a little slow reacting. It was bound for outside the goal post, but if she’d known that, she wouldn’t have made such an urgent move late to possibly deal with it. The USWNT needs Naeher to be her best to win this tournament. Her huge punch on a corner kick in the 7th minute of added time preserved the victory.
Emily Fox (right back): 6.5
Fox was subbed out for rest early in the second half and missed the most urgent defensive action. She did put a beautiful ball from the right wing into the box that Lindsey Horan nearly turned into a goal, but Horan’s sharp header caromed off the crossbar.
Naomi Girma (central defender): 8
Australia had one decent chance, getting the ball forward in the 62nd minute with the U.S. defense retreating. No biggie. Because Girma moved over to cover and stole the ball like it belonged to her. Which often seems to be the case when opponents are attempting to score.
Emily Sonnett (central defense): 6
Sonnett had to step in as a starter for the injured Davidson, and she did nothing wrong until failing to pick up a move toward goal by Australia's Alanna Kennedy two minutes into stoppage time, which resulted in the end of the shutout. A defender needs to be perfect, though, even with the lead at 2-0. Sonnett did help preserve the victory with an essential late clearance, bumping her up a half-grade.
Crystal Dunn (left back): 6.5
Hayes is comfortable with Dunn advancing far into the attack, and Dunn consistently showed her value there. In the 38th minute, she fired a hard shot that had to be deflected over the goal for a U.S. corner. She ended the first half with a beautiful cross to Rodman, from the left flank to just inside the opposite side of the box, that provided a decent opportunity. But Dunn’s most important contribution was to sweep aside a grounded cross from directly in front of goal in the 37th minute, preserving a scoreless tie.
Sam Coffey (defensive midfielder): 4
Coffey’s No. 1 job in this game was simple: Don’t do anything that’ll prevent you playing in the next one. She blew that, and not in an explicable circumstance. Had Coffey been compelled to break up a surging Australia possession and fallen on the wrong side of the line between professional foul and yellow card, that would have been at least slightly acceptable. Instead, the foul that earned her yellow came well in the U.S. attacking end, and it happened so soon after she took the field there was no way she could have forgotten what was at stake. And what happened then? Coffey spent much of the time that remained showing the sort of disruptive defensive presence she could have provided if she were available for the quarterfinal.
Lindsey Horan (midfielder): 7
It was a better performance from Horan than what was presented in the Germany game. She made a wise play to clear the ball deep in the 88th minute, and that nearly turned into a scoring opportunity for Sophia Smith. Horan’s presence in the midfield will be even more important with Coffey unavailable.
Rose Lavelle (attacking midfielder): 7
When the U.S earns a corner kick, it’s always better that it comes from the right flag than the left. Because the right is where Lavelle is assigned to take, and she consistently delivers dangerous balls that vex opposing keepers and defenders. Her take in the 43rd minute was deflected back as it traveled in front of goal, and from there it was headed forward by Sophia Smith toward the far post. Trinity Rodman got there first and scored the first U.S. goal.
Sophia Smith (forward): 7
Her impressive skill nearly delivered the first goal, when she chipped a pass over a defender toward an advancing Mal Swanson, but the ball took too big a hop upon landing and made it difficult to control. And her alert, bright play ultimately did break the tie, when she headed a deflected corner kick forward into a dangerous position and front-line partner Trinity Rodman pounced with an outstretched leg to knock it past a defender and the keeper into the goal. She was convinced she had scored when she hit the inside of both posts with a shot in the 82nd minute.
Mallory Swanson (forward): 6.5
It was a relatively quiet game for Swanson, with Australia taking a surprisingly passive approach and thus limiting the opportunities for the USWNT to get moving at full speed.
Trinity Rodman (forward): 8.5
How many times do you think I’ll need to apologize for doubting Rodman before we’re square? In advance of the tournament, while explaining I recognized her significant talent from the first time I saw her in the 2021 NWSL Championship game, I had begun to see her as what I call an “almost” player: almost the ideal cross, almost a goal, but just a smidge off regardless. She has shown in France she’s a player, period. Her opportunistic goal gave the U.S. the lead in the 43rd minute. She was alert, quick and precise. And she continued to provide a steady threat with her speed and skill.
Trinity Rodman puts @USWNT up 1-0‼️
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 31, 2024
📺: @NBCOlympics & @peacock#ParisOlympicspic.twitter.com/NIPabPDWhM
Substitutes
Lynn Williams (forward): 5.5
In the 80th minute, a transition opportunity was wasted when Williams blasted a shot over the goal as Smith’s unchecked far-post run went unrewarded.
Jenna Nighswonger (left back): 7
Nighswonger made a couple of essential plays along the left sideline in the fifth minute of extra time as the U.S. tried to preserve its suddenly narrow lead.
Casey Krueger (right back): 7
Krueger made her presence known with a huge clearance from directly in front of the goal line in the 79th minute to keep the U.S. lead at 2-0. She had another key clearance four minutes later.
Korin Albert (midfielder): 8.5
Albert picked up an easy steal when the ball was played directly toward her by Australia’s Clare Wheeler, but her first international goal had a high degree of difficulty. Albert was 23 yards away, with a defender in front, but she pulled a home-run shot to the left of Clare Hunt and the right of the near post. In the 79th minute, Albert also cleared a ball from in front of goal to help preserve the shutout.
Clare Bethune (midfielder): 6
Her late appearance had minimal impact on the game.