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The United States women’s national team ended 2024 with their unlikeliest win of the calendar year on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory vs. Netherlands despite being dominated most of the game. The game was played in Hague.
In what was Alyssa Naeher’s final game with the Stars and Stripes the 36-year-old goalkeeper had one of her busiest 90 minutes. The Dutch had total control of the first half outshooting the USWNT 14-1 and opening the scoring in the 15th minute.
USWNT vs Netherlands highlights and takeaways
Dutch defender Veerle Buurman had a rollercoaster first half as she scored her first international goal but would then net an own goal right before halftime.
18-year-old Veerle Buurman gives Netherlands the lead over USA
Watch the match live on TNT, truTV and Max pic.twitter.com/3sPNCeHmxV— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 3, 2024
Her first goal saw the Dutch finally rewarded for all their dangerous attacks as the USWNT defense was exposed in a way fans hadn’t seen in a long time.
The starting midfield trio of Lindsey Horan, Korbin Albert and Sam Coffey was practically nonexistent as Emma Hayes’ side couldn’t put anything together going forward. The starting front three of Jaedyn Shaw, Rose Lavelle and Yazmeen Ryan were hardly involved in the opening 45 minutes.
Had it not been for Naeher heroics and missed chances, the USWNT could’ve been trailing 4-0 in the first half. Instead, the USWNT found a lifeline in the 44th minute with a Buurman own goal.
This time Buurman finds the back of the wrong net, as her own goal levels it for USA
Watch the match live on TNT, truTV and Max pic.twitter.com/SVDr2oCmGq— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 3, 2024
Hayes shuffled the squad in the second half and brought on Emily Sonnett to help calm the defense and put Lynn Williams in for Shaw. While the Dutch continued to threaten in the second half, the USWNT looked far less shaky.
Ryan then found Williams in the 71st minute with a perfect cross that Williams poked in for the winner.
Lynn Williams turns it around and the USWNT lead 2-1
Watch the match live on TNT, truTV and Max pic.twitter.com/NCf8ez1Ynu— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 3, 2024
The USWNT finish the calendar year with 20 wins, two draws and one loss.
Three takeaways from 2-1 victory
1. Can Alyssa Naeher un-retire?
The only reason the USWNT were able to pull off this victory was because they had a living legend between the sticks. So many times this year Naeher was there to bail out this team whether it was penalty kick shootout saves in the Gold Cup + SheBelieves Cup or last-minute saves in the Olympic final.
Alyssa Naeher came up big one final time with seven saves in her last international game.
USWNT legend pic.twitter.com/iP5NRNMUWF— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 4, 2024
What will the USWNT do without her?
2. Emma Hayes was worth every penny
Tuesday’s game saw a tactical masterclass from Hayes in the second half. Her starting XI got burned, bad, in the opening 45 minutes. We’ve come a long way since the Vlatko days of seeing the USWNT make no substitutions or tweaks when struggling.
Instead, Hayes made the correct changes (Sonnett helped lock down the defense and Williams got the game-winner) and got her team back in the fight. Was this the prettiest win ever? Absolutely not, but not many coaches could’ve gotten a result after that first half.
3. Yazmeen Ryan is one to watch
Ryan arguably had the most impressive camp of the newcomers. The 25-year-old earned her second and third caps this international window and was a spark for the USWNT attack.
She looked great when brought on against England with clever passes and dribbles to find open space. She was rewarded with a start against the Dutch and again looked dangerous with the ball at her feet.
Her assist to Williams was sublime. The USWNT didn’t look themselves without the “Triple Espresso” front three of Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson, however Ryan was fun to watch and is a future star of this team.
