The US women’s national team held the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand as goals from Jill Roord and Lindsey Horan earned each side a point.
The Oranje secured the early lead with their first shot of the game, breaking down the midfield all too easily before Roord rocketed the ball through Horan’s legs inside the box to reach the lower left corner.
Sloppy defending by the backline forced the USWNT to trail at the World Cup for the first time in 18 matches, last falling behind in the 2011 quarter final against Brazil.
Any momentum the American side built in the opening minutes broke down after the goal.
After spending the first half chasing the ball, managing a mere 39 percent possession, the team returned eager to get back to their winning ways. But as we saw against Vietnam, boasting 11 overwhelmingly talented individuals doesn’t necessarily translate to a functioning team.
Horan finally stepped up in the 64th minute, using a set piece to head the ball into the corner for the equalizer. Once back in the game, the confidence began to escalate.
Despite pressing forward with a change in mentality for the second 45, the American team walked away with just one point. The USWNT still leads the group, but only by goal difference and must go on now to win against Portugal on Saturday.
GK: Alyssa Naeher – 7/10 – Beat in the first goal, but failed by the backline. Otherwise well when tested.
RB: Emily Fox – 7/10 – Absent on the goal, but creative when pushing up.
CB: Julie Ertz – 6/10 – Should be played in the midfield, muted in the backline. But I guess thats more on Andonovski.
CB: Naomi Girma – 6.5/10 – Did little to stop that first goal, but found her footing after the equalizer.
LB: Crystal Dunn – 6/10 – Not the player’s best game. Sloppy throughout, and too many errors to allow the first goal.
CM: Savannah DeMelo – 5/10 – Disappointing altogether, before being replaced by Lavelle. Could not hold down the Dutch.
DM: Andi Sullivan – 6/10 – Beat way too easily in the midfield for the majority of the match. Not up to par with previous performances.
CM: Lindsey Horan (c) – 8/10 – Came back from the disastrous defensive error on that Netherlands goal by scoring the equalizer with a header.
RW: Trinity Rodman – 8.5/10 – One of the most active in the final third when the USWNT lost its spark in the first half. Kept momentum going with an aggressive edge.
ST: Alex Morgan – 6.5/10 – Quiet for the first half, before scoring an offside goal. Could’ve waited an extra second to make that one count.
LW: Sophia Smith – 8/10 – A creative powerhouse, but she cannot do it alone.
Substitutes
Rose Lavelle (45′ for DeMelo) – /10 – Should’ve started the match, but lite up the midfield once on the pitch.
Manager
Vlatko Andonovski- 5/10 – No substitutes other than Rose, on a game where she should’ve started. Also Julie Ertz where she belongs.
Player of the match – Lindsey Horan
