USWNT beats Brazil 2-0 to bounce back from SheBelieves Cup disappointment

Rodman's goal was entirely against the run of play, but entirely deserved: The USWNT couldn't have responded better to Brazil's aggressive start. Heaps mentioned in her pre-match news conference that the team aimed to sink every single one of its opportunities against Brazil. "We know it's going to be a difficult one," she said. "We'll capitalize on our chances because we might not get that many." 

She was right. After struggling to sink its chances against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup, the USWNT's clinical goalscoring here felt like serious, steady progress.

The game devolved  into the physical, attritional battle that Heaps warned of after Rodman's goal. Brazil fired off several brilliant shots, including one from Ludmila at the start of the second half that slammed off the crossbar, but it never broke through. Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce — making her first official appearance for the USWNT — rose to the occasion in grand style. The USWNT is auditioning goalkeepers to replace the retired Alyssa Naeher, and Tullis-Joyce made a strong case for herself in this match against Brazil.

But Tullis-Joyce wasn't the only standout player. Thompson looked great in midfield, setting up Rodman's opening goal and powering through Brazil's defensive line time and time again. 17-year-old Lily Yohannes looked wonderful when she was subbed on in the second half, too. While she lacked the grit and physicality of her teammates, she brought a real delicacy to the proceedings that flipped the game on its head. She earned a penalty in for the USWNT just two minutes into her appearance — one that team Heaps powered into the far corner to push the game to 2-0.

The USWNT and Brazil have a long, thorny history together; they've faced off in several crucial World Cup and Olympic games and consistently top FIFA's global women's soccer ratings. The two teams will face each other again on Tuesday, April 8 in San Jose, California. This doubleheader structure gives both teams the opportunity to make changes based on what it learned in Round 1.

For the USWNT, though, those changes will be entirely of its own volition. Coach Hayes nailed the first match from a tactical standpoint and has done wonderful things with her team. Round 2? Bring it on.