Punchless USWNT falls into bad habits in stunning loss to Mexico
The hits keep coming for the U.S. Women's National Team.
After a hard year, the USWNT finally looked like it was getting back on its feet with dominant 5-0 and 4-0 wins over the Dominican Republic and Argentina, respectively, to kick off the Gold Cup.
But a stunning 2-0 loss to Mexico on Monday in Carson, Calif., has rattled that confidence and the hope the USWNT has turned a corner after its struggles in the 2023 World Cup.
Once again, the problem that plagued the U.S. throughout 2023 is at the forefront: scoring. Against Mexico, the U.S. even struggled to get quality shots on goal, ending with nine shots and two on target compared to 13 shots with four on target for its opponent.
Worse, though, the one part of its game the USWNT has depended on — good defense — failed. Monday's match featured unexpected errors as Mexico played up-tempo and relentlessly against the USWNT, which couldn't keep up.
The USWNT is in a generational shift, with veteran players such as Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz retiring, and others, such as Alex Morgan, having their roles change. Incoming coach Emma Hayes and interim coach Twila Kilgore are bringing more young players onto the roster. On Monday, however, the U.S. went with a relatively veteran lineup, which may have been a mistake.
Veteran defenders Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper and Crystal Dunn struggled against Mexico's fast-paced play, with Emily Fox doing her best to hold things down on the side. A missed clearance from Sauerbrunn and an ill-advised approach from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher — two of the most consistent players on the team — led to Mexico's first goal in the 38th minute.
Then, with the U.S. still unable to get the ball into the back of the net, a stunning stoppage-time goal from Mayra Pelayo-Bernal sealed the deal for Mexico.
In recent games, the Americans' young players have made the most impact. In this tournament, 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie and 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw scored braces against the Dominican Republic and Argentina, respectively. Only Shaw, however, played Monday, subbing in late in the second half.
On defense, 23-year-old Naomi Girma — one of the best center backs in the world and the USWNT's anchor during its World Cup run — has only played one game in the tournament. The U.S. knew that Mexico would be its biggest challenge of its three group stage games. To bench Girma in favor of Sauerbrunn and Dahlkemper seems like a mistake.
The USWNT is still figuring out its identity. Most of the players from the 2015 and 2019 World Cup champions are gone, but the new roster has the potential to be great as well. To do that, though, the U.S. must first learn how to play as a team.
The USWNT still advances to the Gold Cup knockout stage this weekend, and it will compete in the SheBelieves Cup in April before the Olympics this summer in Paris The main issue will be what choices Hayes and Kilgore make to ensure the team doesn't fall into the same traps.
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