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≡ U.S. 2, THE NETHERLANDS 1 ≡
The Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. women finished their 2024 schedule with The Netherlands on a rainy evening at The Hague, and came back from a rough first half to get a hard-to-believe 2-1 win.
The first half was all about the Dutch, who out-shot the U.S. by 14-1 and had 59% of possession. They took the lead in the 15th minute, as defender Veerle Buurman headed in a right-side corner kick from forward Jill Roord, and the home team could have scored more but for U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher, playing the final international match of her career.
The Dutch maintained the pressure throughout the half, but in the 44th, Buurman was trying to head away a U.S. free kick, but the ball flew backwards and over the head of Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar for an own goal and a hard-to-fathom 1-1 tie into halftime.
The second half was more balanced, with U.S. coach Emma Hayes (GBR) making five substitutions for better offense and a tighter defense.
After some threatening runs, U.S. midfielder Yazmeen Ryan powered down the right side and had space in the Dutch zone and sent a brilliant ball to the center of the box. Substitute striker Lynn Williams got her left foot on it ahead of two defenders and scored in the 71st for a stunning 2-1 lead.
But the Dutch kept coming, but could not solve Naeher in the second half, and the game ended with midfielder Danielle van de Donk taking a clear shot at the U.S. goal at 90+4 from the left side, but it sailed over the crossbar, and she covered her face with her jersey. It was a that kind of disappointment for the Dutch.
The Dutch had 57% possession for the game and a 23-5 edge on shots, but the U.S. women finished the season on a 20-game unbeaten streak (18-1-4 for the year) and Hayes is 13-0-2 in her first 15 matches as the American coach.
As for the brilliant Naeher, 36, she finishes with 116 caps, as a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner and 2024 Olympic gold medalist, with 69 career shutouts. Spectacular.
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Jill Ellis, who coached the U.S. women’s National Team to two World Cup titles, has left her post as the President of the NWSL’s San Diego Wave to become the Chief Football Officer for FIFA.
The Tuesday announcement states she will work with Arsene Wenger (FRA), FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, with “her responsibilities will encompass key technical areas connected to the development of the game across the world.”
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