USWNT Go Winless in Two Friendlies Against Spain
The U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) hosted Spain this international window for two friendlies ahead of the qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The first game was a shutout loss for the USWNT, ending 2-0, while the second leg ended in a 2-2 tie.
Game 1
The opening match of this international window took place in the nation’s capital: Washington D.C. at Audi Field, which is sometimes referred to as “Rowdy Audi". It is a soccer-specific stadium that is home to MLS team D.C. United and NWSL team Washington Spirit. The 20,000-seat stadium has been a reliable venue location for the sport.
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This match was held on Saturday, October 10th in front of a sold-out crowd. Fans looking for an entertaining match surely got one, as goals came early. Spain opened the scoring account in just the 3rd minute, when Patricia Guijarro took a strike from outside of the box and found the back of the net. The chemistry on Spain’s squad was no joke, easily connecting passes through the midfield and defense of the U.S. to start the attack.
The second goal came not too long after the first, when Salma Paralleulo of Spain made a run up the left flank. Though she was pressured by U.S. defender Tierna Davidson, Paralleulo switched the field of play to find a teammate. Eva Navarro, who was left completely unmarked by the U.S. defense, connected with the ball inside the box and one-timed it into the back of the net, doubling the lead for Spain. This would be the last confirmed goal of the game.
Though the second half did not contain any recorded goals, it was still physical and action packed.
Things seemed to look promising for the U.S. in the 53rd minute when Trinity Rodman made a run up the left flank, quickly finding the feet of Sophia Wilson, who outpaced the Spain defense. She put herself in a 1:1 position with the goalkeeper and found the back of the net for what would have been the first U.S. goal of the game.
Unfortunately for the U.S, VAR, or Video Assistant Referee, was used to review the play and ultimately found her offsides, disallowing the goal. The U.S. remained relentless, pressing their attack every chance they got. Between the defensive work from Spain’s backline, and the skill of Spain Goalkeeper Adriana Nanclares, the home team found themselves unable to finish any attack.
In the 67th minute of play, Sophia Wilson found herself being pulled down in the penalty box by Spain defender Natalia Ramos. It was initially not called a foul, but VAR intervened, and it was called back. The U.S. were awarded a penalty kick. 19-year-old Lily Yohannes was the player to step up to the spot, taking her first with the National Team. Unfortunately for her, the hands of Nanclares were too strong, and the penalty was saved, denying the team of a goal.
“Missing the penalty felt like it’s just not going to go in today,” Head Coach Emma Hayes commented on the missed penalty. “We had a disallowed goal, we hit the bar, we got the penalty. We were the team with the most chances, but [Spain] was the most efficient.”
Play continued as it had been the entire game for both sides: Spain absorbing pressure, U.S. unable to put any shots away. In the final minutes of regular time, a red card was issued to Spain substitute Athenea del Castillo. Castillo’s card was given for violent conduct, after pulling the hair of Michelle Cooper.
Though the U.S. was given the advantage, they were unable to capitalize on it as the game concluded just six minutes later. The final score of the 1st leg: 2-0 in favor of Spain.
Game 2
The second game of the series against Spain took place on Tuesday, October 13th. This game was played in Chester, Pennsylvania at Subaru Park, another soccer-specific stadium; home to the Philadelphia Union.
Despite Emma Hayes urging the U.S. team to start faster and play more aggressively this match, Spain took the lead first when superstar Alexia Putellas tapped in a cross from Clara Serrajordi in the 27th minute. The goal was Putellas’ 43rd for Spain and came in her 150th appearance for the national team.
Spain doubled its lead minutes later after a mistake by goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was intercepted. Salma Paralluelo intercepted a poorly passed ball and took a shot. It hit off the crossbar and into the net to give Spain a 2-0 advantage. Although the U.S. had some promising attacking moments in the first half, the team still struggled to convert those opportunities into goals.
The U.S. would respond after halftime, with Ashley Sanchez scoring shortly after the restart. Sanchez made a run on the left side of the field before cutting into the box. Instead of crossing or passing the ball, she took the shot herself and found the back of the net. It was her fourth career goal for the U.S. and her first since scoring against Costa Rica in 2022.
Hayes commented on Sanchez, who is currently leading the NWSL golden boot race. “Her experience, her maturity, the ability to be able to transfer knowledge.... I thought she did a great job, really happy for her to get a goal.”
The U.S. continued to play aggressive in the second half. It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Mallory Swanson of the U.S. found the net in beautiful fashion. She received a pass in the box from Michelle Cooper, which popped up instead of settling. Swanson made a quick adjustment and struck it while it was in the air to tie the match at 2-2. The goal was Swanson’s first for the national team in 795 days and made her the 10th ever mother in USWNT history to score a goal.
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“Great fight, great determination from the whole group in the second half,” Hayes commented on the game. “We’re still in progress...We see importance of how our players are really developing.”
The team had many more chances through the final regular minutes and stoppage time, but the Spain defense denied the USWNT a chance to win. The final score of the game was 2-2.
The draw prevented the U.S. from suffering another defeat after losses to Spain, Japan, and Brazil earlier in the year. The USWNT will next face El Salvador on November 27th in a Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal that will serve as a World Cup qualifier, a win would secure the U.S. a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
