In a striking display, the United States defeated the Republic of Ireland 4-0 in a friendly match held in Denver, marking the 16th consecutive defeat for Ireland against the US.
The match, played in the early hours of Friday morning, saw goals from Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle, and Alyssa Thompson, ensuring a comprehensive victory for the Americans.
The first goal came at the 18-minute mark when the Irish defense failed to adequately respond to a short corner, allowing Lavelle to send a cross that Patterson headed home.
Just before halftime, the United States doubled their lead as Coffey navigated through the defense to place the ball into the bottom right corner, taking the score to 2-0.
Returning to the side after an extended absence due to ankle surgery, Lavelle scored the third goal eight minutes into the second half, finishing off a well-executed move down the right side with a cross from Ally Sentnor.
The scoring was capped in the 63rd minute when Alyssa Thompson displayed remarkable skill, evading Jessie Stapleton before launching a curling shot past Courtney Brosnan, the Irish goalkeeper and captain celebrating her 50th cap.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Brosnan’s efforts in goal prevented an even larger defeat, as the United States maintained control throughout the match.
Head coach Emma Hayes fielded an experimental lineup, giving debuts to goalkeeper Claudia Dickey and defender Lily Reale, while starting several players with fewer than 10 caps.
Nonetheless, the experienced core of the team included Naomi Girma, the world’s most expensive female player, who anchored the defense alongside Emily Sonnett, alongside Lavelle and Coffey in midfield.
For Ireland, the match marked a significant change as it was the first time in two years that neither captain Katie McCabe nor midfielder Denise O’Sullivan featured in the lineup. McCabe was granted rest after a demanding season, while O’Sullivan attended to a knee injury sustained playing for North Carolina Courage.
Another key absence was Megan Campbell, sidelined after an ankle injury sustained during training.
Coach Vera Pauw gave Chloe Mustaki her first start in three years, deploying her at left-back and combining her with a more experienced defensive line consisting of Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, and Caitlin Hayes.
In midfield, Ruesha Littlejohn, who reached her 90th cap, partnered with Megan Connolly, while Emily Murphy, Kyra Carusa, and Lucy Quinn were aimed at providing support for striker Amber Barrett.
Ireland struggled offensively, managing only two shots on goal throughout the match, hampered by sloppy passing and the heat, which compounded their efforts against a dominant American squad.
Substitutions at halftime saw Tyler Toland and Abbie Larkin replacing Littlejohn and Quinn, respectively, while Saoirse Noonan, Marissa Sheva, and debutante Erin Healy came into the match later on.
The contest drew just over 18,000 spectators, but they witnessed a one-sided affair, with Ireland unable to mount a challenge against the proficient US team.
Looking ahead, the sides are set to meet again on Sunday in Cincinnati, with kickoff scheduled for 8 PM Irish time. Unfortunately for Ireland, the historical statistics paint a grim picture going into the rematch: played 16, lost 16, with only one goal scored and 55 conceded.
As Ireland prepares for this upcoming match, they will aim to break this disheartening streak and put forth a stronger challenge against their formidable opponents.
image source from：irishtimes
