In an impressive display, the U.S. women’s national soccer team, featuring Naomi Girma in her return to the squad, secured a commanding 3-0 victory against China on Saturday.
Girma’s participation marked her first appearance for the national team this year after a challenging period recovering from injuries, having recently helped Chelsea clinch the Women’s Super League title and the FA Cup.
The match also witnessed a significant milestone as Lo’eau LaBonta, at 32 years old, became the oldest player to make her international debut for the U.S.
LaBonta, who plays as a midfielder for the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League, came off the bench in the second half, expressing her exhilaration about stepping onto the field.
“When they called my name, I was sitting being the best cheerleader I could be on the bench, I was like, ‘This is amazing. I’ve never been field view watching the national team.’ It was so cool,” LaBonta shared after the match.
Girma’s return was heralded by U.S. coach Emma Hayes, who acknowledged the contributions of the talented defender.
Hayes stated, “We’ve missed her. We really have. Just in terms of the way we controlled the game, her in the deeper spaces making decisions — when to play forward, when not to — just rebuilding the connections again.”
Girma commanded a record $1.1 million transfer fee when she made her move from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea earlier this year, highlighting her standing as a world-class player.
In goal, Phallon Tullis-Joyce secured her second shutout in as many games, bolstering her position as coach Hayes seeks a replacement for Alyssa Naeher, who retired from the national team last year.
Macario opened the scoring in the 28th minute, converting her 11th international goal following a remarkable play by Alyssa Thompson.
Coffey extended the lead to 2-0 in the 35th minute with a powerful left-foot shot, netting her second goal for the U.S. after receiving a thoughtful assist from Macario.
Heaps, serving as the captain, added to the tally with a well-placed header in the 54th minute, underscoring the team’s dominance throughout the match.
Reflecting on the performance, Hayes remarked, “I feel like tactically we’ve gone up another level, I really feel that way. I feel that there are so many more players, that are so much more in control, that we’re able to do more. I was pleased with the performance.”
Despite this victory, the U.S. is navigating the challenges of missing several key players from last year’s gold medal-winning Olympic squad, including Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson, who are currently on maternity leave, and Trinity Rodman, who is managing a back issue.
Historically, the U.S. has fared well against China, boasting a 39-9-13 overall record and maintaining a winning streak with five consecutive victories against them.
The last time these two teams faced each other was in 2023, with the U.S. emerging victorious in both encounters.
Before this match, the U.S. had suffered a 2-1 loss to Brazil on April 8, while China recently triumphed 5-1 over Thailand.
Next, the U.S. will face Jamaica in St. Louis on Tuesday, seeking to build on this momentum and further strengthen their roster.
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