It wasn't pretty, but the United States women's national team put a bow on their 2024 schedule with a 2-1 win on the road against the Netherlands.
With all three Triple Espresso members rested for the U.S.'s transatlantic trip, head coach Emma Hayes opted for an experimental setup in The Hague.
Sloppiness and a lack of physicality plagued the United States from the opening whistle en route to conceding an all-time high of 14 shots in the first half. It was a dismal start, but a 44th-minute own goal and a brighter second half turned things around. If there's any encouragement for the USWNT, it's their excellent depth. As the substitutes showed on Tuesday, the team doesn't hurt for options.
Here's how the various U.S. performers fared against the Netherlands.
Manager rating (scale of 1-10)
Emma Hayes, 4 -- Though Hayes didn't have her full first-choice squad and wouldn't have expected her team to put together a perfect performance, her initial setup flopped. Jaedyn Shaw never looked comfortable up top, and the U.S. lacked the ball-winners to stand against the Dutch.
USWNT player ratings (0-10; 10 = best; 5 = average)
GK Alyssa Naeher, 9 -- In her last game with the U.S. before retiring from international soccer, Naeher put in a classic performance. She withstood the barrage of shots in the first half and kept the balance with a crucial save in the 69th minute.
DF Emily Fox, 5 -- Fox doesn't venture far into the attack and she wasn't all that notable for the U.S. from her right-back position. She was steady enough defensively.
DF Tierna Davidson, 5 -- Starting the match as a central defender and finishing it as a defense-first left-back, Davidson was beaten for pace in the second half but mostly hung tight. Though the U.S.'s opening goal was an own goal, Davidson's set-piece delivery led to the unfortunate touch from the Dutch.
DF Naomi Girma, 5 -- Girma didn't cover herself in glory on the Netherlands' goal, losing her footing on her zonal marking assignment. Outside of that error, Girma was assured and provided a solid base for the United States.
DF Jenna Nighswonger, 3 -- Nighswonger failed to make an impact in the attack during her 45-minute appearance, but it was most likely her shaky defending that prompted Hayes to remove her from the game at halftime. There's still work for the 24-year-old to do when it comes to working one-on-one.
MF Sam Coffey, 5 -- Coffey's ability to read the game is always an asset for the United States. She had some sharp moments but turned the ball over and was handed a yellow card.
MF Lindsey Horan, 5 -- Amidst the sea of turnovers, Horan brought a few moments of familiar quality. Her distribution was far from transformational, but even an average performance stood out in this game.
MF Korbin Albert, 4 -- Albert was unable to impact this game. Playing in central midfield, she wasn't sharp on the ball or quick to step.
FW Yazmeen Ryan, 7 -- After a bright start, Ryan faded a bit to finish the first half before roaring back to life with a lovely go-ahead assist in the second half. Ryan's speed and right-footed distribution make her an extremely difficult player to stop.
FW Jaedyn Shaw, 4 -- Asked to play as a striker, primarily to help improve her defensive play, Shaw didn't add much against the ball. Her impact was muted in the attack, too, as she was overwhelmed by the Netherlands' center-backs.
FW Rose Lavelle, 4 -- Lavelle struggled on the wing to start and never seemed to get into the game in a slightly more central role in the second half before being replaced in the 66th minute. She was energetic but ineffective.
Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
FW Lynn Williams, 9 -- You can't do much better than scoring the eventual winning goal after being substituted into the forward line, can you? After halftime, Williams brought physicality and prowess inside the box.
DF Emily Sonnett, 5 -- Sonnett joined the match for the entirety of the second half, replacing Nighswonger and defending as a center-back. Her aggression was useful, though her impact was muted.
MF Lily Yohannes, 5 -- Playing her first game for the USWNT since declaring her international allegiance (over the Netherlands, as it happens), Yohannes felt her way through the match after subbing on for Horan in the 67th minute. The 17-year-old showed plenty of calmness on the ball but also turned the ball over with her carefree approach.
MF Hal Hershfelt, 6 -- Joining the action in the 66th minute, Hershfelt brought the sort of calming defensive presence Washington Spirit fans would've expected. She also played a couple of clean passes to help keep the U.S.'s possession machine ticking.
FW Alyssa Thompson, 6 -- Thompson subbed on for Lavelle in the 66th minute and showed off her speed.
FW Ally Sentnor, N/A -- Subbed on in the 85th minute.