A relatively inexperienced United States Women’s National Team dominated FIFA’s No. 8-ranked Canada by a 3-0 scored at a sold-out Audi Field in the annual Allstate Continental Clásico to close out a very successful three-match window.
First-half goals from defensive midfielder Sam Coffey and midfielder Claire Hutton, the first of her international career, led the Americans to their 54th all-time win over Canada and fifth straight clean sheet. A late goal from Yazmeen Ryan in the 89th minute sealed the victory for the United States.
The match concluded a commanding FIFA window for the USA. The USWNT won all three of its matches and did not concede a goal while playing with a roster that did not include almost all of its European-based players, with defender Naomia Girma, tonight’s captain, being the exception. The USA has won its last five matches with a combined score of 18-0, giving head coach Emma Hayes a strong building block ahead of the next matches this fall and FIFA World Cup Qualifying next year.
Hayes made 10 changes from the starting XI that featured against Ireland on June 29 with Lynn Biyendolo as the only holdover. The 10 remaining players in today’s starting XI also started the first match of the FIFA window against Ireland on June 26.
Both teams arrived in the nation’s capital with hopes of extending winning streaks. Top-ranked USA had earned four straight shutouts, including consecutive wins over Ireland. Meanwhile, Canada had won three straight, most recently a 4-1 win over Costa Rica.
The USA nearly opened the scoring twice early on blistering counterattacks down the right side. First, forward Michelle Cooper advanced the ball quickly with right back Avery Patterson, who lobbed a terrific ball over the top of Canada’s high line to Biyendolo.
The forward tracked down the ball, then tried to swerve her shot around Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, but the strike didn’t curl enough and missed wide. Moments later, Cooper beat her defender with the ball toward the endline and served a cross into the box for a Biyendolo header that Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan reacted quickly to stop for her first of five saves of the night.
Soon, the United States would convert for the game’s first goal. Left back Lilly Reale, making just her second career start, drove forward with the ball and drew a foul on the left side of the pitch. Canada deflected Rose Lavelle’s excellent left-footed service off the free kick, but the ball bounced off Patterson to Coffey, who pounced to finish first-time from eight yards out and give the USWNT a 1-0 lead.
A minute later, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, in just her second cap, made a huge play to keep the clean sheet going. Canada’s tower striker Jordyn Huitema found some space deep inside the penalty box for a right-footed shot, but the American goalkeeper made herself big to make an excellent save. Not only did she make the initial save, Dickey stayed with the play to pounce on the rebound, denying Canada any hope of equalizing.
Dickey finished the night with three saves and her second straight clean sheet as a starter.
Canada struggled to contain the United States all night and the USA showed flashes of creativity all over the field. Later in the half, Reale made a high run and played a terrific through ball to Thompson, leading her into the box. Thompson made the short pass to Biyendolo, who swung the ball to Coffey on the right. The midfielder played it back to Thompson who was making a sneaky run toward the back post, but the speedy forward couldn’t connect from close range and Canada escaped the close call.
In the 36th minute, the United States scored on a set piece for the second time in the half. Moments after a nifty nutmeg from Lavelle opened the attack, the United States earned a corner kick. Like on the opening goal, Lavelle proved dangerous with service from her favored left foot, floating the kick into the box. Claire Hutton timed her jump perfectly, snapping a header from five yards out into the lower left corner of the net. The goal was a career first for the 19-year-old in just her sixth cap.
Canada had never beaten the U.S. trailing by two goals in the series history and the United States was on the front foot for the rest of the game, hungry for more goals in a match that could have seen the Americans double the final scoreline. The U.S. dominated the match and the score sheet, piling up 22 shots to just seven for Canada on the night and controlled 66 percent of the possession.
In the 52nd minute, Patterson switched the ball beautifully to Thompson with tons of space on the far side. With her second touch, Thompson cut back to set up a shot with her right foot. Looking for her third goal in as many matches, Thompson struck the ball well, but her shot sailed high.
The third and final goal of the night arrived in the 89th minute and involved two late substitutes. Three minutes after coming into the match, Washington Spirit birthday girl Tara McKeown, playing in her club’s home stadium, charged down the right side on the dribble. With Canada’s defense collapsing on her, she dished the ball to Ryan. The forward had time to control her touch and set up a low, left-footed shot from 18 yards out that skipped into the lower right corner for her second goal in as many matches.