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Caitlin Murray, ESPN
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The US girls’s nationwide staff wanted solely to keep away from defeat in opposition to Portugal to advance to the knockout section of the Ladies’s World Cup. They did that, however on the naked minimal with a 0-0 draw and a efficiency that was removed from inspiring from the reigning champions.
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Supervisor ranking (scale of 1-10)
Vlatko Andonovski, 4 — In his prematch information convention, the U.S. coach stated he would not learn or hearken to any of the media protection surrounding the staff, however it seems like he obtained phrase that everybody was clamoring for Lynn Williams to start out. She was brilliant in stepping into the field and discovering probabilities, however she suffered from the identical ending yips which have affected the remainder of the staff.
Most regarding, reasonably, is that the USWNT did not appear to have a cohesive recreation plan and once more it was as much as particular person moments to determine the match. However that is nothing new on this period of the USWNT beneath Andonovski.
No less than he remembered he may use subs this time. The USWNT switched to a double-pivot late to hold on for the draw.
Participant rankings (0-10; 10 = finest; 5 = common)
GK Alyssa Naeher, 5 — Did what she wanted to do however wasn’t examined a lot. Naeher’s close to publish made the largest save of the sport in stoppage time, denying Ana Capeta when she was by means of on aim.
Portugal was this shut 😬 pic.twitter.com/UMIZnAqyib
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
DF Emily Fox, 5 — Though she wasn’t good, she made some good performs to maintain Portugal at bay and usually did her job.
DF Julie Ertz, 5 — A gentle presence in profitable balls and breaking apart assaults — up till lacking the duel that allowed Capeta to get what would have been the game-winner type Portugal, if not for the publish.
DF Naomi Girma, 6 — The USWNT’s finest participant of the primary half, which reveals how that half went. She was reliable in profitable aerial duels, reducing out assaults and passing to her teammates. Her yellow card was the one blemish.
DF Crystal Dunn, 5 — She obtained beat a couple of occasions however wasn’t the reason for the USWNT’s issues.
MF Rose Lavelle, 4 — She wasn’t in a position to affect the sport in the identical manner she did within the earlier two video games — her passing was off and her early yellow card not solely held her again from actually getting caught in defensively however may also see her suspended for the subsequent recreation.
MF Andi Sullivan, 5 — In a thankless function, she did effectively to interrupt up assaults and win the ball, whilst she did not get a lot assist from her central midfield teammates.
MF Lindsey Horan, 4 — She struggled on the ball and could not join her passes practically sufficient.
FW Lynn Williams, 5 — She had some high quality probabilities she could not end, however she was the one USWNT participant to constantly put herself in harmful scoring positions.
FW Alex Morgan, 5 — Could not do something with the couple of appears to be like she had in entrance of aim, however labored exhausting to maintain possession and generate alternatives for her teammates.
FW Sophia Smith, 3 — Seemed a contact gradual and missing chew, typically failing to get to 50-50 balls and never getting her passes or crosses off rapidly. Obtained the hook within the 61st minute after an ineffectual shift.
Substitutes (Gamers launched after 70 minutes get no ranking)
FW Megan Rapinoe (on for Smith, 61 minutes), 4 — She had some good touches and passes early, however misplaced steam because the match went on.
MF Emily Sonnett (on for Horan, 84 minutes), N/R — Moved the USWNT in a double pivot, however Portugal’s finest likelihood of the sport got here in stoppage time anyway.
FW Trinity Rodman (on for Williams, 84 minutes), N/R — Could not do a lot to alter the match.
DF Kelley O’Hara (on for Dunn, 90+6 minutes), N/R — Got here on to seemingly run down the clock.
FW Alyssa Thompson, N/R (on for Morgan, 90+6 minutes) — Got here on to seemingly run down the clock.
