Late goals from Jaedyn Shaw and Sophia Smith ensured the U.S. women’s national team were victorious in their first game since winning Olympic gold, beating Iceland 3-1 at Austin, Texas’ Q2 Stadium on Thursday.
Emma Hayes started 10 members of the gold medal-winning team, offering the 11th spot to Alyssa Thompson as she continues a strong season with Angel City. The 2023 Women’s World Cup player did not waste her opportunity, scoring the game’s first goal in the 39th minute through an impressive solo effort, which was also her first international goal.
Despite the lead, the USWNT and Iceland traded shots in fairly equal measure for much of the game, allowing the visitors to score an equalizer in the 56th minute. Space freed around Selma Sol Magnusdottir and so she dashed toward goal and shot from distance, taking advantage of a ball-watching USWNT in the process.
The U.S. pressed for a go-ahead goal but were struggling to generate quality opportunities until the dying moments of the game when they scored two in quick succession. Shaw scored her first USWNT goal since April after skillfully receiving Casey Krueger’s ball, while Smith acted quickly three minutes later after receiving a loose ball and taking a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The USWNT return to play on Sunday to complete a doubleheader against Iceland at Nashville’s Geodis Park before closing out the international window against Argentina at Louisville’s Lynn Family Stadium on…
