Facing a short turnaround after a frustrating loss to Portugal, U.S. women's national team coach Emma Hayes stuck to the plan. She surely knew her team needed a performance, and she got one by trusting her side's youngest stars to provide a response.
Led by two Olivia Moultrie goals and a late finish from substitute Sam Coffey, Hayes' young side earned a 3-1 win over the very same team that won 2-1 on Thursday - remarkable, considering the USMNT had never previously lost to Portugal. Following that loss, Hayes and many of her stars said that they needed to improve as a collective.
The USWNT surely did that thanks to the efforts of some of the team's newest faces, with six starters in Sunday's XI just 20 years old or younger. Moultrie was the star, of course. Her two goals came within the first 10 minutes, with a Jessica Silva finish for Portugal sandwiched in between, the team's only shot on goal.
Both finishes were more placement than power, with Moultrie showing the composure needed to find the corner of the net twice in the game's early moments - including the opener just 44 seconds into the game.
It was Moultrie's second international brace. The then 18-year-old scored two of the USWNT's five goals in a 5-0 win over the Dominican Republic on Feb. 20, 2024. Just three weeks ago, Moultrie scored her first NWSL brace, securing a 2-1 win for the Portland Thorns over Bay FC.
"I was talking to Emma about it, and just feeling the trust in both club and country and allowing all the work I’ve put in to just showcase itself," Moultrie told TNT after the match. "People are like, 'Have you changed anything recently?' Am I’m like, 'No, not really.' I’m just trying to stay consistent with what I’ve been told by my coaches and staff, and do the work, do the film, talk to my teammates.
"And honestly, just try to do the right thing and stay patient, especially in my positioning, which has been a big thing with me and Emma."
From there, the young talent settled in. Excluding Emily Sonnett - who had more caps (111) coming into the game than the rest of the XI combined (100) - the average age of the U.S. XI was 20.7 years old. That lineup also included three teenagers - although one of those was Lily Yohannes, who treated Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field ike her own personal playground.
"I just had so much fun playing with Claire and Lily in the midfield," said 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, referencing the 19-year-old Claire Hutton and 18-year-old Yohannes. "They have so much composure. They’re incredibly smart players as well, so it’s been so much fun to play off of them... we can’t just be bullied out here, we have to bring it as well. Being able to solve problems ourselves is really important in the evolution of this team."
By the time Coffey put the result out of reach from a corner in the 82nd minute, the young USWNT had solidified some measure of revenge. They also likely solidified some trust from their coach, who gave them an opportunity that most seized.
GOAL rates the USWNT's players from East Hartford, Connecticut.
