Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The United States women’s national team defeated South Africa, 3-0 on Thursday in Cincinnati, in the Americans’ first game since a penalty-shootout loss to Sweden in the Round of 16 at the 2023 World Cup.
Interim coach Twila Kilgore, who is in charge following the resignation of Vlatko Andonovski last month, rolled out a mostly familiar lineup as the U.S. turned the page toward an Olympics that begins in 10 months. Kilgore will be in charge for at least these two games this week and two more against Colombia in late October, which serves as some uncertain context to any deeper analysis of the U.S. right now.
Still, it’s time to move forward. Here are three big talking points from the U.S.’ win on Thursday, which saw Lynn Williams score a brace and Trinity Rodman add a goal in the first half.
The 4-2-3-1 makes sense right now
It’s hard to talk about formations and systems when the U.S. women are without a coach or a general manager (the latter of which is unlikely to continue to be a role…
