THE HAGUE — Alyssa Naeher‘s final match for the United States women’s national team ended in a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands on Tuesday night. With the victory, Emma Hayes extended her unbeaten run as USWNT coach, as her team delivered Naeher a winning send-off for her 115th and final cap. Lynn Williams scored a 71st-minute winner for the USWNT, but it had to work for its victory against the hosts.
The Dutch dominated the USWNT in the opening half, getting plenty of joy down the right wing, and opened the scoring after 15 minutes through a Veerle Buurman header. Despite mustering only one shot on target in the first half, the USWNT grabbed a fortuitous 44th-minute equaliser through a Buurman own goal. But Hayes’ halftime substitutions swung the balance back in the USWNT’s favor as she introduced Emily Sonnett and Williams.
In Naeher’s final match, we had another glimpse of Lily Yohannes‘ incredible potential. Yohannes, 17, was given her chance in the 66th minute — having declared her allegiance to the USWNT instead of the Netherlands last month — and she played a role in Williams’ winner just five minutes later.
For Hayes, it meant she ended her first year in charge of the USWNT unbeaten in 15 matches, a run that includes 13 wins. That also included the incredible gold…
