HARRISON, N.J. (July 13, 2024) — Sophia Smith’s persistence on a warm day in Harrison, N.J. was finally rewarded in the second half and the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team defeated regional rivals Mexico 1-0 in a pre-Olympic friendly on Saturday afternoon. The Americans carried the play and outshot the visitors, 17-3, but had to wait for the breakthrough until almost 20 minutes elapsed in the second half. Once earned, however, that advantage was never threatened as the USA eased to its third victory in three games under coach Emma Hayes.
Before kickoff, U.S. Soccer and the sellout crowd of 26,376 at Red Bull Arena honored all 20 members of the iconic 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Championship team as part of the “Impact 99” Legacy Match, presented by New York Life. After meeting and spending time with the 99ers on Friday, the 2024 team was energized and started Saturday’s match on the front foot.
Smith and midfielder Rose Lavelle tested Mexico goalkeeper Esthefanny Barreras in the opening moments and in the first four minutes, the Americans already had more shots on target (three) than in the entire Concacaf W Gold Cup group-stage match between the teams in February. La Tri prevailed that day in Carson, Calif., winning 2-0 for just the second victory all-time in 43 games against the USWNT. But the hosts appeared determined to avoid a second-straight setback to their neighbors on Saturday and the scoreline flattered the Mexicans.
Despite several chances, the early goal never came. Barreras, a Phoenix, Ariz. native who plays for Pachuca, made four saves in the first half, including a fantastic parry of Smith’s short-range bid in the 22nd minute. Smith, who was flanked by forwards Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson, was especially effective at finding seams in the Mexican defense and put three shots on frame but could not find the back of the net in the first half.
Twenty-ninth ranked Mexico, meanwhile, mustered only one shot in the first half, that coming in the 40th minute, although its press posed some questions to the U.S. back four.
Barreras won another duel against Smith in the 52nd as the Americans kept their foot on the gas coming out of the locker room in search of the opener. Eleven minutes later, it finally came as Smith’s tenacity was rewarded. Her sixth shot of the day, and fifth on target, lifted the U.S. to a 1-0 lead. Lavelle got the play started with a long pass out of the back that Rodman picked up on the right wing. She fed it centrally to Swanson, who took several touches before sliding the ball left to Smith. With confidence and composure, the Portland Thorns FC star cut the ball back to create a shooting lane then beat Barreras inside the right post.
The goal was Smith’s 20th for the USWNT and fifth this year, lifting her into a tie with Jaedyn Shaw atop the 2024 scoring list. Smith also now has four goals and one assist in her past four appearances, setting a new personal best with goal involvements in four consecutive games. She came close to getting her second of the day, hitting the post after being played through by Swanson in the 73rd minute. Smith then made way for Lynn Willams in the 75th.
Among Hayes’ six second-half substitutes was Washington Spirit forward Croix Bethune, an Olympic alternate who made her USWNT debut when she replaced Swanson in the 82nd. Bethune, 23, nearly scored with one of her first national team touches but sent a 22-yard shot just wide of the left post.
The USA saw out the game without much difficulty and helped goalkeeper Alyssa Naaher get her 63rd career international shutout and fourth this year. She’s now nine behind 1999 World Cup hero Briana Scurry, who sits second on the program’s all-time chart. Naaher was also honored before kickoff on Saturday for earning her 100th cap during the W Gold Cup in March. She missed last month’s two U.S. friendlies with a thigh injury. The USA has yet to yield a goal with Hayes at the helm.
Stateside Olympic preparation will conclude July 16 in Washington, D.C., where the USA will meet Costa Rica at Audi Field in the 2024 Send-Off Match presented by Coca-Cola (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max and Peacock). The Olympic tournament then kicks off against Zambia on July 25 in Nice, France.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
USA — Sophia Smith (Mallory Swanson), 64th minute: A long ball down the right flank from Rose Lavelle got the U.S. attack going, and successive passes from Trinity Rodman and then Swanson played Smith with the ball into the left side of the penalty area. Smith deftly cut the ball back, beating Mexico defender Karen Luna, and curled an unstoppable, right-footed shot across the face of goal and inside the right post. USA 1, MEX 0 FINAL
