Back-to-back wins for Hayes as US women down Korea 3-0

The United States women’s national soccer team continued their winning ways under new coach Emma Hayes on
Tuesday with a 3-0 friendly victory over South Korea in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Veteran Crystal Dunn, striker Sophia Smith and 16-year-old debutant Lily
Yohannes scored the goals in another impressive victory for the US, who are
building towards next month’s Olympics after a disappointing World Cup
campaign last year.

English coach Hayes made nine changes to her starting line-up for her second
game in charge following her team’s 4-0 win over the Koreans in Saturday’s
opening friendly.

The boldest move saw Hayes start veteran defender Dunn as a right winger, the
first time the 31-year-old has played in an advanced role for the US team
since 2017.

That adventurous selection paid off after just 13 minutes, when a flowing US
counterattack ended with Jenna Nighswonger arrowing a cross into the penalty
area which Dunn tucked away at the far post to make it 1-0.

The hosts controlled play for the remainder of the half although goalkeeper
Casey Murphy was forced into a spectacular diving save at the half-hour mark
after Ji So-yun’s free-kick looked destined for the net.

The US looked instantly more threatening after Hayes made a wave of
substitutions after 62 minutes, bringing on Smith, Trinity Rodman, Mallory
Swanson and Sam Coffey for Alex Morgan, Nighswonger, Rose Lavelle and Lindsey
Horan.

The injection of pace and movement from Smith, Rodman and Swanson in
particular was instrumental in doubling the US lead on 67 minutes.

The high-pressing Rodman surged forward from midfield and crossed low into
the box, finding Swanson, whose back-heeled flick was gathered by Smith to
finish from an acute angle.

The biggest cheer of the night however came in the final 10 minutes when
teenager Yohannes, who had replaced Korbin Albert after 72 minutes, made it
3-0.

Rodman was once again instrumental in the goal, crossing from the right and
finding Yohannes, who coolly swept home a low finish for a memorable goal on
her international debut. (BSS/AFP)