The U.S. women’s national team’s third and final game of the group stage came Wednesday against Australia, which they won 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Coach Emma Hayes made only one change to the lineup, with Emily Sonnett coming in for the injured Tierna Davidson. The rest of the team had deservedly kept their places, though they were mindful that Sam Coffey and Trinity Rodman were one yellow card away from suspension. Their Australian opponents were coming off a high-octane 6-5 win over Zambia earlier in the week. Their rich vein of scoring form was an obvious concern for Hayes, and so was their defense.
This was the toughest of the USWNT’s three group games, with the Australians posing a different obstacle in their performance. Nevertheless, strikes from Rodman and Korbin Albert in either half propelled the Americans to victory. The game itself could be summed up with an old cliché: It was a tale of two halves.
The first half was very much a story of breaking down the stubborn Australian defense, with their head coach, Tony Gustavsson, setting up his side in a 5-3-2 out-of-possession structure against Hayes’ 3-3-4 in-possession setup. Meanwhile, the second half was a more open game, with the Matildas forced to push forward and create chances to score. Their goal came in stoppage time, when central defender Alanna Kennedy moved to become the team’s battering ram as the central striker. Overall, there were plenty of positives to take from this performance, and it bodes well for the USWNT’s match against Japan on Saturday.
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Addressing low blocks
The front three proved their worth once again, with Rodman scoring the crucial opening goal from a Sophia Smith header. The instinctive finish from being at the right place at the right time was another hallmark of Rodman’s play and added to her impressive Olympic campaign thus far. Overall, the movement of the three was excellent, and the addition of Mallory Swanson provided the U.S. attack with a new direct presence coupled with intelligent off-the-ball movement.
The most challenging aspect of the game for the U.S. was breaking down the low block. The team had encountered several low-block systems before, but this was the most organized version they had yet faced. Australia employed a regimented 5-3-2 formation that remained compact regardless of the ball’s location. The only players likely to move were the three central midfielders, whose defensive shifts were dictated by the opposing midfielders’ movements.
Hayes instructed her team to attack through the wings and use switches of play to disrupt defenses. Switches were crucial but had to be executed under the right circumstances. She also made a slight yet noticeable adjustment in this game by pushing two No. 10s forward while maintaining three attackers. The deeper Australian defensive line allowed Hayes to deploy more players in advanced positions, creating pockets of numerical superiority. Consequently, she emphasized combination plays in the wide areas, which is why Rose Lavelle stood out with her movement and vision, consistently finding her teammates and creating opportunities.
As you can see in the still above, Australia’s backline is pretty rigid. Swanson and Horan are the two No. 10s in this example with Rodman, Smith and eventually Crystal Dunn (wide left) making up the three forwards. Notice how the two widest players are hugging the touchline. Given Australia’s want for congestion, Hayes had the wide areas completely free. This was executed to create a goalscoring chance in the example below, with Rodman turning the fullback inside out before taking a shot. It was one of the few times in the first half where they successfully broke down the Australian defense.
Defensive improvements
The other positive of the game was the USWNT’s defense. The back four have steadily improved game after game, and the tough second half proved that they have the makings of a fortified backline. Their ground defending was impressive, which is why they were able to keep Mary Fowler’s chances limited. It was only when Australia went on the attack and used width did the team started to struggle.
Naomi Girma, Emily Fox and Sonnett all gave a solid account of themselves, although there was a shaky end to the game — particularly when the barrage of crosses came. Aside from Kennedy’s goal in stoppage time, they handled the game decently well. The goal highlights the importance of Davidson’s height and prowess as the central center back. The USWNT shouldn’t face too many issues with aerial duels against Japan.
Girma in particular stood out and looked to sweep up behind any loose balls and crosses from deep when they managed to bypass Fox and Sonnett. Against Germany, she marshaled Lea Schüller well and this time kept Fowler at bay.
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Sam Coffey: the MVP?
It helps to have a competent defensive midfielder who excels at sweeping up in front of the defense and can read the game well. Coffey hasn’t replaced Julie Ertz or Samantha Mewis in totality just yet, but she has reached a point where she is the closest player to fulfill the No. 6 role both in a lone pivot and double-pivot role. And from a defensive standpoint, the relationship between the defenders and Coffey is slowly building too. Her absence against Japan due to suspension will be big. While improving, Albert will need to be as disciplined as the main holding midfielder to stop the Japanese midfielders from making late runs. It will be a big test for the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder.
The USWNT has shown impressive form in the tournament so far. With Sonnett likely to remain in defense due to a shortage of centerbacks, Albert is anticipated to start in midfield. The upcoming match against Japan may be a unique opportunity for both Sonnett and Albert, but it will be vital for Hayes to discover more solutions to the holding midfield issue. Can these adjustments help the team maintain their strong defensive record, having conceded only two goals? We’ll find out on Saturday.
