USWNT Recap: United States 4 - Korea Republic 0
Braces from Tierna Davidson and Mallory Swanson lead Emma Hayes to her first victory at the helm!
19,010 people packed into Commerce City, Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to witness history on Saturday as the United States Women’s National Team hosted the Korea Republic in what marked Emma Hayes’ debut for the US.
Saturday saw Hayes roll out a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jane Campbell got the start in goal behind the backline of Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, and Emily Fox. Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, and Catarina Macario, who made her first start in 781 days, comprised the midfield behind the attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman.
It looked as if the United States had found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute when Horan received the ball turned toward goal. Horan slotted the ball far post past Jung-Mi and in, but the assistant's flag went up immediately as Horan was offside in the lead-up.
Swanson became the first goal scorer in the Emma Hayes era after she found the back of the net in the 34th minute. It all started with Girma advancing the ball into the U.S. attacking half. She slotted a ball forward to Smith atop the box. Smith turned toward goal and tapped a ball forward to a darting Swanson who slotted the ball past Jung-Mi and into the net. The 37th minute saw the U.S. capitalize again as Davidson leaped into the air to give the USWNT a 2-0 lead.
The U.S. didn’t wait long to push their lead to three as Davidson netted her second corner kick goal of the evening after heading home a corner kick from Swanson.
Four changes came in the 61st minute when Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, Sam Staab, and Jaedyn Shaw replaced Rodman, Macario, Davidson, and Smith. The sub marked 27-year-old Sam Staab’s debut for the United States. Korbin Albert then came into the match when she replaced Horan in the 71st minute.
The United States’ dominance continued in the 75th minute when Rose Lavelle got on top of a loose ball in the U.S. attacking half. Lavelle tapped the ball forward to Mallory Swanson, who slotted the ball home to earn her second goal of the evening.
Emma Hayes’ debut went swimmingly as her squad secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Korea. Hayes and the U.S. will look to build off Saturday’s performance on Tuesday, June 4th, when they face the Korean Republic again inside Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, at 8:00 PM on TruTV and Max.