Naomi Girma returns, Lo'eau LaBonta makes historic debut in US women's win over China
A moment of history for Lo'eau LaBonta ✨
At 32 years old, she becomes the oldest player to make her debut for the
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT)
The match also marked Girma's first appearance for the national team this year. The 24-year-old defender has been nursing injuries but recently returned to help Chelsea win the Women's Super League title and the FA Cup.
Girma commanded a record $1.1 transfer fee when she moved from the San Diego Wave to Chelsea earlier this year.
Advertisement
Catching up with Nae prior to kickoff!
Catch us on TBS, Universo, Max and Peacock.
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT)
Tullis-Joyce, who plays for Manchester United, started in goal in just her second US appearance as coach Emma Hayes looks to replace goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who retired from the national team last year.
Macario scored her 11th international goal after Alyssa Thompson kept the ball alive in a tumble in front of the net in the 28th minute.
Too Easy for Cat 😤
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT)
Coffey made it 2-0 in the 35th minute, taking a pass from Macario out front and banging her second goal for the US past goalkeeper Pan Hongyan with her left foot.
Pick out that corner, Sam 🔥
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT)
Heaps, the US captain, scored on a header in the 54th minute.
The United States is currently missing several key contributors from last year's Olympic gold medal-winning squad. Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson are both on maternity leave. Trinity Rodman is dealing with a nagging back issue.
Advertisement
The United States famously defeated China on penalties in the 1999 Women's World Cup final. The teams last met in 2023, with the Americans winning both games.
The Americans have a 39-9-13 overall record against China, including five straight.
The United States was coming off a 2-1 loss to Brazil on April 8. China defeated Thailand 5-1 in its last outing.
The US faces Jamaica on Tuesday in St. Louis.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Brave' Bright missed: England's Bronze
England defender Millie Bright withdrew from the camp because she was "mentally and physically" at her limits (Ben STANSALL) Lucy Bronze admitted her England team-mate Millie Bright will be missed ahead of the women's Nations League clash against Spain on Tuesday, after the defender withdrew from national duty because of burnout. Chelsea captain Bright, 31, withdrew from the England camp last week, saying she was "mentally and physically" at her limit. Advertisement Bright was pivotal to England's Euro 2022 triumph and it is not yet known if she will return for her country's trophy defence in Switzerland this summer. "She's missed definitely in the sense of what she brings, both on and off the pitch," her Chelsea and England colleague Bronze told reporters Monday. "She's one of the leaders in the team, not just because she's the oldest, but just because of her experience, her attributes as a person. "We've all spoke to Millie through the week... we just want to make sure that she's OK, both physically and mentally." Advertisement Bronze and Bright won a domestic treble at Chelsea this season and also reached the Champions League semi-finals. "It's been a long season for everyone, having spent every day with Millie, I know that she's obviously someone who's quite tough and maybe holds a lot in, so I think it's been quite brave for her to come out and speak," added Bronze. "I think just from a friend perspective, I just want for her to be okay, and give her as much time as she needs to feel okay again." England's Euros defence begins on July 5 against France, but first they are aiming to reach the Nations League semi-finals. Advertisement They must beat 2023 World Cup winners Spain to finish top of Group A3 and progress to the final four in October. The match will also offer coach Sarina Wiegman the chance to fine-tune her preparations for the Euros. - 'Harm them' - Spain beat England in the World Cup final but Wiegman's team got a measure of revenge with a 1-0 victory against La Roja at Wembley in February. "Of course we all know what they're capable of, they're very tight on the ball, so we have to be aware of that," said England's Dutch coach. "We have to, out of possession, be really tight and play compact and be very aggressive in moments, but I also think we had the ball too (in February)... Advertisement "We put them under pressure, and that's what we want to do tomorrow too. You can't control everything, so I think it's going to go back and forth. "They might be a little bit more on the ball than us, but we're definitely going to be on the ball too. And we're definitely going to find some moments where we hopefully harm them." Wiegman confirmed everybody in the squad was fit, including Arsenal striker Alessia Russo after a calf problem kept her out of England's 6-0 romp against Portugal on Friday. Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones came in for her and netted a hat-trick. Advertisement "It's really good for Alessia that she's back -- we have a decision to make and that's nice," said Wiegman. Hannah Hampton started in goal against Portugal in the wake of Mary Earps' shock retirement last week. Paris Saint-Germain stopper Earps, 32, was in goal as England won Euro 2022 and on the run to the 2023 World Cup final, but had fallen behind Hampton in the pecking order. "I think I was the first person Mary called to tell," said Bronze. "The news was difficult to take as team-mates because we all love Mary, we all want her to be here, but as a person and as a friend we accept her decision. "We celebrate everything she's done for this team both off and on the pitch." rbs/pi
San Francisco Chronicle
34 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Millie Bright 'brave' to pull out of England camp because of burnout, teammate Bronze says
Millie Bright's decision to withdraw from international duty for England's women's team because of mental and physical burnout was hailed as 'brave' by teammate Lucy Bronze on Monday. Bright made herself unavailable for England's final camp before the Women's European Championship, meaning she missed the 6-0 win over Portugal in the Nations League on Friday and will not play against world champion Spain in the same competition on Tuesday. The Football Association's official reason for Bright's absence was that she was undertaking 'an extended period of recovery' at the end of the season. The Chelsea defender expanded on that in a podcast with England teammate Rachel Daly last week, saying 'mentally and physically I'm at my limits' and that 'you need to value yourself and your mental health and body.' Asked about how Bright's absence was affecting the England team, Bronze — part of the same back four at Chelsea — said her friend was missed for what she brought on and off the field and that England players have been speaking to Bright throughout the past week. 'We've offered her our support. We just want to make sure she's OK, both physically and mentally,' Bronze said. 'It's been a long season for everyone. 'Having spent every day with Millie, I know that she is someone who is quite tough and holds a lot in, but I think it's quite brave of her to come out and speak. Just from a friend perspective, I just want her to be OK and give her as much time as she needs to feel OK again.' The 31-year-old Bright is a regular for England, playing in the team that won the Euros in 2022 and captaining the side on its run to the World Cup final in 2023. ___
Fox Sports
44 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Millie Bright 'brave' to pull out of England camp because of burnout, teammate Bronze says
Associated Press Millie Bright's decision to withdraw from international duty for England's women's team because of mental and physical burnout was hailed as 'brave' by teammate Lucy Bronze on Monday. Bright made herself unavailable for England's final camp before the Women's European Championship, meaning she missed the 6-0 win over Portugal in the Nations League on Friday and will not play against world champion Spain in the same competition on Tuesday. The Football Association's official reason for Bright's absence was that she was undertaking 'an extended period of recovery' at the end of the season. The Chelsea defender expanded on that in a podcast with England teammate Rachel Daly last week, saying 'mentally and physically I'm at my limits' and that 'you need to value yourself and your mental health and body.' Asked about how Bright's absence was affecting the England team, Bronze — part of the same back four at Chelsea — said her friend was missed for what she brought on and off the field and that England players have been speaking to Bright throughout the past week. 'We've offered her our support. We just want to make sure she's OK, both physically and mentally,' Bronze said. 'It's been a long season for everyone. 'Having spent every day with Millie, I know that she is someone who is quite tough and holds a lot in, but I think it's quite brave of her to come out and speak. Just from a friend perspective, I just want her to be OK and give her as much time as she needs to feel OK again.' The 31-year-old Bright is a regular for England, playing in the team that won the Euros in 2022 and captaining the side on its run to the World Cup final in 2023. She has just helped Chelsea to win the Women's Super League-FA Cup-League Cup treble in the recently completed domestic season. England's first game in its European Championship defense is against France on July 5. ___ AP soccer:
