It was a good night for the USWNT teenagers on Thursday, with the U.S. getting a 3-1 win over Iceland behind some of the team’s young stars. 19-year-old forwards Alyssa Thompson and Jaedyn Shaw both gritted out incredible finishes, with Thompson earning her first international goal.
Thompson has been out of the U.S. roster for over a year, but returned with a bang on Thursday. In the 39th minute, Thompson hit a brilliant finish into the top right corner of the goal to give the U.S. an early 1-0 lead.
Immediately after the goal, Thompson sprinted over to U.S. forward Sophia Smith, who was on the sideline warming up as a substitute. Smith went on to score the USWNT’s third goal of the night — a laser from the top of the box.
But minutes earlier, there was Shaw to get the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute, after Iceland’s Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir hit the equalizer earlier in the half. Shaw juked a defender and nutmegged Iceland’s goalkeeper on the way to getting her eighth international goal.
Thompson, who earned her third international start in the process, was eventually voted Woman of the Match.
It’s an interesting time for the USWNT, with coach Emma Hayes taking the time to find a balance between the team’s veterans while also giving new players a chance to prove themselves. Thursday’s game marked the 100th cap for veteran defender Emily Sonnett, but also marked the first cap for midfielder Hal Hershfelt and forward Yazmeen Ryan, two NWSL standouts who were called up this window.
The game was the first of three in the October friendly window, with the series serving as a victory tour following the USWNT’s gold medal run at the Olympics. The U.S. will play Iceland again on Sunday before taking on Argentina on Wednesday. Hayes said in last week’s press conference that there will be different rosters at each of the three games, giving multiple players a chance to get international caps and demonstrate their skills.
