Yohannes, Dunn shine as USWNT blank South Korea

In the U.S. women’s national team’s final match before the Olympic roster is decided, newly minted head coach Emma Hayes took her final look at the player pool with nine changes to her starting XI as the Americans earned a second-straight win over South Korea.

Following a 4-0 win on Saturday, 16-year-old debutant Lily Yohannes stole the headlines of Tuesday’s 3-0 victory by scoring in her first substitute appearance as a full international. In doing so, the eighth player to make her USWNT debut before turning 17 (first since 2001) became the third-youngest USWNT goalscorer ever (16y 358d) behind Kristine Lilly and Tiffany Roberts.

The goal coming in the 82nd minute put the cherry on top of an already secured victory, allowing the entire USWNT bench to meet Yohannes at the corner flag for a memorable celebration.

“It’s a dream come true really,” Yohannes shared her excitement postmatch. “I played this scenario out in my head how many times before this game, just having the idea of coming on and scoring and that was really amazing. [The] support from my teammates all running up to me made it just so much more special”

Beyond the goal, Yohannes showed a calmness on the ball not typically associated with 16-year-old footballers in the middle of the park. Combined with her ability to pick a pass with vision beyond her years, the Ajax youngster made a serious case for being on that flight to Paris next month.

“She’s a press-resistant player, gets out of the pressure, the weight of the pass, the quality of the pass – she plays with the football whether it’s the sole of her foot or the outside of her foot. She’s a natural footballer [who] is confident in her abilities,” Hayes praised her debutant. “I think playing in Europe has accelerated her learning…She’s had exposures that many American 16-year-olds have not had and it shows. There is a maturity to it even at a tender age. This is her second camp and there’s already been a step up from the first to the second. I want to celebrate her first cap. It’s a really special moment for her and her family.”

Although the first half of the match was less than ideal from an American perspective, Yohannes wasn’t the only player to make her case for the limited 18-woman roster headed to the Olympics. In her first start as a forward since July 30, 2017, veteran Crystal Dunn made the case of versatility by ending her run of 75 USWNT games without a goal – the second-longest drought between goals in USWNT history behind Kelley O’Hara (82 games).

“I know what Crystal Dunn is about. She’s played for me before and she’ll do whatever the team needs,” Hayes pointed out Dunn’s flexibility. “Being able to play her out wide, perhaps to start thinking about which players might fill multiple positions for the team, and of course I’ve experimented as much as I could do in these two games. I thought Crystal was solid the whole evening in every way, shape, or form. I’m happy to be back with her.”

Fullback Jenna Nighswonger – one of the two players to start both games against South Korea – will be hoping her first USWNT assist caught Hayes’ eye as well after scoring twice in the Americans’ recent W Gold Cup triumph.

Further, in keeping a clean sheet, goalkeeper Casey Muphy has made her own Olympic case by keeping the ball out of the back of the net in her last eight USWNT starts, equaling the second-longest streak in team history. The three-way battle with Alyssa Naeher and Jane Campbell is heating up for the two Olympic goalkeeper roster spots.

Of course, Hayes will have numerous difficult decisions ahead but due to the hard work put in by her squad over the past week, she is ready to make them.

“I couldn’t have asked for any more from anyone this week. For that reason I feel happy,” Hayes shared on her team’s Olympic preparation. “Between now and next camp we’ve got to analyze all the things we’ve got to get absolutely right leading into the Olympics.”

When that roster is selected, the USWNT will have two final preparation matches against Mexico on July 13th and Costa Rica on July 16th before they leave for Paris to chase their first Olympic gold medal since 2012.