The Emma Hayes era got off to a successful start as the USWNT took on the Republic of Korea in the first of a pair of friendlies in early June. After something of a slow start, the Stars and Stripes and Rainbows put together a strong showing with a 4-0 victory over the Korean side. Braces from Mal Swanson and Tierna Davidson put the USA ahead 4-0 with each player finding the net in both halves.
To start things off, Hayes sent a strong message with her first XI with no players on the field who played in the 2019 World Cup Final. Jane Campbell got a start in goal, Catarina Macario returned to the team and Mal Swanson started up top.
Korea featured a lineup with players mostly representing the domestic league along with a few playing in the NWSL, England and Spain.
GIFS OF A BUNCH OF GOALS
Through the early going the USA looked like a team trying to find its footing under a new manager. The team dominated possession but only had two shots to show after 20 minutes. A lengthy injury break would allow the side to get direction from the sidelines and the team kept possession and started getting more effective looks on goal.
The team finally had a breakthrough thanks to a nasty throughball played to Mal Swanson from Sophia Smith in the 34th minute.
The second goal followed four minutes later thanks to Tierna Davidson being tall on a corner and sending a looping header into the net.
The USA went into the half clearly in control of the game and with two goals to show for it in what had been a satisfactory if not at times disjointed performance.
When the second 45 began, Casey Krueger entered for Emily Fox in the only change for the side. While she showed her scoring ability in the first half, Davidson notched an unlikely brace as the center back scored yet again in the 48th minute.
It has long been a hallmark of the USWNT to be dangerous on set pieces, and that trend looks set to continue under Hayes.
Korea could not muster much in response and the game settled into a familiar pattern for USWNT games. The red, white, and blue dominated possession, was patient in build up, and tried to find a breakthrough as their opponents controlled the damage.
Four changes would come for the Stars and Stripes at the hour mark.
The fourth goal would come thanks once again to Mal Swanson who ran through the Korea backline and received a pass, took a touch and fired it into the net.
That would be how the teams ended the night with the USA going home with a solid win for their new manager.
