A couple of braces. A clean sheet. A perfect start to the Emma Hayes era.
In their first game under new management, the USWNT cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over South Korea in front of 19,010 fans in Denver, Colorado on Saturday as Tierna Davidson and Mallory Swanson shared the goals. With the win, the 10th head coach in USWNT history became the eighth to win on her debut while extending the American’s unbeaten history against South Korea (12-0-4) and in Colorado (8-0-1).
“I’m pretty tired. It’s hot out there at altitude!” Hayes opened her inaugural postgame press conference with a joke. “I’m English so that’s going to take some time.”
It took the U.S. about half an hour to settle into the match but once they began creating chances, the ball began hitting the back of the net. All the game needed to open up was a beautiful turn from Sophia Smith at the top of the box to transform a line-breaking entry pass from Naomi Girma into a silver-platter assist for Swanson to finish off. It’s a relationship between Smith and Swanson which Hayes believes has “another level” to reach.
“I couldn’t ask for any more. She’s a player I’ve always admired so to get the opportunity to coach her and see firsthand the quality she possesses [is a privilege],” Hayes raved about the inaugural goalscorer of her USWNT tenure. “She’s a connector. She’s really magnetic as a human being too in the way she operates in the team. She can multitask. She can do what she’s doing on the pitch and listen on the sidelines. I noticed that about her today. My goal is to keep her fit and keep her healthy because she’s an important part of this team.”
Less than five minutes later, Davidson rose up at the back post for a looping header into the opposite side netting to double the lead with her first USWNT goal in over 2,000 days. In her first USWNT start in as many days, assister Catarina Macario notched her first goal contribution in 781 days as well.
“Cat is a special player, no question whatsoever, so she’ll keep growing into the shirt I’m sure. She’s been tremendous all week in training,” Hayes praised the dynamic attacker she signed while coaching Chelsea. “My goal is to keep her on the pitch [and] I know she plays for the best football club on Earth so they’ll look after her. I’m just excited for her today.”
Continuing their leading performances as the second half began, Swanson took the corner which Davidson connected with to score another header at the back post. In doing so, the 25-year-old American defender who had only ever scored one goal for each club and country equaled her career goal tally in a single match on Saturday.
“I always relish the opportunity to be in the box for corner kicks,” Davidson shared. “It’s not often I get to be up there so I just try to execute my job which is making sure nothing gets all the way through the back and making sure that anything that falls into my zone I try to either put across the goal or into the goal. I think that’s just what happened today.”
Substitute Rose Lavelle ensured the hometown hero – who purchased an entire sweet for her 30 family and friends to attend the game – matched Davidson’s brace with one of her own as Swanson slotted home a through ball (74’) to cap off the comfortable 4-0 win.
“I don’t think like that. I don’t feel that pressure.” Hayes responded when asked if she felt relief after winning her USWNT debut. “I’m doing the job that I love and I get to enjoy all those amazing players. For me, I don’t feel relief from that. I just feel re-energized. I want to coach this group and they want to be coached. You can see we’re building something. There’s lots of work to do. There’s lots of holes in our play, no question, but it’s a good start.”
The Hayes era continues with an immediate rematch against South Korea on Tuesday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota where the new manager will continue to test the player pool at her disposal from debutant Sam Staab to legend Alex Morgan as she cements the USWNT style under her stewardship.
After one match, all signs for that long-term future remain positive.
