U.S. Women’s National Team Tops Korea Republic 3-0 to Close Out International Window
Sixteen-Year-Old Lily Yohannes Scores in USWNT Debut; Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith Add Goals as USA Records Second Consecutive Shutout on Rainy Night in Minnesota; Rose Lavelle Becomes 43rd USWNT Player to Earn 100 Caps
ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 4, 2024) - Goals from a decorated veteran returning to an old position and a teenager making her electrifying debut helped spark the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 3-0 friendly win over Korea Republic at rain-soaked Allianz Field. It was the second victory over the improved South Koreans in four days and the second in two matches since new head coach Emma Hayes took charge of the USWNT in late May.
World Cup champion Crystal Dunn, starting at forward for the first time since the summer of 2017, got the hosts going by turning in a first-half cross from left back Jenna Nighswonger that skidded across the goal from the left wing. On a wet night during which clear looks at goal were tough to come by for most of the match, Dunn’s first international goal in more than five years was enough to separate the teams before Hayes made multiple subs after the hour mark.
The USA, which is preparing for this summer’s Olympics, then quickly pulled away over the tiring visitors. Sophia Smith struck in the 67th minute, and then 16-year-old debutant Lily Yohannes became the third-youngest scorer in program history when she found the net in the 82nd.
The crowd of 19,169 roared as Yohannes ran toward the corner flag and most of the U.S. bench raced down the sideline to embrace the Ajax attacker, who spent her early childhood in northern Virginia before moving to Amsterdam with her family. At 16 years, 358 days old, Yohannes is the eighth-youngest player to make her USWNT debut and the youngest to do so since 2001. Only World Cup winners Kristine Lilly and Tiffany Roberts scored at an earlier age.
It was a celebratory end to an evening that was somewhat choppy at its start thanks in part to a more compact and aggressive Korean side that provided stiffer opposition than in the Americans’ 4-0 win on June 1 in Colorado. Having recently arrived from England and hoping to evaluate as many players as possible before naming her Olympic roster, Hayes fielded a starting XI that was almost entirely changed from four days earlier in Colorado. Nine different U.S. players took the field at the start in St. Paul. Captain Lindsey Horan and Nighswonger were the only holdovers.
Among Tuesday’s starters was Rose Lavelle, who secured her 100th cap at kickoff and became the 43rd player in USWNT annals to reach the milestone. Another notable feature of Hayes’ 4-3-3 was the deployment of Dunn at right wing. After starting her international career as an attacker, Dunn showcased her versatility and commitment to the collective by spending most of the previous two World Cup cycles at left back. Dunn’s half-hour as a second-half sub in Colorado represented her first international action as a forward in more than three years. She moved to the back for the final 30 or so minutes after the attacking trio of Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman came on in the 62nd minute, substitutions that immediately put the Koreans on the back foot and eventually put the game away.
Dunn got comfortable quickly and scored in the 13th minute on the USA’s first shot of the game. Nighswonger’s emergence at left back has opened the door for Dunn to return to the attack, and their connection on the opening (and game-winning) goal was fitting. Dunn’s 25th USWNT goal was the highlight of a grinding first half that featured few chances, along with an outstanding 30th-minute save by goalkeeper Casey Murphy of a bending free kick from Korea’s all-time leading scorer Ji Soyun.
The speed and ruthlessness of Hayes’ substitutes broke the match open later in the second half. Smith’s 19th career goal doubled the USA lead after Rodman stole the ball in midfield and forced the Koreans into retreat. Yohannes added her exclamation point on another play created by Rodman.
Hayes will make her Olympic selections and then final preparation for this summer’s tournament in France will come via two East Coast friendlies. The 18 women chosen to chase the program’s fifth gold medal will face Mexico at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ on July 13 and Costa Rica at Audi Field in the nation’s capital three days later.
USA — Crystal Dunn (Jenna Nighswonger), 13th minute: Dunn’s comfort both in back and up front was evident on a play she started and finished. Dunn fed Alex Morgan in the U.S. half, and the striker’s fluid turn bought the hosts a bit of space in what had been a crowded Korean center. Dunn raced down the right flank while Morgan advanced on the dribble before feeding Nighswonger on the left. The defender’s low cross curled behind the retreating Korean rearguard and was there for Dunn to score with a short one-timer at the far post. USA 1, KOR 0
USA — Sophia Smith, 67th minute: A trio of U.S. substitutes put the game out of reach. Trinity Rodman’s step, steal and dribbling run forced the Koreans to retreat. Her angled pass to the left, which was shepherded along by Mallory Swanson, was corralled by Smith. She negotiated a tackle from Korea’s Lee Eunyoung, rounded goalkeeper Kim Jung-Mi and finished smartly from an acute angle. USA 2, KOR 0
USA - Lily Yohannes (Trinity Rodman), 82nd minute: Rodman received a short corner on the right, dribbled along the vertical edge of the penalty area and cut a slow cross to the left that slipped through a throng of players to Yohannes. She calmly side-footed a 10-yards shot under Korea goalkeeper Kim Jungmi. USA 3, KOR 0
The USWNT remains unbeaten (13W-0L-4D) in 17 all-time meetings against Korea Republic, tied with Costa Rice (17W-0L-0D) for the most matches against any opponent in USWNT history without a loss.
The USWNT improves to 14W-3L-0D all-time in the state of Minnesota, including a perfect 3W-0L-0D at Allianz Field.
Tuesday’s match marked the 400th match on home soil in USWNT history. In those 400 games, the USA has an overall record of 341W-22L-36D and has outscored the opposition 1,390-210.
Crystal Dunn’s goal in the 13th minute was the 25th of her international career and her first goal for the USWNT in 2,054 days, last scoring on October 20, 2018, against Trinidad & Tobago. Dunn started on the American front line tonight for the first time since July 30, 2017.
Dunn had gone 75 consecutive appearances without scoring for the USWNT, the second-most games between goals by any player in team history. Only Kelley O’Hara, who went 82 games between goals from 2016 to 2022, went longer.
This is also Dunn’s first goal for the USWNT since giving birth to her son, Marcel, in May of 2022. Dunn is the ninth woman to score for the USWNT after becoming a mom, joining Alex Morgan, Joy Fawcett Danielle Fotopoulos, Amy Rodriguez, Jessica McDonald, Kate Markgraf, Kristine Lilly and Tina Ellertson.
At 16 years and 358 days old, Lily Yohannes became the eighth-youngest player all-time to debut for the USWNT and is the youngest player to take the field for the USWNT since March of 2001, when 16-year-olds Amy Steadman and Kristen Weiss both debuted for the USA against Italy.
Yohannes is the 260th player all-time to earn a cap for the USWNT and the first player born after 2005 to earn a cap. She is also the 22nd player to score in her USWNT debut and the second player to earn their first cap under head coach Emma Hayes.
Jenna Nighswonger tallied the first assist of her international career on Dunn’s goal. The two now play together for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL.
Defender Sam Staab went the entire 90 minutes in her first start and second cap and played a fine match in the center of the defense with Emily Sonnett to help earn the shutout.
- U.S. WOMENS NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT -
Match: United States Women’s National Team vs. Korea Republic Date: June 4, 2024 Competition: International Friendly Venue: Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minn. Attendance: 19,169 Kickoff: 8:07 p.m. ET (7:07 p.m. local) Weather: 73 degrees, rainy
U.S. Soccer Insiders’ Woman of the Match: Lily Yohannes
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