USWNT defeats South Korea in final friendly before Emma Hayes sends roster to 2024 Olympics

O US Women’s National Team kept the momentum going under new coach Emma Hayes, defeating South Korea 3-0 in a friendly on Tuesday.

Goals from Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith set the USWNT on their way, while Lily Yohannes capped off her debut by calmly finishing a late chance to complete the scoring.

Although the USWNT was somewhat slower in a game played in constant rain at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, there was some clarity provided by the team’s improving play in the closing stages. A heavily rotated roster gave many players chances to prove they should be moving up Hayes’ depth chart, but only a few actually took advantage.

With all that in mind, here are the three key takeaways from this final friendly before Hayes unveils his squad for the 2024 Olympics:

Lineup and formation changes are important for Korbin Albert, Casey Murphy

Hayes promised many changes entering this match, and the new USWNT coach moved on, making nine changes to the starting 11 after Saturday’s victory 4-0. Only Lindsey Horan and Jenna Nighswonger have retained their starting places since the first game of this June international window.

In some cases, this shuffle offered a potentially important opening. Casey Murphy starting over Aubrey Kingsbury, for example, could indicate that the battle to support the presumptive No. 1, Alyssa Naeher, depends on the North Carolina Courage goaltender and Jane Campbell (who started on Saturday).

Murphy did no harm to his chances with a save from Ji So-yun in the 30th minute, denying the Seattle Reign’s set-piece specialist after his 19-yard free kick sailed over the USWNT wall.

Murphy made another strong reflex save in the 70th minute when a Korean set piece produced a good look. Two saves equate to a modest day’s work, but with little other work for the goalies in either game, it likely matters.

Further forward, Hayes made a modest change to the USWNT’s lineup and form. The 4-3-3 at the weekend changed to 4-2-3-1, with Horan and Korbin Albert in the aforementioned double pivot.

Additionally, the 3-3-4 seen in possession (with Catarina Macario eventually becoming the fifth player in the front line) at Colorado became more of a 3-2-4-1, with Shaw coming in as a fourth midfielder. -central fielder rather than acting as a second striker, as Mallory Swanson did in the first game. The remaining defensive base of three defenders and two central midfielders was intact, but the five forwards were configured differently.

In the first half, the impact of this change was mainly evident in a less robust central midfield. Hayes highlighted Sam Coffey as the true number 6 in the previous match, with Horan as the full-time number 8. The clarity that the distribution of roles was more successful than the double pivot in which Albert and Horan operated.

Albert appears to be very involved, regardless of the questions that were left unanswered after the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder’s attack. participation in anti-LGBTQ+ posts on social media. However, the exact nature of his role is unclear, and this match didn’t offer much clarity in that regard.

Albert is seen as a player who can play in any of the three central midfield roles, but this could suit both sides. It’s great to be versatile, especially heading into the Olympics, but Albert has yet to excel as a defensive midfielder, or as a box-to-box presence, or in this double pivot.

South Korea certainly increased their intensity levels and pressed more intelligently than they did in Colorado, but part of the issue came down to the USWNT having issues in terms of defensive decision-making. Albert and Horan are much better in the number 8 role, and both seemed to be trying to help each other, initially opting to stay at home even when the best option was to step up and challenge. In other words, the classic issue of every double pivot needs time to resolve.

But that’s the thing: the USWNT really doesn’t have much time. If Albert is at his best in a double pivot, that (not to mention the pressure from Yohannes, who impressed in his 18 minutes) could hurt his chances of going to Paris in a few weeks’ time.

Crystal Dunn goes old school with a potentially important goal

Crystal Dunn is getting a chance to showcase her ability to compete with the current group of forwards, something she and fans have wanted for a long time.

Even though it was an easy finish, Dunn’s goal in the 13th minute is important. The 31-year-old has not scored for the USWNT since October 2018, due to her long stint at left back as well as time lost when she became a mother.

When she was a marauding forward for the Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage, Dunn proved she can rack up goals and assists with the best of them. However, this has been an important part of her job for a while now, as the Portland Thorns have given her a more cashier-like role.

The point is that Dunn needs to reestablish that his scoring touch and his ability to get into dangerous positions are not far from the surface. The competition up front is ridiculous, and as good as Dunn is, there are excellent options available on both sides of the front line.

So this run – a move in which she turns on her jets twice just so her teammates don’t look her way, before finally ensuring she maintains position to attack the ball ahead of Kang Chae-rim – is important.

Dunn’s job isn’t primarily to score spectacular goals. They’re great, everyone wants bangers, but the real job of breaking down this USWNT front line is being a factor in plays that can be replicated. A transition attack that ends with a good run back to meet a Nighswonger cross? This is something that anyone playing in front of this team should be able to do.

Dunn establishing that this part of his game is still sharp will make Hayes’ decision-making process even more complicated.

Alex Morgan’s house is getting darker and darker

Alex Morgan also started at the front, 62 minutes after being held on Saturday for precautionary reasons.

This marked a great chance for the veteran to increase her chances of going to her fourth Olympics. There wasn’t much discussion, but with more competition for forward positions than the team has ever had, the USWNT star can’t be considered a lock to make Hayes’ 18-man squad.

Unlike Dunn, Morgan struggled to make a big impact in this game. She played an important role in Dunn’s goal, although it was a situation where her attacking patience briefly flirted with the chance running out. The chance to play a ball early in transition – usually the preferred play in moments like this – came and went, and it took urgency from the rest of the team to keep the opening alive.

Morgan played the number 9 role a little differently to Smith, positioning himself well and remaining planted between the defenders as a point of reference. It’s not entirely her fault that the USWNT struggled to get her involved, but whenever a player like Morgan can only manage 14 touches in 62 minutes in what would otherwise be a largely dominant win…it’s not ideal.

Hayes has mentioned more than once that versatility will be valued at the Olympics, as the 18-player limit limits space for players who specialize in just one role. With the fluidity offered by Smith leading the line appearing to fit well with the surrounding cast, and the possibility of Macario playing as a false number 9 still on the table, Morgan has a real battle on his hands to stay in the mix.

Additionally, the USWNT offense was slower with Morgan than when Smith or Swanson (who finished the first game this window at power forward) led the line. Fitting in with the rest of the group is as important a factor as individual form, and right now Morgan has questions to answer on both fronts.

Watch: Sophia Smith’s goal to make it 2-0

Watch: Lily Yohannes makes her debut

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This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: USWNT Wins Final Friendly Before Roster Sends to 2024 Paris Olympics