The United States women's national team defeated Uzbekistan 9-1 in an international friendly on Saturday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. The game was the first of two friendlies against Uzbekistan during the international window in April. Sophia Smith recorded a hat trick during the win, while Andi Sullivan, Catarina Macario, Mallory Pugh, Ashley Hatch, Jaelin Howell and Ashley Sanchez each scored for the USWNT in the emphatic victory.
USWNT head coach Vlatko Andnovski called in 17 players from the SheBelieves Cup roster for these matches and has stated that he wants to see more time together with a specific group of players. Smith, Pugh and Macario were responsible for the frontline in the starting lineup, while Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, and Sullivan were tasked with the midfield.
The team took nearly a half an hour to get on the board, but for a group still developing chemistry, the breakthrough goal opened the flood gates for the remainder of the 90 minutes in what was an encouraging display. After Sullivan scored in the 26th minute to take the 1-0 lead, Pugh added another less than 60 seconds later before Smith began her hat trick performance just past the half-hour mark.
Second half shift
With a four-goal lead entering the second half, the USWNT wasted no time to keep things rolling as Macario and Lavelle linked up for a quick goal in the 46th minute.
A three-goal day for Smith against Uzbekistan may have been just a glimpse into what the 21-year-old can do on the pitch. A long ball over the top from Kristin Mewis to Pugh into open space spearheaded the attack, as Pugh forced the keeper out of position and connected with Smith on a run into the box.
Uzbekistan earned a consolation goal off a set piece corner by Aziza Norboeva that ended a 17-game shutout streak on home soil for the USWNT. The blowout scoreline lead to all substitutions utilized by Andonovski, and the player rotations led to debut goals from Howell and from Sanchez.
Player of the match
Smith's hat trick performance earned her player of the match honors, but her ongoing development alongside Macario, Pugh, and Lavelle is what stands out from the overall performance from the team. The group will be disappointed to concede a goal on a set piece in the later stage of the second half, but there are more positives to take away within the attack over all than there are negatives about the defensive shape.
"I think it's even more fun to be out there combining with teammates," Smith said in her post-match interview.
"Obviously we have a lot more to do and a lot more to work on, but we're happy with where we are and know that we have a lot of a lot of things to work on."
Macario's ability to drag defenders and attract multiple players on the ball provided more open spaces for teammates to navigate in, while Pugh's current form has been nearly unstoppable at times. Pugh now has four goals and three assists in the first four months of competition with the national team.
Look ahead
Andonovski's group will have another match against Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Chester, Pa.