This is how it’s going to be from here forward for the two-time defending champions in this World Cup. Every outing is going to be a direct challenge, every outcome likely will be in question until the final whistle.
For long stretches in Wednesday’s match against the Netherlands, the US women’s soccer team was running itself breathless, down a goal, and literally chasing the game as their opponents played keepaway.
Then Lindsey Horan struck with anger and authority, and the Americans salvaged a 1-1 draw that kept them where they need to be, at the top of their group (on goal differential) going into Tuesday’s finale with Portugal.
A draw against the 2019 runner-up was a respectable result, mostly for what it said about the Americans’ resilience and resolve.
“For us, I think the biggest thing to take away is going down a goal and coming up with an answer to that,” said Horan, whose 62nd-minute header off Rose Lavelle’s laser corner gave the US a priceless equalizer.
Horan’s goal came only a couple of minutes after she was flattened by Danielle van de Donk, her Lyon teammate and (usually) good pal. The cocaptain’s immediate response was a hard shove, some harsh words, and a fierce will to get even in the only way that mattered.
“All I wanted to do was score,” Horan said. “Heat of the moment, I got a little pissed at (van de Donk), but Rose put in an absolute dime, and I got on the end of it.”
In 25 previous group matches across nine tournaments the US had lost only once, to Sweden in 2011. While a loss to the Dutch wouldn’t have been fatal, it would have put the champs in an undesirable position, needing a victory and a bit of luck to win their group and avoid a probable second-round matchup with the nemesis Swedes.
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From [Globe.com](https://Globe.com):
By John Powers
This is how it’s going to be from here forward for the two-time defending champions in this World Cup. Every outing is going to be a direct challenge, every outcome likely will be in question until the final whistle.
For long stretches in Wednesday’s match against the Netherlands, the US women’s soccer team was running itself breathless, down a goal, and literally chasing the game as their opponents played keepaway.
Then Lindsey Horan struck with anger and authority, and the Americans salvaged a 1-1 draw that kept them where they need to be, at the top of their group (on goal differential) going into Tuesday’s finale with Portugal.
A draw against the 2019 runner-up was a respectable result, mostly for what it said about the Americans’ resilience and resolve.
“For us, I think the biggest thing to take away is going down a goal and coming up with an answer to that,” said Horan, whose 62nd-minute header off Rose Lavelle’s laser corner gave the US a priceless equalizer.
Horan’s goal came only a couple of minutes after she was flattened by Danielle van de Donk, her Lyon teammate and (usually) good pal. The cocaptain’s immediate response was a hard shove, some harsh words, and a fierce will to get even in the only way that mattered.
“All I wanted to do was score,” Horan said. “Heat of the moment, I got a little pissed at (van de Donk), but Rose put in an absolute dime, and I got on the end of it.”
In 25 previous group matches across nine tournaments the US had lost only once, to Sweden in 2011. While a loss to the Dutch wouldn’t have been fatal, it would have put the champs in an undesirable position, needing a victory and a bit of luck to win their group and avoid a probable second-round matchup with the nemesis Swedes.