USA 4-0 Republic of Ireland
The heat, altitude and relentless energy of an excellent USA side proved too much for the Republic of Ireland in Denver, as they slumped to a 4-0 friendly defeat in the early hours of Friday morning.
Emma Hayes rested most of her European-based stars, with the exception of Chelsea defender Naomi Girma. Instead she gave some of the NWSL’s brightest talents the opportinity to shine – and they gleefully took it.
Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson headed home the opener after 18 minutes, with Sam Coffey doubling the Americans’ lead right on the stroke of half-time. Rose Lavelle put the result beyond doubt early in the second half before Alyssa Thompson placed the cherry on top with a super individual effort.
It was a chastening night at the office for Ireland. They must dust themselves down now and head for Cincinnati, where they face the world No 1-ranked side again on Sunday.
Shorn of Denise O’Sullivan and Megan Campbell in the build-up, head coach Carla Ward knew this was going to be a massive challenge. Ireland had travelled without Katie McCabe, Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan; they could not afford to lose more quality.
It was tough going from the off. Courtney Brosnan – named captain on the occasion of her 50th cap – denied Thompson with a brilliant point-blank stop, and clawed a low Claire Hutton effort around the post moments later.
Thompson was a menace down the left, attacking with huge purpose and pace. A goal felt inevitable but when it came on 18 minutes, it was avoidable. Ireland switched off from a corner that was played short to Lavelle. She swung in a fine cross that Patterson powered home with a downward header.
Ireland struggled to enjoy anything resembling decent possession as the USA swarmed all over them. Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes and Jessie Stapleton all produced moments of courageous defending, while Chloe Mustaki scrapped throughout on her first start since April 2022.
But collectively the visitors couldn’t stem the tide.
Having survived a few close calls, the second goal eventually arrived in first-half stoppage time when Coffey glided beyond a couple of defenders and forced home a smart left-footed strike.
Two down at the break, there was realistically no way back for Ireland.
They’d have hoped to restrict their vaunted opponents more effectively on the turnaround and perhaps pinch a goal back, but neither happened. If anything, it was the hosts who went up a level.
Lavelle finished off a sweeping move from close range seven minutes into the second half to make it three, and Thompson made it four with 63 minutes on the clock when she ghosted beyond Stapleton, surged towards the area and curled home a peach of a goal via the inside of the post.
Hayes emptied her bench, each sub hungry to make their mark.
San Diego-born attacker Erin Healy did come on to make her Ireland debut in the closing stages, but she barely touched the ball.
Emily Sonnett and Olivia Moultrie – who hit the bar with a rasper – both went close as the USA hunted more goals.
In the end they had to settle for 4-0, though they will no doubt relish the chance to inflict more pain on the Irish in the rematch this weekend.
USA: Claudia Dickey; Avery Patterson (Gisele Thompson 59), Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma (Capt, Jordyn Bugg 73), Lilly Reale; Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton, Rose Lavelle (Olivia Moultrie 59); Michelle Cooper (Lynn Biyendolo 73), Ally Sentnor (Yazmeen Ryan 86), Alyssa Thompson (Emma Sears 86)
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan (Capt); Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki (Izzy Atkinson 90); Meghan Connolly, Ruesha Littlejohn (Tyler Toland 46); Emily Murphy (Saoirse Noonan 65), Kyra Carusa (Marissa Sheva 64), Lucy Quinn (Abbie Larkin 46); Amber Barrett (Erin Healy 75)
