USWNT vs Canada: Coffey, Hutton & Lavelle Shine
USWNT vs Canada opened a steamy night in Washington, D.C. with a statement that the summer sweep was no fluke, as Emma Hayes’ young-but-confident squad dispatched their northern rivals 3-0 in front of 19,215 roaring fans at Audi Field.
USWNT vs Canada – Set-Piece Clinic Turns the Tide
The first ten minutes set the tone. Coffey anchored midfield balance while Rose Lavelle floated between the lines, forever looking to punish the slightest Canadian hesitation. On five minutes Lynn Biyendolo raced clear in a 2-v-1 but lofted her chip over Kailen Sheridan and the bar. The miss never rattled the hosts.
Minutes later Lavelle’s wickedly shaped free-kick forced a chaotic clearance that dropped at Claire Hutton’s feet. The 19-year-old squared to Sam Coffey, whose crisp one-timer ripped the net for her third goal in five U.S. appearances. Canada’s back line—shuffled by injuries—never recovered.
Midfield Mastery: Coffey, Lavelle and Hutton Dictate Play
Hayes has spoken of a “Goldprint” for 2027, and against Canada it glittered most brightly in midfield. Coffey screened her centre-backs, broke lines with first-time passes and still found energy to join attacks. Lavelle, liberated by Coffey’s discipline, constantly drifted into half-spaces to combine with Alyssa Thompson and Trinity Rodman.
Hutton, the newest face, blended youthful fearlessness with tactical maturity. Her reward came on 35 minutes when Lavelle’s corner located her lurking just beyond the penalty spot. She rose unchallenged, snapped a header across goal and celebrated a first international strike that doubled the U.S. advantage.
Second-Half Control and a Local Hero
The interval changed nothing: USWNT vs Canada remained one-way traffic. Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson pinched high, recycling possession before the visitors could breathe. Shots from Thompson and Rodman whistled wide, but the hosts kept probing until birthday girl Tara McKeown—cheered wildly by her Washington Spirit faithful—streaked down the right in minute 75. Her low cut-back found Yazmeen Ryan, who swept home the third to cap a flawless team performance.
Emma Hayes’ Record Grows
This triumph lifts Hayes to 22-2-2 through 26 matches, a pace that underscores the rapid assimilation of her philosophy. She now heads to the UEFA Women’s EUROs scouting window, determined to schedule tougher European tests ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Player Ratings Snapshot
Sam Coffey – 9: Metronome and match-winner.
Rose Lavelle – 8.5: Two assists from dead balls and endless creativity.
Claire Hutton – 8: Goal and assist in just her fourth cap.
Naomi Girma – 7.5: Read every Canadian outlet pass.
Lynn Biyendolo – 7: Movement superb despite the missed chip.
Yazmeen Ryan – 7: Instant impact off the bench with her first senior goal.
Kailen Sheridan – 6: Little she could do behind a porous defense.
What the Result Means
1. Set-piece superiority: All three goals stemmed from rehearsed restarts, an area Hayes has prioritized.
2. Depth on display: Four different scorers across the two Canada friendlies underline the growing competition for places.
3. Midfield identity: Coffey as single pivot with Lavelle ahead may now be the default against high-pressing opponents.
Opinion: Why This Matters for the Goldprint
The USWNT vs Canada performance felt like more than a friendly. Coffey’s maturation offers the reliable No. 6 the team has lacked since Julie Ertz retired; Lavelle’s revival restores unpredictability; and Hutton’s emergence proves the pipeline is flowing. Hayes talks about a “Goldprint”—a reproducible blueprint for sustained dominance. Nights like this show her design is well under way. If tougher European tests are next, the U.S. will arrive armed with clarity and confidence.
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