USWNT back on track after Alyssa Naeher save sparks 2-1 comeback win over Germany

The USWNT had a big problem on their hands before fighting back at Red Bull Arena

The U.S. women’s national team stared some unwanted history in the face, but ended 2022 on a winning note.

A wild four-minute span saw a critical save from Alyssa Naeher followed by goals from Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh help the USWNT defeat Germany 2-1, snapping the team’s longest losing streak since 1993.

After receiving some criticism from veterans Carli Lloyd and Heather O’Reilly, the USWNT brought some energy and physicality early, but truth be told, they were having to scramble at the back. Despite a brief spell of pressure moments before, Germany took an 18th minute lead. Svenja Huth got two opportunities to cross from the right, eventually picking out Sophia Kleinherne at the far post. Kleinherne’s shot was well blocked by Sofia Huerta, but the rebound skipped to Jule Brand, who steered the ball through traffic and past Alyssa Naeher.

The deficit marked the fourth straight game the USWNT had conceded first.

Lena Lattwein did impressive work to carve out an opening later in the half, only to curl her shot a foot wide, while Rose Lavelle’s delicate lob floated wide at the other end after the USWNT finally produced some trouble for the Germans.

Still, Ann-Katrin Berger had little to do, with the USWNT carrying over some of the slower decision-making on the ball that grew into their game during the second half of Thursday’s 2-1 loss.

Huerta’s cross early in the second half somehow evaded Lindsey Horan’s back-post lunge, and a more open game saw Naeher deny Lina Magull on a one-v-one after a German counter bypassed the USWNT.

It proved to be a pivotal save on the night, and it might be a pivotal save for the USWNT and Andonovski. A fourth straight loss would be unprecedented for the USWNT, and would leave his position in doubt before the 2023 World Cup.

Instead, the U.S. surged straight back to the other end of Red Bull Arena, and got their equalizer through Sophia Smith. The NWSL MVP pounced on a loose ball after a USWNT attack seemed to fizzle out, sliding between several German defenders. Just as possession seemed to evade her, Smith beat everyone to the loose ball, powering a shot past halftime substitute Almuth Schult.

The USWNT had renewed energy after the break, and within two minutes of their equalizer, it was 2-1. Andi Sullivan had time at midfield to pick up her head, and laced a 40-yard pass over the German back line for Mallory Pugh, who seized on some hesitancy to finish past Schult.

It was far more incisive from Andonovski’s side, but Germany was still in it. Huerta may have saved a goal in the 59th minute after Huth’s shot looped towards the back post with Naeher unsighted.

The chances piled up, as a deflection kept the USWNT ahead by inches at one end, before Pugh spurned a clearer chance than her goal moments later. Schult made the stop, but Pugh slid a pass to a wide-open Rose Lavelle, only for the OL Reign star to side-foot wide.

The USWNT came close to a third, with Schult slamming into Taylor Kornieck as both pursued a long ball, leaving the goal empty. Hailie Mace took advantage over the no-call, but lobbed her shot into the stands.

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