The United States Women’s National Team secured a 2-1 comeback victory over China in their final match of the year, with Jaedyn Shaw scoring the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute. This win came after a 3-0 victory in the first exhibition match against China. Shaw, playing in front of her hometown crowd in Frisco, Texas, celebrated her second international goal with over 50 family members and friends in attendance.
The game saw Shen Mengyu score in first-half stoppage time to give China the lead, breaking a seven-game shutout streak for the Americans. However, Sam Coffey leveled the score with her first international goal in the 62nd minute, and Shaw’s late goal sealed the win for the United States.
Notably, this match marked the end of a difficult year for the United States Women’s National Team, following their elimination from the Women’s World Cup in the round of 16. The team played under interim coach Twila Kilgore, while newly named head coach Emma Hayes finishes out the Women’s Super League season with Chelsea.
The victory also honored retired defender Ali Krieger for her 108 appearances with the national team. Krieger, who played on the World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2019, retired from professional soccer last month after helping Gotham FC to the National Women’s Soccer League championship.
The match against China, ranked 15th in the world and runners-up in the 1999 World Cup, highlighted the United States’ ongoing dedication to fostering young talent, with several new and young players getting the opportunity to showcase their skills.
The United States rolled out a very different lineup for the game, making seven changes and giving time-off to veterans like Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alyssa Naeher, and Crystal Dunn. Interim coach Kilgore focused on youth for the year’s final training camp and matches, allowing the team to shape its future talent.
Overall, the victory was a positive end to the year for the United States Women’s National Team, with promising young talents making their mark and the team showcasing resilience and determination on the field.
