Alyssa Thompson scored the only goal as the United States beat Colombia 1-0 on Saturday to win the SheBelieves Cup women’s invitational tournament.
Chelsea striker Thompson fired a stunning shot into the top corner in the 82nd minute to end the USWNT’s match at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
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Thompson’s long-range shot broke a stubborn defense from Colombia, which had long frustrated the hosts by defending deep to stop the United States.
Thompson’s opportunistic goal left head coach Emma Hayes purring with satisfaction as she prepares for next year’s World Cup.
“Everyone in world football is so compact and well-coached now and sometimes when you can’t break down the barriers you need something from deeper areas,” Hayes said.
“She played really well and I thought we deserved it in the second half.”
The win ensured Hayes’ side ended the four-team round-robin with a maximum of nine points from three games after previous wins over Argentina and Canada.
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Saturday’s victory sets up a successful campaign for Hayes and her players as they prepare for the World Cup.
Hayes, one of the most successful managers in British football history, took over as head coach of the United States in 2024 after the team’s early exit from the 2023 World Cup.
She led Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and is now firmly committed to helping the U.S. women’s team regain the world crown in next year’s finals in Brazil.
Hayes said Team USA’s performance in the SheBelieves Cup bodes well for the team.
“I think we’ve shown how to win when we’re not at our best, I think we’ve shown versatility, I think we’ve shown depth, I think we’ve shown maturity,” Hayes said.
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“As a coach, I’m happy about these things… Even if we’re not at our best, we still have the belief and the trust that we can keep improving and we’ll find a way.
“I’ve coached enough teams to know that’s gold, a team that comes together but also enjoys and is committed to the process of improvement.”
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