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Brazil celebrated its first victory over the USA in more than a decade — and just fourth victory in 43 meetings — with a 2-1 win before a sell-out crowd of 18,000 fans at San Jose’s PayPal Park.
The USWNT might regret how the match turned out — from a perfect start with Catarina Macario‘s goal after just 34 seconds to the nightmare ending with Amanda Gutierres‘ winner five minutes into stoppage time — but Coach Emma Hayes was thankful for the experience.
“I wanted to put players in the frying pan and let them feel the heat,” she said. “That was the youngest capped U.S. women’s national team in 24 years. So what a great experience for them to feel the pressure of playing a really, really difficult opponent.”
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Hayes started seven players 22 years old or younger and a midfield with players aged 21, 19 and 17.
“I’m playing the long game,” she added. “I’m not making decisions for the short term. I’m prioritizing the progress of expanding the player pool. And what a game Claire Hutton and Avery Patterson … superb. I thought Gisele Thompson battled. I thought Michelle Cooper showed glimpses. I thought Alyssa Thompson, for sure, has taken another step.”
Hayes, for one, was pleased.
“I learned what I didn’t know,” she added, “and I was really happy with it.”
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