Soccer Monday: USA wins, Becky sent off in style, Giraldez bolts and Lavelle returns
The IX: Soccer Monday with Annie Peterson, June 9, 2025
It’s hard to believe that it was less than a week ago that the United States beat Jamaica 4-0, with Ally Sentnor and Lynn Biyendolo each scoring a pair of goals.
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Truth be told, it wasn’t much of a challenge for the United States, but we did learn a few things. First, it appears that Phallon Tullis-Joyce has moved in front for the goalkeeper’s role going forward. I asked Emma Hayes after the game about it, and here’s what she said:
“I have to prepare a group of players to be ready to compete in the World Cup. So if I only develop one [goalkeeper], then I’m going to have a group behind that are even more underdeveloped. So development will happen no matter what. But I think it’s fair to say Phallon’s experience at this moment in time with the current group that I’ve got is ahead,” Hayes said.
However, Hayes stopped short of saying she’s the definitive No. 1. Lots of things can change as the USWNT preps for the Women’s World Cup.
“I think it would be foolish of me to do that in case, like I said, someone falls out of form, or they get injured or those things, but Phallon is doing a tremendous job with everything that I’m asking,” Hayes said.
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The other thing we learned is that everyone, and I mean everyone, loves Becky Sauerbrunn. OK, we already knew. But still.
Sauerbrunn, who abruptly retired last year, was honored before the game. A St. Louis native, whose international career spanned 16 years, the stalwart defender was a two-time Women’s World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medalist. Fans, who received a bobblehead in her image, gave her a standing ovation and chanted her name in a pregame ceremony.
Sauerbrunn, who also recently announced that she is expecting her first child with partner Zola Short, also served in her new role as a television commentator for the match. And because her birthday was on June 6, players delivered a cake to the set afterward.
Next up for the USWNT is a pair of matches against Ireland, the first on June 26 in Commerce City, Colo., and the second on June 29 in Cincinnati. The U.S. will also play Canada on July 6 in Washington D.C.
Leaving for Lyon
The timing was odd when Washington Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez was named coach of French powerhouse OL Lyonnes earlier this week.
The eight-time European champions made the announcement after coach Joe Montemurro left to lead the Australian women’s national soccer team. Giráldez signed a three-year deal, the club said.
Both the Spirit and Lyonnes, which recently rebranded, are owned by Michele Kang.
Even Giráldez thought he’d be with the Spirit longer.
I’ve said many times, we can’t plan five years ahead in this sport. Football is unpredictable. I’ve lived it. You think you’ll be in one place, and then everything changes.”
Assistant Adrián González, was interim coach of the Spirit before Giráldez arrived, will take over in July. Giráldez still has two games with the team.
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Rose Returns
Rose Lavelle made her first appearance of the season for Gotham FC after recovering from an ankle injury that required surgery.
Lavelle came on in the 74th minute, but it wasn’t enough to save Gotham from a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current this weekend. It was Gotham’s third straight loss.
“It was a long recovery, long rehab process, and it’s definitely still a journey,” Lavelle said. “I feel like it might be a little bit till I’m feeling 100%, but really happy to be back out with the team. Obviously, the game didn’t go the way we would have liked, but I feel like it was a good, positive step for me.”
Lavelle has not played for the U.S. national team since a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in December.
Links!
Could Mia Fischel be headed to the NWSL?
Finland accidentally calls up 51-year-old former player for a match
Olympics.com has a good interview with Temwa Chawinga
The Athletic analyzes England’s Euros squad
The Guardian on how the USWNT is moving ahead without Triple Espresso
Peyton Manny joins Denver’s ownership group
All for XI asks why there aren’t more women coaching in the NWSL
Boston Legacy reveals their crest. This is more like it.
Forbes on the cities that believe in their NWSL teams the most
Jeff Kassouf’s NWSL MVP Tracker for ESPN
Here’s what Lynn Biyendolo said to the media following the USWNT victory over Jamaica:
Question: You started this game off the bench and got a pair of goals. How do you feel?
Biyendolo: Good. I feel great, I think that being somebody to come off the bench, there’s so many different roles you’re playing in that, depending on what the game is giving you: Do you need to close out a game? Do we need to push for a goal? One thing we have been talking about is being more ruthless in front of the net. And obviously, we were in control of the game in that moment, but putting our stamp on it and being like, `No, we are coming and we’re just going to put a huge performance on and show with our scoreline that we are the United States of America.’ I think it’s super important. So when I was coming on, that was my goal and that was my mentality, just how do I stay active? How do I get a goal for the team if that’s what they need me to do, and I was lucky enough that Claire got her noggin on the ball and then it fell right in front of me.
Question: And the second goal?
Biyendolo: I think Lindsey plays it to Avery. Is that correct? Lindsey played it to Avery down the line, and Avery had a beautiful touch to play the ball behind their back line, but in front of their keeper. Again, like I said, we’ve been talking about being ruthless in front of goal. So my run was `Run as fast as you can, as hard as you can. And believe that you’re going to score and believe that she’s going to put the ball on a platter.’ And she did. With that being said, I did miss a golden opportunity like five minutes before, so I knew I had to score a make-up goal as well. So that was all obviously playing in my head.
Question: How does the mentality change between being a starter and coming off the bench?
Biyendolo: When you’re starting, not that it’s not the same when you’re coming off the bench, but there’s tactics or there’s things that we’re trying to do in the game. You need to start quick. You need to know your set pieces. You need to know all the tactical things that we’re trying to to execute. And when you’re coming off the bench, you’re able to see how things are playing out. Do we need to change the tactical things that we have been talking about or do we need to continue doing them? Do you need to close out a game? Are we up a goal, are we down a goal? And all of those things happen on the fly. So every game is different. And so you kind of have to be in the game the whole game to see where is the space, what is the back line doing, and just analyzing it every second of the game. I think that’s the difference: When you’re starting, you don’t really know exactly, you think you know, but you don’t know, versus when you’re coming on, you’re like, OK, I’ve been watching it for 45 minutes now and now it’s my turn to just go out there and exploit those spaces.
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| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
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