Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher played her final game for the U.S. women’s national team on Tuesday in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands, ending the team’s year. Nearly ended her international career with 115 caps and 69 shutouts. Despite keeping a clean sheet against the Netherlands, she made several key saves, including a diving reaction block in the 38th minute and a sprawling stop with her feet in the 69th minute.

It was a weak first half from the United States. Head coach Emma Hayes made an unusual shift in her lineup, moving Rose Lavelle to the left position while positioning Sam Coffey, Korbin Albert and Lindsey Horan in midfield. But they were ineffective in the middle, which, combined with Jenna Nighswonger’s poor play at left-back, left the defense largely exposed.

The Netherlands took full advantage, operating in midfield and pushing deep, while the USA struggled to play under pressure. In the 11th minute, the Netherlands took the lead from a set piece as Albert didn’t mark her player accurately enough in the penalty area, leaving 18-year-old Veerle Buurman in the right place for a header that flew over Naeher’s outstretched glove 1:0.

The Netherlands celebrate the opening goal against the USA (Maurice Van Steen / Getty Images)

Buurman headed another goal for the Netherlands, but the ball ended up in their own goal in the 44th minute, giving the USA the momentum going into the break with the score tied at 1-1.

Hayes made two changes early in the second half, bringing in Lynn Williams for Jaedyn Shaw and Emily Sonnett for Nighswonger, while Emily Fox moved to left defense. She also pulled Lavelle back deeper, despite having already fallen behind in the first half, and also switched sides of the field to find an outlet for the attack.

Hayes performed a nearly complete line rotation in the 67th minute, replacing Horan, Albert and Lavelle with Lily Yohannes, Hal Hershfelt and Alyssa Thompson. This was Yohannes’ first international match for the USA since officially declaring her intention to play for the team. Yohannes was deployed in attacking midfield behind Williams, while Thompson took her usual spot on the left wing and Hershfelt dropped deep into midfield.

Williams gave the U.S. the lead in the 70th minute, deftly finishing off a cross from Yazmeen Ryan on the right. Ryan was a constant source of energy throughout the game, having put in a similarly strong performance in the previous game against England.

The USA celebrates Williams’ starting signal. (Brad Smith/Getty Images)

17-year-old Yohannes looked a little nervous on the ball, which was understandable considering she was playing against the other nation and courting her loyalty to the senior national team. The Dutch fans booed and whistled whenever Yohannes had the ball, presumably in disapproval of her decision to play for the USA

Hayes’ final substitute was Ally Sentnor for Ryan in the 85th minute in a comparative swap.

The American had a chance to score late when Thompson fought past a defender and tried to land a hard shot on goal from a steep angle. Thompson once again seemed comfortable in her position in the minutes she had on the field, as did Ryan.

Conversely, there were some obvious positions missing from this game: Albert appeared separated from the front line in midfield, while Nighswonger was beaten in defense. Horan also couldn’t find the right sense of timing or urgency on the ball. With Hershfelt, Yohannes and Shaw all rotating starting roles, Hayes will undoubtedly continue to experiment throughout 2025.

(Top photo: Pau Barrena / Getty Images)