CHESTER, Pa. – The U.S. women's national team needed to start solidly against Spain on Tuesday, four days after the visitors took a two-goal lead in 14 minutes and never looked back. The steady start came but by the 32nd minute, the USWNT were in the same exact pickle. Two defensive lapses cost them against the reigning world champions and the USWNT were in need of a problem-solver with roughly an hour still left on the clock.
On a team that boasts several likely suspects, one finally emerged – Ashley Sanchez. Ashley Sanchez scores in her first USWNT start in 714 days 💪 pic.twitter.com/gfHqyCJqIk Sophia Wilson darted towards goal but with a defender inching closer, she sent the ball to her left. It slowly drifted towards Sanchez, who had the space to do whatever she wanted.
She cut inside and entered the penalty area, unbothered by the two defenders in front of her who had otherwise proven to be up for the task of handling the U.S. team's historically capable offense. They left a crevice of space that only the most talented of players could exploit, Sanchez rising to the challenge effortlessly. The ball took a bounce near the goal line but she took the hit for a reason – no one was in a position to stop it and so it landed in the back of the net, just as she had intended.
The moment of brilliance is hardly a surprise from the NWSL's golden boot leader, the 27-year-old in the form of her life and as well-equipped as any to rattle an otherwise sturdy Spain back line. Sanchez had earned her spot in the starting lineup on Tuesday, the USWNT's most dynamic attacker a natural inclusion on a day they hoped to show the attacking end product that was missing in Saturday's loss. The overall results were mixed – the U.S. team still came out with a 2-2 draw, Spain the aggressors this time on a day where their attacking might was genuinely hard to miss.
In Sanchez, though, the USWNT had a bright spot. Until Sanchez's goal, the USWNT had gone goalless in 139 minutes of play against Spain and not for a lack of effort. Finishing was an issue – they generated 2.26 expected goals without actually scoring, the issue exemplified in Lily Yohannes' missed penalty midway through the second half.
Matters felt worse at halftime of Tuesday's defeat, the U.S. team only generating 0.23 expected goals from six shots. They were in desperate need of someone who would finally make a difference and Sanchez stepped up, both at a timely juncture for the team and for herself. Sanchez had been out of the national team picture for two years until this month's friendlies, though her return had become undeniable by the time Hayes named the roster two weeks earlier.
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