Biyendolo, Rodriguez, Yazmeen Ryan and Alyssa Thompson all scored as USWNT stayed unbeaten in 17 all-time matches vs Ireland
The U.S. women's national team that rolled past Ireland 4-0 only three days prior lined up entirely different in Sunday's second meeting between the two teams. It didn't matter at all.
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes' side matched the effort on Sunday in Cincinnati, once again taking a 2-0 first-half lead and cruising to a comfortable 4-0 win – the 600th all-time victory for the program. The USWNT have now outscored Ireland 59-1 in 17 all-time matches, all wins for the Americans.
Hayes rolled out a completely revamped starting XI that once again handed two players their first caps – Kansas City Current's Izzy Rodriguez and Seattle Reign FC's Sam Meza.
Forward Lynn Biyendolo captained the squad, and earned her 82nd cap in just her second start this year. Biyendolo, at 32, was not only the oldest player on the field for the USWNT, but has almost twice as many caps as the rest of the team on the pitch.
Captaining the USWNT for the first-time was a massive nod to the striker who's scored 25 international goals throughout her career. In just the 12th minute of the game, Biyendolo put on her cape and finished a one-time volley on a precision chipped service from Racing Louisville's Emma Sears, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Rodriguez added to the total, scoring her first USMNT goal on debut in the 42nd minute.
"Crazy, incredible," Biyendolo said. "It's such an honor to even play for the national team, be a part of camps. But to be able to be a captain? I'm going to remember this day forever. I'm probably gonna go back to my room and be like, ‘What the heck?’ And debrief on my own. But it's truly incredible."
The second half marked a newfound tempo for the USWNT, with Yazmeen Ryan finding a second wind and creating endless opportunities on the wing. Ryan buried home a one-time finish for her first USWNT goal to make it 3-0 in the 66th minute.
As cheers erupted in the stadium, with fans yelling "We want Rose" it became clear Hayes would find a way to get Rose Lavelle, a Cincinnati native, into the match.
In the 86th minute – right after the USWNT scored their fourth goal, thanks to young sensation Alyssa Thompson – Lavelle came into the game to thunderous applause. Lavelle had scored and assisted in Thursday's 4-0 win, her first USWNT match in more than six months.
"Emma had said she’d put me in for a little cameo at the end, so that was always the plan and I really appreciated that," Lavelle said. "It’s always special coming home. It was special for me to have that moment."
From Sears' endless runs (for all 90 minutes) to a pair of debuts – not to mention Biyendolo scoring and captaining the young squad – the USWNT simply showed out once again.
GOAL rates the USWNT's players from TQL Stadium.
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Mandy McGlynn (6/10): McGlynn made her fourth appearance for the USWNT, and didn't have a lot to show for it. While she stayed disciplined in her position and kept her defensive line organized, she didn't have many opportunities to make saves – or make a case for why she should be the No. 1 keeper. Ireland had three total shots to the USWNT's 25, and none on frame.
Emily Sams (6/10): The defensive line wasn't challenged too much, but even so, Sams did a good job keeping the ball and building out of the back on the rare occasions. There were some moments when she was a little late stepping to the ball, which created some potentially dangerous moments.
Jordyn Bugg (7/10): She is just 18, yet played like she's been next to Naomi Girma her entire career. Bugg wasn't challenged much, but positionally stayed locked in and was able to win some balls in key moments to maintain the clean sheet.
Tara McKeown (6/10): She held down the backline, and even managed to get up the flank on occasion, creating some important moments for the attack. Like Sams, she is still finding her rhythm for the USWNT, but each game appears more confident on the ball.
Izzy Rodriguez (7/10): Rodriguez not only earned her first cap for the USWNT, but also scored. Rodriguez wasn't just effective in front of the goal and with her execution, but was also relentlessly involved on both sides of the ball.
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Croix Bethune (5/10): Bethune grew into the game, but took a little too much time on the ball on occasion. Bethune has been out of the USWNT for awhile, and it showed up in moments. She had some lights out plays and it was clear she was evolving and getting more confident as the match went on.
Sam Meza (6/10): Meza's debut was solid, however she struggled to keep the tempo moving in the midfield. She was good on the ball and kept her passes tight, but the next step would be evolving her vision to see the opponent playing a high line and finding that over-the-top service to the corners.
Olivia Moultrie (7/10): She was as good on the ball as anyone could hope to be, taking control of the midfield and finding line-breaking passes. Moultrie can be overlooked because of all of the experience and talent in the midfield, however on she took control and was involved in each of the three goals.
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Lynn Biyendolo (8/10): Biyendolo not only captained the USWNT for the first time in her career, but also showed off her experience by putting away an important goal in just 12th minute. She kept the attacking line organized and helped create a stretch 9 role.
Emma Sears (8/10): Sears may not have scored for the USWNT, but her service and end-line work kept the her team in this game, over and over again. Sears was absolutely rapid on the sideline and managed to not only execute perfect balls into the box, but her work rate to keep the ball in play and adjust her type of service on the fly was fun to witness.
Yazmeen Ryan (7/10): Ryan had some quiet moments throughout the match, and found herself taking too many touches in front of the net. In the second half, however, she worked herself into the game and managed to score her first goal for the USWNT. Moments later, she almost created another highlight-worthy moment for her side, taking a strong touch towards the middle and using her speed to draw in the Ireland defense, all before playing in Sears in-behind.
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Ally Sentnor (7/10): Sentnor is just better when she starts, but that doesn't mean her impact wasn't felt in this match. Even when Sentnor isn't scoring, she finds herself in dangerous positions that always brew for a goal.
Sam Coffey (6/10): Once Biyendolo was subbed, it was as if Hayes needed another "veteran" to keep the kids in line. Coffey did her thing – although nothing can quite compare to the goal she scored on Thursday.
Alyssa Thompson (8/10): There isn't much more demoralizing for a team such as Ireland than seeing Thompson enter in the 80th minute with fresh legs. Thompson didn't waste much time and put her mark on the game, scoring the USWNT's final goal.
Claire Hutton (7/10): Hutton was all to credit for Thompson's finish, and that's just the type of player she is. Hutton comes into the match when she's called and plays with theutmost grit and composure.
Rose Lavelle (7/10): Hayes simply could not have the USWNT play in Cincinnati and not get Lavelle into the game. While she didn't have a lot of time to do a whole lot, she still brought the energy and kept up the tempo and rhythm of the midfield.
Emma Hayes (9/10): Give it to Hayes, she managed to not only play a completely new lineup against Ireland, but also seal the game 4-0, again. She has a challenging task ahead to put together a master roster for the 2027 World Cup with all of this talent – a nice problem to have.