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The United States Women\u2019s National Team<\/a> overcame a stiff test posed by Colombia to lift its eighth SheBelieves Cup. Alyssa Thompson<\/a>\u2019s 82nd minute dart into the upper left corner served as both the match and tournament winner.<\/p>\n As the narrow 1-0 score line suggests, Colombia\u2019s physical and disruptive play proved vexing for Emma Hayes\u2019 side. Real Madrid\u2019s Linda Caicedo<\/a> and the Washington Spirit\u2019s Leicy Santos<\/a> were first half standouts. Caicedo\u2019s vigor combined with Santos\u2019 tactical intelligence cut through the United States\u2019 midfield with relative ease.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the 31st minute, Santos nutmegged Lily Yohannes<\/a> and served in a clever backheel to forward Maitane Lopez. Emily Sonnett<\/a> wisely interrupted the movement, but it served as a warning shot to the U.S. back line.\u00a0<\/p>\n Colombia outshot the United States in the first half eight to three. Attackers Trinity Rodman<\/a>, Ally Sentnor<\/a> and Rose Lavelle<\/a> could simply not find pockets of space to effectively combine. Rodman played in a deeper role, allowing Emily Fox<\/a> to maraud forward with overlapping runs. However, the United States failed to pass with a great deal of urgency or connection.\u00a0Hayes would later characterize the first hour of play as \u201csluggish\u201d and \u201caverage\u201d. <\/p>\n At halftime on the television broadcast, Hayes admitted, \u201cEverything we are doing is a step off,\u201d before warning, \u201cBut now we kill.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Those words would prove prophetic. The 58th minute introductions of Emma Sears<\/a>, Lindsey Heaps<\/a>, Jaedyn Shaw<\/a> and Olivia Moultrie<\/a> delivered in \u201cbringing the energy,\u201d as Hayes had requested.\u00a0<\/p>\n The four substitutes reclaimed control of the match and upped the tempo for the remaining starters \u2013 particularly Thompson and Sam Coffey<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we won the game from the bench,\u201d Hayes said in her post-match comments. <\/p>\n Sears presented a menacing threat on the right flank. Her strength, speed and excellent hold-up play provided an ongoing danger to Colombia\u2019s tiring defense. In the 76th minute, her strong combination play with Shaw resulted in a sharp cross, but was not converted.<\/p>\n The breakthrough finally came in the match\u2019s closing minutes. All four substitutes touched the ball in the attacking sequence that led to Thompson\u2019s fine finish. Sears helped win the ball in transition and found Heaps. The veteran midfielder located Shaw in the box, who laid a cool ball off to Thompson. The Chelsea forward emphatically thumped the shot to make it 1-0.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though it is a friendly tournament, Hayes and her team celebrated with relief and euphoria.<\/p>\n For Hayes, the tournament win is a real accomplishment and stands as her first SheBelieves Cup victory. The United States finished as runners-up to Japan in the 2025 edition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Over a year\u2019s worth of experimentation, heavy rotation, and a record number of international debuts crescendoes in this victory. It is the first time since the 2024 Summer Olympics Gold Medal match (which was just her 10th match at the helm of the USWNT) that Hayes made just two changes from her previous line-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the first half offensive impotence, the United States\u2019 defense helped up valiantly throughout. Sonnett proved to be highly influential, both snuffing out Colombia chances and leading the charge in the build-out from the back. She has appeared in all 11 editions of the tournament, and is the only player with the distinction.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n
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