The USWNT opened its October series with a loss that set off serious warning signs. Emma Hayes’ team fell 2–1 to Portugal at Subaru Park in a match that began with promise and ended on a bitter note. Rose Lavelle’s goal just 33 seconds in, the seventh fastest in team history, was the highlight of a performance that gradually exposed technical and strategic limitations fans have been pointing out for a while.
An exciting start that lost steam fast
The team came out with energy. Thompson pushed down the wing, Macario crossed, and Lavelle finished into the bottom left corner. It was a clean, quick play that looked like the start of an easy night. Nine minutes later, Lavelle almost doubled the lead, but Portuguese goalkeeper Inês Pereira made a solid save and the ball smashed off the post. The intensity didn’t last long. Portugal started keeping the ball more, and the U.S. lost control in midfield. Phallon Tullis-Joyce came up big in the 25th minute when Catarina Amado got through, but Portugal answered on the following corner. Diana Gomes rose between defenders and equalized in the 41st minute.
The American defense struggled to adjust. It was the first time Patterson, McKeown, Sonnett, and Fox had played together for the national team, and it showed on set pieces and broken marking. The match went into halftime tied, with the USWNT still trying to find its rhythm.
A predictable midfield and trouble creating
The trio of Sam Coffey, Lavelle, and Lindsey Horan once again showed the same problem that’s been repeating since the last World Cup: little variation in their play and heavy reliance on Lavelle to speed things up or make decisive passes. There wasn’t anyone else taking over the playmaking role to ease the pressure on No. 16. The team had more possession and more shots than Portugal but struggled to build clean sequences and make good decisions in the final third.
The second half started with another push to regain control. Patterson looked sharp down the left, Heaps tried a first-time shot that went high, Thompson got in behind, and Macario almost found a clear chance, but Portugal defended well. At the 69-minute mark, Hayes sent in young players Emma Sears, Claire Hutton, Yazmeen Ryan, and Lily Yohannes. The idea was to bring fresh legs, but once again, a set piece decided the game. In the 72nd minute, a corner was flicked on and Fátima Pinto finished to complete the turnaround.
Promising youth but no clear leadership yet
The loss also highlighted something that isn’t just about tactics: leadership. Without more experienced forwards like Trinity Rodman or Sophia Smith, the team lacked someone to steady the group emotionally when things got tense. Macario, Thompson, and Cooper have talent, but they’re still gaining international experience. That weighs heavily when the game tightens.
Fans reacted quickly. Many pointed out that the midfield doesn’t offer enough creative options and that the team misses someone who can break lines with vertical passes, like Ashley Sanchez. Others highlighted the age of key players like Horan and Sonnett and questioned whether they’ll be able to keep up the pace in the coming competitions.
The 2–1 scoreline was historic for Portugal, their first win and first goals against the U.S. in 12 meetings. For the Americans, it was their third loss of the year, not alarming on its own but a clear sign of a transition period full of tough decisions ahead.