(Photo credit score: Jamie LeBlanc)
Patri Guijarro and Eva Navarro scored early, and world No. 1 Spain defeated the United States Women’s National Team 2-0 in a pleasant on Saturday afternoon at Washington.
Adriana Nanclares made 9 saves, together with a second-half penalty cease, to carry the U.S. goalless for the second time in 2026 and hand the Americans a 3rd defeat in 11 matches this yr.
It’s the primary of two friendlies in 4 days between the defending 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympic champions.
Spain’s solely blemish got here when substitute Athenea del Castillo was despatched off for a hair-pulling offense early in second-half stoppage time, that means she’ll be suspended for Tuesday’s match in Chester, Pa.
The No. 2-ranked U.S. beforehand misplaced at house to Japan in April and away to Brazil in June, however avenged each defeats with wins in a rematch days later.
Guijarro put Spain forward within the third minute on a superb particular person effort, taking Edna Imade’s drop cross effectively past the realm and thumping a 22-yard strike contained in the far left put up.
U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey could have reacted barely late, however defender Tierna Davidson partly shielded her from monitoring the shot off Guijarro’s foot.
Navarro doubled the lead within the 14th minute to finish a superb Spanish assault. Salma Paralluelo took on Davidson on the left flank, reducing large after which sending in a left-footed cross.
With the protection targeted on Imade within the middle of the field, Navarro reached the service on the again put up and smashed a half-volley into the highest proper nook that left Dickey little probability.
Sophia Wilson was simply the Americans’ most harmful attacker after going behind.
In the twenty seventh minute, Nanclares made a sprawling save to push Wilson’s effort from the sting of the penalty space onto the crossbar, and within the forty third minute Wilson missed narrowly large of the precise put up.
The Portland Thorns striker appeared to chop the deficit within the 53rd minute however was appropriately dominated offside following a replay evaluation. And Wilson earned a penalty kick within the 67th following one other replay session, however Nanclares saved Lily Yohannes’ effort from the spot three minutes later.
–Field Level Media