USWNT v Italy to Close out 2025
From the same stadium we hope to be in on the weekend for the MLS Cup Final we see this game. Italy changes 8 players from the last starting lineup.
US plays it out under no pressure, Italy has a throw at 25 yards and now they give a throw to he US, who lose it and back to the Italy GK. Hutton at the top of the arc, loses it but does then defend it out for a deep Italy throw in their backfield. This game marks the 50th cap for Girma. US pressing in the backfield and they win a throw at midfield. Yohannes nutmegged, Heaps to the GK, springs Cat and the pass drifts wide, trying to go far post from a difficult angle it is wide. The outlet was going outside, the coverage inside, she could not go further inside. Shaw defends a ball out. Shaw tracks the ball back and tackles it away to her back line. Cat lays it back to Hutton and now across the field up the wing and Thompson at the edge of the area forced to go back, it is now deep in the US offensive half, now to their backfield. At the bottom of the circle, US throw as an Italian is down holding her lower leg or foot, it is now whistled down then of course, the player is up. Her foot was kicked through on a tackle, no foul, why a whistle it was not a head injury or appearing to be very bad? US GK from the top is off the mark forces her defender to the air to keep it in. Now to Shaw, outside to Thompson into Heaps she is knocked down in the area, Heaps then trips a player, drawing the whistle. Outside and into the area go Italy, a weak shot from the top of the area drifts wide. A backward header it taken by Italy in their offensive third from the US, played to Heaps now Girma further back and returns to her. Across the mouth of the goal and out from a lost ball out in traffic, 12 yards out but across the 6, goal kick US. Fox feeds Yohannes, tries for Cat, handball on Italy. DFK for Shaw from right of the goal at 25 yards, partially cleared Fox runs it down. They slow it down on the left, over the top for Shaw, the Lazio GK grabs it up. US double team ball keeps going for Italy now on the wing Girma deflects a ball and a foul on Italy knocking Hutton down with a blow to the back. Fox up the wing and looks in to Yohannes, outside now Yohannes just outside, into the area at 5 yards and she is called for a foul as an Italian player is down holding her shin. Yohannes tracks down a loose ball, feeds Cat and a bit of a lofted ball has Emma on her feet and celebrating the 1-0 lead to 20’. A great lead ball and with it hit just right, not much room for error she sends it home into the side netting, her 3rd goal facing Italy in a pair of games. Cat on the ball defended by her player at the side of the area way too high of a ball in and cleared far up by Italy, their player cannot control it and it goes to Heaps. Thomson lays it back to Heaps, back again and now to the midfield line, two passes into the area and Macario, she shoots on the turn blocked out and here come Italy. Weisner has her shirt pulled, then gets pushed near the field boards and she has a throw in. Hutton is claiming her throw, off a deflection, ref says otherwise. Italy at the top of the area now outside to the endline and too far, GK coming out. Fox on the edge of the area to Macario it is lost Hutton tackles to Fox, US holding Yohannes back heels, Heaps, hesitates from the top of the area, has pressure and its wide, the touch and stutter step may have cost her a goal there. Heaps to Shaw outside to Fox, Shaw for Macario, Hudson first time shot off the bar, what a great piece of teamwork leading to that, so many players getting a touch in. Hutton not really leaning over and her shooting foot went across her body. Hutton everywhere trying to knock a ball loose, whistle on Italy from 40 yards US DFK far right, Shaw over the ball. Into the 6, Heaps up with the GK, Durante who remains down, hand on her head, no foul but the GK does get more protections she stays down and trainers are out. US press a throw for Italy and win a throw then go to their backfield, now to the GK. Many passes finally working for the US but the GK gets the ball intended for Shaw in the area. US win a corner at 35’, it has been all US at this point. Taking the kick is Shaw it goes to the near side of the 6, out a bit and Thompson wins the footrace to lay it back to the GK well upfield. Yohannes up the wing, lays it back US foul on Heaps. Italy plays to the feet of Heaps she goes back now all the way around the field deeper back for the US, now to the other side, pushed in and lost near midfield, Italy goes to the GK just out of her area. Fox to Shaw not outside and a bit back from Macario, into the area and lost to the GK. Thompson now to Shaw into the area and shot from about 18 yards and left of the goal, she scores to the opposite post, both goals going far post. This began at the US area with Thompson the architect of the run and goal. Her first international goal in over a year, Shaw to Macario and it is out for a corner. Wiesner taking the corner, far post and the GK is jarred as she gets her fingers to it and is holding her torso. Yohannes for Shaw and the GK has it. US presses at midfield, forcing Italy back, around the horn to midfield again, now to the top of the area to the center of it and a weak shot covered up by the GK. Dickey to ground to get a ball being shielded by her defender under some pressure.
Heaps is the captain for the 26th time and has 170 caps. Sears a 2nd half sub seeks out a player in the are and it is lost. Yohannes beaten by the GK to a ball. Heaps with a give and go from Macarion goes high. Italy with a 1v 3, one of the 3 of the US goes down and Italy somehow gets off a great shot just over the bar. Now 5’ in and the in stadium announcer is calling out the subs from the half. Cat defends a ball out, Italy throw very near the corner flag, Maybe 5 yards upfield, the return ball taken by the US and they win a throw from even closer. Heaps lays it off to an overlap, now back as she had it at the top of the area and now Patterson for Macraio to Heals now Sears, Yohannes with a flick almost an own goal, Sears across the area too forward for Hutton. US throw with an Inter Miami FC shirt right behind her. Heps still being called Horan. Weisner falls back in the area on the ball, no call. US moving it around a bit below the circle now the backfield, outside and taken away but runs out for a US throw near the bottom of the circle. Shaw goes out to Patterson on the wing, now to the circle and across the side of the area is Sears, it gets to Patterson, Heaps off the bar on a tremendous opportunity. Now the other way for Italy, right of the goal a low shot not off by much seeking the low corner on the ground. Italy across the area and the first time shot is high and wide. Macario gets it from the GK she carries, goes to Heaps into the area for Sears and back out she fed Yohannes quick shot at the GK. Sears sprung on the wing goes in drops to Heaps now to the circle for the US. Out on the right wing defended out for a US throw. Over the top Sears gets it on a hop and she collides with the GK, foul on the US. The thigh of Sears gets the GK at the inner thigh. Italy readies their subs. Oliverio defense on Beccari on Greggi midfield on for Italy. Dickey to the center of her area and the pressure is on, again to the same area, outside and forward, they broke the press, Macario for Yohannes offside despite her sliding effort, she knew as soon as she stood. She was well off and ahead of the ball with no defender in her path, yet did not pull back? Patterson over the top for Heaps and Cat clears it off, a foul call as Oliviero is down holding her face. Heaps went through her and Foudy saw nothing, her broadcast partner doubles down on that, a replay at a different angle has an Italian player fully blocking her teammate who went down, the initial camera angle showed Heaps her left arm in front of the player, possibly making contact, another is claiming it was holding by Yohannes. I did not get a good enough look at anything to know for sure, not looking at her but the player downed. At 70’ the game is well in hand. Patterson in the area to the byline high to Heaps too far US get a throw. US foul has Italy player in a summersault. Reale and Bethune set to enter for the home side. Macario on the wing, drops to the defense, around the horn and back to the center of the defense, a bit forward, then back to the backline. Into the offensive half and to a green top, they play it in to a blue top. Sears gets it drops and cannot run down the return ball. Italy has a player down, medical called in as she holds her right knee, a blow from Sears to the outside of her knee. Yohannes out as is Weisner who gives way to the Rookie of the Year candidate for Gotham in the NWSL. The medical bag is from the recently completed Euros. Another Bat set to enter with Howell awaiting entry, wonder if she replaces a club teammate? This will be the 6th cap for Howell, expected to replace Heaps. Cat gets the captains band from a pair of teammates. D’auria of Lazio for Salvai of Jueve. Sears with a great touch on a pass, leaps over a tackle, her shot turned away now she took the blocked ball into the face and is getting care. That may have been a 50 mph ball. Moultrie appears ready. The face of Sears is red, her eyes are following the hand of the trainer. Olivia gets a hug from coach. Macario leading a team talk. The ref has stepped in possibly asking to get off the field and/or if the player will return, now clearly to get off the field. Emma points out to the fans. With so few minutes left, for me, she stays out make a concussion sub, do not put her at further risk. Seems Sears will return, yes she is on. An Italy DFK the ref is shouting out to play the ball, it is their time as they are behind with 4’ to go. Sears from Bethune who lays it back now to the US backfield with Reale. Patterson getting forward to the endline and she commits a foul as the Italian player was shielding the ball at the endline. If the scoreline holds, 10 of 15 games for the US on the year were shutouts. Shaw alone in the area on the GK, she slides making the save. Patteson from Hutton to the foot of Sears, she goes in Patterson with a shot at the GK, Howell skies it from in the area, Reale helped this with her dogged defense. There are 6’ of extra time most due to the concussion check. Patterson far post nodded a bit away, Buthene to Macario. Italy plays it out in her neutral zone. Reale on the throw. Bugg gets it twice, Reale to the GK, seeking Sears who is fouled a caution to Oliviero. A ball in gives the US a throw . Italy with a run, into the area, cut back out off Wesley for a corner at 95’. A goal now would be bad for the US, but give some redemption to Italy, the first such restart for Italy. The kick to the center of the 6, Dickey has it, they now have an equal amount of shots as corners. Dickey is going to be 6-0 with 5 shutouts. Game over.