US finding it tough to fill Swanson’s shoes 100 days before FIFA Women’s World Cup

The United States was no nearer to filling the void left by injured striker Mallory Swanson on Tuesday, securing an uneasy 1-0 victory in opposition to Ireland in a pleasant simply 100 days earlier than the Women’s World Cup.

The entrance three of Swanson, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) MVP Sophia Smith and veteran Alex Morgan had been anticipated to provide fireworks in Australia and New Zealand however the defending champions’ plans had been thrown into disarray when Swanson suffered a torn patella tendon on Saturday.

After Tuesday’s match in St. Louis, Missouri, the ultimate sport earlier than head coach Vlatko Andonovski should identify his 23-player roster, it was clear she could be robust to interchange.

“The team was built – or was going to build – around Mal and Soph and their attacking power. Now with Mal not being there, we’re going to have to make a decision. What are we going to go for?” Andonovski instructed reporters.

“It’s hard for me to answer this question right at this moment.”

Alyssa Thompson, 18, began up entrance rather than Swanson but it surely was Alana Cook’s objective late within the first half that gave the U.S. the win, the defender’s strike from distance marking her first worldwide objective and approaching her twenty sixth birthday.

“Mal’s shoes are so big,” captain Becky Sauerbrunn mentioned. “If there are any attackers right now playing in the NWSL, playing overseas, now is your time to shine.”

Andonovski instructed reporters he gave as many gamers as attainable the possibility to stake a declare earlier than he names his World Cup squad.

“It was hard to evaluate the team and team performance in a setting like that when there are a lot of changes, players that haven’t played together over a year, year and a half, and players that haven’t even played at all, or (for) a year and a half,” he mentioned.

The U.S. will play Wales on July 9 in San Jose, California earlier than they journey to New Zealand for his or her bid for an unprecedented third consecutive title.