The U.S. women's team suffered a setback Thursday in its first game since July, allowing goals in each half to lead Portugal to its first win over the Americans, 2-1. Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan was given a star-studded farewell.
Not only did Portugal beat the United States for the first time in 12 matches, but they also scored their first goals against the Americans in international play.
U.S. coach Emma Hayes said she could tell in training before the match that the nearly four-month layoff could impact the team.
“I felt like we just hadn’t played together in a long time,” Hayes said. “I just didn’t recognize us.”
Rose Lavelle scored just 33 seconds into the friendly for the Americans, but Ines Pereira stopped them the rest of the game.
Lavelle thrilled the crowd, which included retired Eagles great Jason Kelce, at Subaru Park – the home field of MLS side Philadelphia Union – when she scored before many of the more than 17,000 fans had even taken their seats after the pre-match ceremony honoring Morgan.
“Sometimes you can start a game like that and think to yourself, I hope we don’t sit back and be passive,” Hayes said. “That's what we did.”
Portugal's Diana Gomez scored her eighth international goal when she headed past Fallon Tallis-Joyce to equalize in the first half. Portugal had lost 40-0 to the United States in the previous 11 matches between them, plus Lavelle's goal.
Fatima Pinto scored her fifth international goal from inside the box late in the second half to score the winner to give Portugal a landmark victory.
“There is a standard for winning and it trumps all those factors, whether it's time apart, the age of the team or experience. We now have a choice in how we respond,” midfielder Sam Coffey said.
The American women returned from a 113-day layoff, starting a real push for World Cup qualification. There is another match scheduled against Portugal and one against New Zealand to close the three-match window at the end of the month.
The team needs work before the results really matter.
“We didn’t look like the team we were working on, but that’s what happens when you’re 113 days apart,” Hayes said.
While Morgan was in the house, the stadium was renovated in honor of her big night.
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Her greatest moments (such as her four-goal performance for the U20 Women's World Cup team) were celebrated in stand-up animations lined up outside the stadium. Girls lined up at Alex Morgan's pre-wrapping station to “get their hair ready for game day,” and T-shirts and banners with her name were hot items at merchandise stores. Fans everywhere held up signs showing love for Morgan during her national team send-off.
Even members of the national team who were unable to take the field would not have missed Morgan's evening. Morgan, 36, retired from football last year when she became pregnant with her second child.
American forward Trinity Rodman attended Morgan's celebration but did not play as she recovers from a knee injury. Rodman has only played for the Americans once since they won the 2024 Olympic gold medal in France. Abby Wambach, Kelly O'Hara and Megan Rapinoe were also in attendance.
In addition to her World Championship titles in 2015 and 2019, Morgan also won an Olympic gold medal in 2012. She played in 224 matches for the United States – and was awarded a framed jersey with that number – with 123 goals and 53 assists. She was selected as US Soccer Player of the Year in 2012 and 2018.
Morgan also played in 150 NWSL matches during her career, including with the Portland Thorns and Orlando Pride. In May, she returned to Volna as a minority shareholder.
Hayes only played one game with Morgan during her tenure. But the former Chelsea manager has been around the sport long enough to appreciate Morgan's impact on the game – and to be honored in the same stadium where she scored her first international goal in 2010.
“There was nothing she didn’t achieve,” Hayes said a day earlier. “She was a player who epitomized everything this program is about. She is an incredible credit to her family because her drive, her desire, her determination to prove herself at the highest level is unmatched.”
“You can't go anywhere in this country without them talking about Alex Morgan, and I think the sport owes that a lot of credit because it's important for our players to be recognized. And she is, without a doubt, one of the most recognizable faces in our sport as of late.”
