Everyone on the USWNT will go home happy after a 4-0 victory over Jamaica that was about as comfortable as they come
Realistically, a dozen or so U.S. women's national team players made a case to be named a winner from Tuesday night's thorough trouncing of Jamaica. Such was the level of dominance on display. When you win 4-0 with more than 80 percent of the possession, everyone tends to go home happy.
That will be the general sentiment following the match in St. Louis: happiness. Virtually every USWNT player did something notable, and nearly all of them had a moment that they can bank on as something upon which to build.
By the time the final whistle blew, Emma Hayes had a massive smile on her face, and for good reason. Facing an overmatched opponent, her side took care of business from all sides. Defensively, the USWNT had little to do, but were rock solid when they had to be. The midfield ran circles around their counterparts.
And the attack? Breathtaking yet again, despite all of the absent star power at the moment. By scoring four goals Tuesday night, the USWNT have now totaled 35 in six all-time matches against Jamaica, and conceded … zero.
The USWNT – emphasis on team – was a big winner on Tuesday night, even if this was a small step forward in the grand scheme of things. There's more to come, for sure, but, every now and then, it's nice to have a game like this, one that sends everyone home feeling pretty damn good about what just happened.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Energizer Park.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Ally Sentnor
It might be a bit early given her inexperience, but maybe it isn't? Based on what we've seen over the last few months, it might be time to say that Sentnor is a core member of this USWNT attack.
That's big praise considering those in the pool but, time and time again, Sentnor – the 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year – proves she belongs. At just 21, the Utah Royals winger routinely stands out, and this was her most standout performance yet.
It started early with her fantastic opening finish, one that required poise and precision. Her second required a bit more reaction, as she pounced on a ball in the box to fire home and make it two. Yes, Jamaica was overmatched, but Sentnor still had to make the most of it, and she did so more than any other USWNT star on the field.
That's four goals in four starts now for Sentnor, who continues to make a case to start even when this team is fully healthy. With Triple Espresso – Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson – all out, the USWNT haven't missed a beat, and Sentnor is major reason why.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: Jamaica
The stats don't lie. This was about as one-sided of a soccer game as there can be. Jamaica couldn't do a damn thing about it either.
In the end, they finished with just 17 percent of the possession. They had zero shots on target and zero corners. The Reggae Girlz completed just 53 percent of their 155 passes. For comparison, the USWNT completed 83 percent of their 740. Despite the dominance, Jamaica never really mucked it up either, committing just eight fouls to the USWNT's six.
This wasn't a particularly productive exercise for Jamaica team that was, admittedly, without its best player in Bunny Shaw. Even if she was around, though, she likely wouldn't have gotten a touch considering how much Jamaica was overwhelmed by the USWNT press.
Generally, this was just a game to forget for Jamaica, who never presented a challenge.
Getty Images SportWINNER: Lynn Biyendolo
Of course, the other brace scorer has to be here, too.
While so much attention is going to the newer stars in the group, Biyendolo keeps rolling along, providing the goals that make her indispensable to this team. The 32-year-old attacker continues to be an elite-tier super-sub, one who can come into a game and change it almost immediately.
Tuesday's game didn't need changing, to be fair. It was already pretty far gone by the time Biyendolo entered the fray in the second half. It took her just three minutes to make her mark, though, finishing a rebound of a corner kick to make it 3-0.
She added the USWNT's fourth in the game's final moments, finishing off an Avery Patterson cross with a perfectly hit first-time finish.
Biyendolo will continue to get overlooked, no doubt. That's only natural with a team introducing so many young faces early in the cycle. The veteran, though, continues to score goals – and, as long as she keeps doing that, she'll remain a key presence in this loaded attack.
Getty Images SportLOSER: Phallon Tullis-Joyce
This is no knock on her game. The problem is that she didn't really get to play in one.
Tullis-Joyce is clearly leading the ongoing goalkeeper race. The fact that Hayes played her in both of these games is a pretty good indication, especially when you consider that the USWNT boss namedropped her pre-camp as the one to watch in her age group.
Against China, the Manchester United shot-stopper had a few things to do. Against Jamaica? There wasn't much there for her to really further her case.
That's unfortunate, in some ways. Particularly for a goalkeeper mired in a competition, you'll always want to make a save or two just to show what you can do. You'd also love to get on the ball a bit to show off the passing range.
The problem was that Jamaica was pinned so far back that the USWNT rarely had to play the ball anywhere near their goalkeeper on the other side of the field.
No worries, really. Tullis-Joyce will get other chances, but it would have been nice to have at least one moment to do something in a game that was generally about as easy as it could be.
