CHESTER, Pa. — The U.S. women’s national team came back from two goals down to draw Spain in a dramatic friendly Tuesday at Subaru Park outside Philadelphia.
Staring straight at a second consecutive defeat in four days, the U.S. stormed back from a 2-0 halftime deficit to earn a 2-2 draw.
Ashley Sanchez, in her first USWNT start since 2023, brought the U.S. back to within 2-1 with a clever goal early in the second half.
Mallory Swanson then equalized with her first goal for the national team since the 2024 Olympic gold-medal match.
For large chunks of the game, Spain looked superior. The visitors took control midway through the first half by punishing two series of U.S. mistakes about five minutes apart.
Even at 2-1, the Spaniards appeared to be in control. But U.S. coach Emma Hayes made multiple waves of substitutions — including Swanson. The subs were relentless, applying constant pressure over the game’s final 15 minutes. And by the time the final whistle sounded, a draw felt like the just result.
Ashley Sanchez scores U.S.’s first goal of the night
The NWSL golden boot leader continued her goal-scoring streak with her first goal for the U.S. in two years. It was a promising moment for the 27-year-old midfielder, who has not featured for the national team in nearly two years.
The left winger found herself one-on-one against the Spanish backline, before squeezing the ball through a small opening that flew past two defenders and Spanish goalie Misa Rodriguez. She raised her hands up in celebration, helping the team secure a much-needed goal in the 49th minute that helped spark momentum for the U.S. to start climbing back from a 2-0 deficit.
Hayes has spoken highly of Sanchez, saying the North Carolina Courage midfielder has impressed in training. She emphasized how her existing familiarity at this level has been key, as have Sanchez’s existing relationships with players. Sanchez seamlessly fit into the squad, Hayes said.
“Every coach has different tactics that they bring in games, and I think Emma definitely honed in on defensive responsibilities, Sanchez said on Monday. “She wants to make sure that I’m on the on the same page with everyone else that’s been here that knows your coaching style, and just trying to do it as quick as possible.”
On Tuesday night in Philadelphia, Sanchez was on the starting line-up, proving that she can easily adapt. She played nearly an entire 90 minutes, before subbing off in the 80th minute.
— Melanie Anzidei
U.S. midfield still a work in progress
So much analysis of Saturday’s 2-0 loss focused on the USWNT’s midfield structure. Hayes’ decision to play without a true holding midfielder was the talking point. Three days later, she inserted one, 20-year-old Bay FC rising star Claire Hutton. But some of the very same problems resurfaced.
For 25 minutes, the structure was mostly fine, but in the 27th minute, several U.S. players lapsed. Sophia Wilson and Rose Lavelle, the front two out of possession, let Spanish goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez split them all too easily with a pass to midfielder Patri Guijarro.
Neither Hutton nor Lindsey Heaps had followed Guijarro … but also didn’t track Alexia Putellas, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner, over their shoulders.
So, Guijarro split Heaps and Hutton with a pass to Putellas. In other words, the U.S. let two of the very best midfielders in the world receive a straightforward pass, turn, and pick up their heads with virtually zero pressure on them.
It wasn’t necessarily a recurring, catastrophic problem throughout the match. But in this case, it allowed Putellas to play another forward pass to striker Edna Imade. Spain matched into the final third. Ashley Sanchez twice failed to pinch in and cut off a passing lane near the corner of the box, which gave 18-year-old Clara Serrajordi loads of space to slide in a cross toward four Spanish runners — only one of which the U.S. marked.
Alexia Putellas scores on her 150th cap to give Spain the 1-0 lead vs. USA ✨ pic.twitter.com/CKePwLx0o2
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 13, 2026
The upshot is that sometimes, the problem isn’t coaching or tactics. It’s players making smart decisions, understanding that momentary lapses like these can swing games at the highest level.
“I think our players need opportunities like this game, because they just simply don’t get it in domestic football,” Hayes said Monday.
The other takeaway is that, despite the personnel change, the structure wasn’t all that different. The U.S. still pressed high — perhaps even higher than on Saturday — in a 4-4-2, with Lavelle leading the first line of confrontation next to Wilson, and Hutton often pressing Spanish counterparts in the attacking third. If these two teams meet again in July, Hayes will have to ponder whether a less aggressive press might be a better approach.
— Henry Bushnell
Goalkeeper race heats up
The national team has been without a No. 1 goalkeeper since U.S. legend Alyssa Naeher retired in 2024, with goalkeepers Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Claudia Dickey rising to the top as the two candidates for the starting position in recent windows. Dickey was in net for the U.S.’s 2-0 loss to Spain in D.C., and Tuesday was Tullis-Joyce’s chance in the hot seat.
Spain’s second goal in Philadelphia came from a clear defensive error by Tullis-Joyce, who had a clumsy distribution from out back that was intercepted by Alexia Putellas in the midfield. The London City player calmly passed the ball to 22-year-old Salma Paralluelo, who easily shot the ball into the upper left corner. A similar moment happened earlier in the second half.
Hayes has not shied away on where her players must improve as the team heads into World Cup qualifying in November – and when it comes to Tullis-Joyce, the head coach has been clear that the system she is building requires the ability to deliver in the build-up.
“Phallon is an unbelievable student of the game. Her application is first-class. It’s undeniable, her quality as a shot stopper,” Hayes said last week. “But we want to play too, and that’s her next step: being able to deliver what the team requires in the build-up. Because to dominate games, you have to be good at that, and I think I made it clear.”
Playing against Spain proved to be the ultimate test for Tullis-Joyce, whose ability in recent windows had been limited by injury. With Dickey “lead(ing) the way” in the position, as Hayes said ahead of the first match against Spain, it’s likely that Tuesday night will remain a critical learning point for the Manchester United shot stopper.
— Anzidei
Changes make the difference
Just three days after Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Spain, Hayes made only four changes to her starting lineup; the largely-first-choice starting 11 once again struggled to cope with Spain’s on-ball prowess.
But that changed in the 60th minute. Hayes made five substitutions, including Swanson, Michelle Cooper and Lily Yohannes. In the 80th minute, still chasing an equalizer, she threw on forward Pietra Tordin and defender Kate Del Fava for their U.S. senior team debuts.
Three of those subs completed the U.S. comeback. Del Fava pinged a long ball over the top to Cooper. Cooper ran onto it down the right, then stayed patient, held up the ball and poked it back to Swanson near the penalty spot. Swanson smashed it low into the far corner.
Mallory Swanson scores her first USWNT goal since the Olympic gold medal match to bring them level 2-2 with Spain 😤 pic.twitter.com/4I4VC0oexv
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 14, 2026
If the first half was proof of Spain’s superiority, the second half was proof of the USWNT’s mentality and depth. In stoppage time, it was the U.S. pushing for a winner. Yohannes nearly scored it with one of the last kicks of the game. The fightback gave the Americans a feel-good end to the October international break.
— Bushnell
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
US Women's national team, Spain, NWSL, Women's Soccer, FIFA Women's World Cup
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