2023 SheBelieves Cup | USWNT vs. Canada: Highlights - Feb. 16, 2023

The U.S. Women’s National Team opened the 2023 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa with a solid 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday evening in front of 14,697 fans at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium. Forward Mallory Swanson, formerly Pugh, continued her fantastic start to the year by scoring twice in the first half to extend her scoring streak to four straight games. The brace lifts Swanson to 30 international goals, as she recorded her fifth career multi-goal game and her second such outing on the year.

Mallory Swanson intercepted a pass in Canada's penalty area and was in great position for an easy goal.

Subscribe to U.S. Soccer on YouTube!

U.S. Soccer

#SheBelievesCup

[TheJetstream]

This team is coming together and hopefully will peak during the Cup. Great momentum! Mallory showing what she could always do--play at another level. Happy for her.

[wilsonkv]

Excellent goal by Mallory, keep it up and best wishes

[hunterhamer]

This is the best that we have seen this team play in years. It actually seemed like a full 90 minute effort. They came out on fire in the high press, got a goal, dropped off into a mid block, got another goal, and then dropped off into a low block to see out halftime. Then the second half they came out in the mid block and just possessed the ball. This is why Vlatko is the coach, he has really drilled it into these players to be smart about when they use their energy and how they use it. It's more of a tactical approach so they're not running on empty at the end of a World Cup when they still have a couple games left. This is the tactical side of things that we see from Vlatko that he brings to this game that no other coach has. The only criticism I would have is that they need to start putting the dagger in the opponents back and make sure they are burying all of their opportunities. This game could have easily been 4, 5, or 6 to 0. Hopefully they can keep this energy against Brazil and Japan.

[IOFrimpong]

How great is Trinity Rodman? She is just getting better.

But are we going to talk about how Cook keeps getting eaten alive?

[natesanti]

Pugh Pugh Pugh was fire! Happy 200th Morgan!

[chimchim_]

It's going to take me awhile to remember that Swanson was Pugh 😵‍💫

[voxwaya_music]

The in front slomo of the first goal is a work of art.

[mercedesayauca]

Alex Morgan Felicidades hacien grande historia buen influencer para jugadas

[pamwittman]

Nice finishing, for Swanson! Exciting offense

[vanessajazp]

Girls soccer is really big in the US, almost like high school football for boys.
This USWNT shows just how far ahead of the rest of the world they are. Their spacing, passing, aggression, and always being in position to create scoring opportunities is just a clinic on how to play the game. The USMNT could take a few pointers, to be honest.

[aalkhalaf]

Excellent preparation for both superpowers in women soccer for the World Cup. I predict both teams will reach at least the semifinals.

[rungoodmuch]

I was at this game! Few really nice plays but the game is rather slow. Fun night out though!

[allysonsmigelski]

Love the solidarity between US and Canada 🤍

[JeanClaudeCOCO]

Alana Cook is not the defensive player we need at the World Cup how Vlatko keep playing her? She’s error prone.

[pamwittman]

I thought Sanchez looked dangerous. I like midfielders who can shoot with power and score goals. Can we get another Michelle Akers for 2023? Lindsey Horan is obviously so talented at keeping the ball but we also need some more midfielders who can boss and win the physical battles so Horan can use her skills and score goals and get the assists.

[biggiedii]

I still miss Ertz, S. Mewis, O'Hara and Heath.

[wishbone]

Hot take: I think there's a battle brewing between Horan and Sanchez. Both players are talented but who deserves to ignite and control the offense? I think the USWNT should have a three-prong attack on the pitch. They should attack the left, middle, and right sides of the pitch to dismantle the opposition. In the Canada game, we mainly attacked the left side while the right side and sometimes the middle were open to exploit. I think Howell or Coffrey would not be afraid to pass through the tight spaces so that Sanchez can quickly surveil the pitch to drop a dime to her teammate. I think Vlatko knows that although Andi is okay defensively, she lacks the dribbling and passing skills to control the pitch. Horan wants the freedom to roam and score while Sanchez wants to create for her teammate like Messi. Horan has a large sample size ( almost 90 caps) we know what she can bring to the table but it's time to empower the young players and see how they cope with more responsibilities. The best midfield lineup would be Coffrey, Lavelle, and Sanchez; Lastly, can someone tell Cook to please try to play like Leah Williamson; Cook has potential but she needs to be more assertive and dominant on the pitch. If you watch Leah, they have similar games but one is more assertive than the other.

[Alex-dtop]

Change a ball for a TimHorton's donut, and Can goalkeeper with catch them all.

[sandrasipahioglu]

Canada’s defence has been horrible this tournament

[TheBanzet]

Only Swanson knows how to shoot the ball. She is very ambitious. Crystal Dunn is a real iron-defense lady, strong and reliable. I had really expected Morgan to do more, but maybe next time ( I know she is a wonderful soccer player ). Sheridan is a waste of time. I don't think she is ready for the national team. Rodman is getting warmer, and Alyssa Naeher was just as usual, reliable. But in the end congrats ladies, you played much better than the Canadians. It was a good win