International Recap: All Seven OL Reign Players Feature for National Teams

Canada vs. Brazil 

Canada and Brazil played two back-to-back friendly matches against each other during the international window and picked up a win apiece. All three OL Reign players made appearances in both matches. 

In the first match, Brazil narrowly defeated Canada thanks to a Debinha game winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Quinn started in the midfield for Canada and played the full 90 minutes, while Jordyn Huitema subbed in up top in the 57th minute, replacing Nichelle Prince. On the other side of the field, Angelina subbed into the match in the 69th minute, replacing Luana in the midfield. 

Brazil had the better of possession throughout the match and took six more shots on target than the Canadians, but the score remained level until the final minutes of match, despite Canada being awarded a penalty kick. To win the match, Angelina played Debinha a pass. The creative attacker then took on Canada’s defense to take shot. The shot deflected off two Canadian players before finding the back of the net and sealing Brazil’s victory. 

In the second match up just days later, Canada came away with a 2-0 win, flipping the script on Brazil. This time, all three Reign players started the match. Angelina played all 90 minutes for Brazil, while Quinn subbed out in the 73rd minute and Huitema follow five minutes later. 

Once again, the match remained scoreless through the first 45 minutes and the teams were required to make adjustments to their tactic at half time. This time, Canada’s adjustments allowed them to take control of the match. Despite having less possession overall, Canada registered four shots on target compared to Brazil’s two. 

In the 69th minute of the match, Huitema headed home the game winner, notching her seventh headed international goal. Substitute Jessie Fleming won the ball in the midfield to start the play before finding Ashley Lawrence out wide to serve the ball into the box. Huitema beat her defender on the back post to give Canada the lead. 

Before the game was through, Canada found another goal. In the 89th minute of the match, Deanne Rose was assisted by Cloe Lacasse to double the lead and secure Canada’s victory. 

USWNT vs. Colombia 

The U.S. and Colombia met twice during the international break, both in friendly matches. The first match ended in a draw, while the United States picked up a solid win in the second match. Alana Cook and Emily Sonnett started the first match and played all 90 minutes, while Sofia Huerta was available as a substitute. In the second match, Cook and Sonnett once again played all 90 minutes and Huerta subbed onto the field in the 62nd minute for Crystal Dunn. 

In the first match of the series, both sides were defensively sound, making it difficult for the other to score. The United States enjoyed more possession of the ball and also fired off six more shots than Colombia, but only managed to put two on target – the same as Colombia. The U.S. had two good chances to find the back of the net but were denied by the post both times. The first was in the first half when Trinity Rodman won a penalty kick for the team. Alex Morgan stepped up to take the kick, but her shot was blocked by the woodwork. In the second half, substitute Sophia Smith took a dangerous shot toward goal, which was then denied by the post and goalkeeper’s back, leaving the score level at zeroes at the final whistle. 

In the second match, the U.S. came out more aggressive from the first whistle, focused on maintaining quality and pressure in the attacking part of the field. Despite the pressure, the first half remained scoreless as the Colombian defense thwarted the efforts from the United States. 

In the second half, Colombia came out with fire, finding back-to-back dangerous chances, but both were saved by Casey Murphy in goal. After the scare, the U.S. came out even more determined and began to find success getting through the defense. The breakthrough goal finally came in the 56th minute when Jaedyn Shaw played a short corner to Emily Sonnett who chipped a cross into the box for Mia Fishel to head home. 

After the first goal, the U.S. became dominant and were hungry for more. The next goal came in the 62nd minute when defender Emily Fox sent a cross toward the back post to find Lindsey Horan, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net.  

To close the game out, Alyssa Thompson Shaw inside the box. Shaw made no mistakes as she took a touch and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to score the final goal of the match. 

Wales UEFA Women’s Nations League action 

Wales took on Germany and Denmark in two UEFA Women’s Nations League matches. Jess Fishlock played the full 90 minutes in both matches. The first match ended in a 5-1 loss for Wales, while the second was a narrow 2-1 defeat. 

Against Germany, Wales struggled to find a rhythm as the Germans dominated possession of the ball. Germany notched their first goal in the 25th minute of the match, but Wales tied it up in the 42nd minute, taking advantage of their one shot of the half. Three of Wales’ veteran players – Fishlock, Ingle and James – combined to find Holland, who finished the sequence off with a goal. 

In the second half, Germany continued to test the Welsh defense, finding the game winner in the first minute of the half. Germany added three more goals across an eight-minute period from the 80 to 88th minute, beginning with a penalty kick. 

In the second match of the international period, Wales took on Denmark and narrowly lost 2-1. Once again, Wales allowed Denmark the majority of possession and were forced to heavily defend for the entire first half. Denmark repeatedly played dangerous balls into the box, ultimately leading to their first goal of the match. They doubled their lead as Wales made a defensive error, gifting Denmark possession of the ball inside their own box. 

In the second half, Wales put on a strong performance to challenge Denmark’s lead. After a couple of offensive builds, Wales was able to half Denmark’s lead thanks to a strike from Fishlock. Green and Ingle worked to pressure Demark into a mistake and find Fishlock in front of goal. The veteran took one touch to set up her low strike and get Wales on the board. Despite Fishlock’s goal, the Welsh couldn’t quite pull off the comeback and fell 2-1.