USWNT beat Chile 5-0 in Santa Barbara — three players net first senior goals

The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Chile 5-0 in Santa Barbara, Calif., in the final test of its January camp, using the match at Harder Stadium — in front of more than 14,000 fans — as a closing evaluation for the window.

Five different players scored, with Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune opening the scoring. Jameese Joseph and center back Emily Sams also scored, with three of the goals coming as first senior international strikes; Bethune became the 14th player to score her first international goal under manager Emma Hayes. Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears stretched the lead early in the second half, and Trinity Rodman needed just five minutes off the bench to cap the night.

GOAL rated the performances from the match, singling out several standouts. Emily Sams, Croix Bethune and Jameese Joseph each earned 8/10, as did Hal Hershfelt, Jordyn Bugg, Trinity Rodman, Claire Hutton, Ally Sentnor and manager Emma Hayes. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey was given 7/10.

The game was the U.S.’s second friendly in January, coming just two days after the team faced Paraguay, and served as a final evaluation ahead of the SheBelieves Cup and what the report called a pivotal tournament year for the pool Hayes is building.

With the January window wrapped, the USWNT heads toward the SheBelieves Cup as selections and evaluations continue into the next phase of the year.

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