USWNT beats Netherlands in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's final match

Associated Press
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 5:38 p.m. | Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 5:38 p.m.

United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, left, is surrounded her teammates at the end of the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands.

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United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher gestures during the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

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United States’ Lynn Williams, center, celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

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United States’ Lily Yohannes, right, vies for the ball with Netherlands’ Veerle Buurman during the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

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United States’ Lynn Williams celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

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Netherlands’ Jill Roord runs with the ball away from United States’ Sam Coffey, left, during the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

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United States head coach Emma Hayes gestures during the international friendly women’s soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Alyssa Naher made two critical saves in her final match for the United States, Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday.

The U.S., which won its fifth Olympic gold medal this summer in France, wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.

Penn State product Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European matches would be her last. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the U.S., with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts.

Naeher is the only U.S. keeper with shutouts in a World Cup and an Olympic final. She was in goal when the United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final.

The Netherlands took the lead on center back Veerle Buurman’s header off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Naeher prevented a second goal when she punched away Dominique Janssen’s shot in the 38th.

The United States drew even at the end of the first half on an own goal that deflected off Buurman and past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

Naeher slid to stop Danielle van de Donk’s shot in the 69th minute before Williams scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st of her career.

2-1 WIN FOR THE USWNT! ???????? pic.twitter.com/kLcrqNmrtN

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) December 3, 2024

Lily Yohannes came in as a substitute in the second half. Yohannes, who has dual citizenship, opted to play for the United States over the Netherlands last month. She plays professionally for the Dutch club Ajax.

She DOES give hugs ???? pic.twitter.com/7uZGHPDLOl

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) December 3, 2024

The U.S. finished the year without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, who were left off the roster for the final two matches to rest and heal nagging injuries.

The U.S. is unbeaten in 15 matches under coach Emma Hayes, who took over in May.