The U. S. Women’s National Team beat Brazil 2-0 in Los Angeles Saturday in the first professional women’s sporting event ever held at SoFi Stadium. The win served as a reset after the team’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Japan in its last outing at the SheBelieves Cup.
USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps warned us before the match that the game would be fast, aggressive and physical, and in the opening minutes of the game, her warning proved prescient. Brazil came out of the locker room swinging, pushing nearly all of its outfield players up into the USWNT’s half and forcing tight one-on-one duels. The tactic helped Brazil seize control of the match, but it did leave Brazil exposed in its own half. After four minutes of solid Brazil pressure, the USWNT’s Alyssa Thompson snatched the ball, pitched a perfectly weighted pass through Brazil’s defense and set up Trinity Rodman for the game’s opening goal.
Rodman, all smiles, celebrated by flipping her hair and miming the back injury that has bothered her for much of her career. Was she tempting fate with that one? Maybe — but Rodman wouldn’t be Rodman without that kind of cheeky enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see her back.
