Julie Ertz came to Lindsey Horan with a plea.
It was early in the second half of the U.S. women’s national team’s game against the Netherlands on Thursday, and Horan, the USWNT’s fiery midfielder, had just fallen to the pitch after a hard body check from Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk.
Horan, who had received a yellow card in the USWNT’s opener against Vietnam, popped up and pushed van de Donk, her club Lyon teammate. That’s when Ertz stepped in.
“Julie came up to me in the box and she was like, ‘Linds, please, don’t get another yellow card. Just score this goal to shut everyone up.’ And that’s what happened,” Horan said.
Moments later, in the 62nd minute, Horan leapt into the box and headed Rose Lavelle’s corner kick into the back of the net, knotting the game at 1-1. Neither side would score again, and it was Horan’s effort that ensured the USWNT earned a point for the game and remained atop Group E heading into the final group-stage matches.
LINDSEY HORAN SENDS THE ULTIMATE MESSAGE 🇺🇸
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
THE @USWNT HAS LEVELED IT 🤫 pic.twitter.com/IV7hnG4CyK
If not for Ertz, Horan’s rage might’ve been directed elsewhere.
“Dan is that type of player — when she’s on my team it’s incredible, because she’s going to fight to that last second to win a game or go into that last tackle,” Horan said. “That’s what she did, and unfortunately I didn’t take it in a good way. I got a little heated and she got to hear it.”
Horan and van de Donk hugged after the match and made up. But it’s what happened during the contest that will stick most with Horan. As the USWNT looks toward the rest of the World Cup, Horan will look to channel Ertz’s message.