The home side found its fight, as the US rallied from two goals down to draw world No. 1 Spain 2-2 on Tuesday and avoid a second straight loss in October’s USWNT vs Spain friendly series.
Spain superstar Alexia Putellas opened the scoresheet in the 27th-minute before Salma Paralluelo added a second five minutes later, exposing the same defensive leaks that plagued Saturday’s 2-0 defeat.
The second half told a different story, as NWSL Golden Boot leader Ashley Sanchez needed just three minutes to fire off her first US goal since 2022, before sub Mallory Swanson curled in the 86th-minute equalizer — her first tally since the 2024 Olympics.
With the friendlies behind her, coach Emma Hayes’s squad shifts focus to next month’s 2027 World Cup-qualifying Concacaf W Championship.
The US needs a quarterfinal win over No. 78 El Salvador to punch its ticket to Brazil, leaning on recent experience to clinch a 10th straight WWC berth.
“Being able to play the number one team in the world right now is amazing,” winger Alyssa Thompson said last night. “It’s good to play the best in the world and know that this is where our level is, and we know we can keep going.”
