U.S. Women’s Soccer Star: American defender Sam Coffey is going to be suspended, which took away from the USWNT’s otherwise good 2-1 win over Australia in the last game of the Paris Olympics’ group stage.
The center midfielder for the Portland Thorns came into the game with a yellow card from Sunday’s 4-1 win over Germany. Coffey got his second yellow card of the tournament just four minutes into the game against Australia.
If the 25-year-old does this again, she will be banned for one match. This means she will miss the USWNT’s semifinal match against a strong Japan team at the Paris Olympics. Coffey has started all three of the Americans’ first games in this event. She has played in the middle of coach Emma Hayes’s 4-3-3 formation with Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle.
- Fact or Fiction: Samsung’s $1B Sponsorship Withdrawal from Paris Olympics and the ‘Woke Agenda.
- Drone Scandal: U.S. Soccer Responds to Canada with Surprising Admission.
- Hezly Rivera, a gymnast, was taken out of the Olympics team final.
Some people are questioning Hayes’ choice to play almost the same first team against Australia, with only one change from the last game. The Matildas would have had to win 8-0 for Australia to move on.
At the end of her 12-year run as manager of Chelsea, Hayes won an amazing seven FA Women’s Super League wins. She then became head coach of the USWNT in May 2024.
One person on X quote-tweeted the outcome and said, “What a stupid choice by Emma Hayes.” Even though she’s a good coach, not letting some of the players rest for this third game was a stupid move. They will no longer be able to use Sam Coffey. Not believable.”
Trinity Rodman scored the first goal in the 43rd minute. In the 77th minute, replacement Korbin Albert scored a long-range goal into the top corner that put the game out of reach. Australia scored a consolation goal in the 91st minute.
With this win, the USWNT easily won the group, with nine points from three games and a great goal difference of plus-seven. American Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith are tied for third place in the Olympics with four goals each.
The main replacement for Coffey at holding middle is Albert, who came on in the 65th minute. He could get a chance to start now that Coffey is out. If Tierna Davidson gets better and goes back to the XI, Sonnett could keep her spot by taking Coffey’s place.
His goal was one of the best in the game. The player is 20 years old and plays club football for PSG. She has also played 14 times for the USWNT.
Luckily, whoever starts in center will get to play with Lindsey Horan, the experienced captain. Since 2013, she has played 152 times for the USWNT and scored 35 goals.
On Saturday at 9 a.m. EDT, the US will play Japan. Both teams have a long history of playing each other, with the 2011 World Cup Final being the most exciting. Japan won on penalties.
