USWNT vs. Portugal score: USA soccer suffer surprising friendly loss as Emma Hayes' experimentation continues

The Americans took the lead within a minute of kickoff, but the Europeans came away with the surprising result

CHESTER, Pa. -- It's clear that the United States women's national team are still a work in progress after losing 2-1 to Portugal on Thursday in a friendly as Emma Hayes continues to build toward the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. On a day when Alex Morgan was  honored for her service to the national team, Rose Lavelle's scoring within 35 seconds made it seem like Thursday night would be a party in Chester, but as the chill of the night set in and Portugal began to find their footing, it became quite a physical affair. 

Phallon Tullis-Joyce was strong in net, but the USWNT were beaten twice from corner kicks, which became their undoing. Diana Gomes rose over the USWNT at the end of the first half before Fatima Pinto scored via a deflected shot in the 72nd minute to give Portugal the surprising victory in a rematch of their 2023 World Cup group stage game that ended 0-0. It's the first time in five matches that the USWNT have lost, and it's their first ever loss to Portugal, but with an extended window that is planned to be used for experimentation, bumps in the road will happen. World Cup qualifiers are still a year away, and this is a chance to see young players like Alyssa Thompson and Lily Yohannnes as Hayes fleshes out her full rotation.

Without regulars like Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson in the attack, the rust showed in the front three with Thompson and Catarina Macario struggling to connect. With more game time, that will change, and the USWNT will have just that facing Portugal again in Connecticut on Sunday. For that match, Hayes will name a player from the U-23 team to join the senior roster as the experimentation continues. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 8:40 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It wasn't pretty but there were positives in the USWNT's loss to Portugal on Thursday night. Corner kicks were their undoing but Lily Yohannes was strong off the bench, almost pushing the team to victory. The goals came from Fatima Pinto, who put Portugal ahead, cancelling out Rose Lavelle's goal after only 35 seconds of play, while joining Diana Gomes in finding the back of the net for Portugal. The USWNT will now need to find a way back with only 17 minutes remaining.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 8:45 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The introduction of Lily Yohnnes has changed the dynamic of the midfield. She played a great ball that Avery Patterson wasn't able to put in the back of the net, and then her pressure has stopped Portugal from being able to build through the center of the park. It's only a matter of time until that leads to a goal. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 8:35 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Yazmeen Ryan, Lilu Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Emma Sears are all preparing to come into a game that needs life injected. It's a cold night off the river, and this has become a sluggish physical match that subs can change the tide for. Michelle Cooper, Lindsey Heaps, Sam Coffey, and Catarina Macario will all exit.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 8:24 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

The Stars and Stripes are back on the front foot hour of halftime. No immediate changes for the lineup by Emma Hayes, as it looks like she wants this group to figure it out through the physical play. The group is working, and Alyssa Thompson is getting on the ball more and with a good connection with Macario. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 8:09 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

A fast start for the USWNT had some promise, but Portugal quickly got back into the game through patient play and taking advantage of space in the middle third. Not the best performance, but definitely representative of four months apart. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:52 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Diana Gomez scores for Portugal, and the match is level. A header off the set piece service by Nazareth, and Gomes beats Sonnett and Tulis-Joyce. That goal was coming with Portugal's more aggressive play over the last half hour. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:50 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Portugal breaks the USWNT line, and Tatiana Pinto has a clear look at goal in the box, but Tullis-Joyce makes the save and steers away the danger. Corner for Portugal

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:46 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Cooper is back on the pitch and Portugal with a dangerous restart. Kika Nazareth is getting more active in the game and managing any pressure from the USWNT.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:42 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

A dangerous moment where there was some contact to the head on Cooper by Portugal's Alvarez has brought a stoppage of play. Going through concussion protocol at the moment. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:39 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

The lineup is doing a good job of being patient on a counter, and despite a smart mid-air touch to leave the ball off, the attempt by Heaps goes wide.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:31 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Despite the quick start, things have slowed down a bit after the opening goal. Three shots for the USWNT through almost 20 minutes, but Portugal has also woken up and is pressing more and leveling the tempo. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:19 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Ten minutes have gone by, and it's the USWNT ahead of Portugal thanks to a goal by Rose Lavelle 35 seconds into the game. Portugal levels the game with a goal by Diana Gomes.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 7:11 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

It takes only SECONDS for the USWNT and Rose Lavelle to make an impact. Catarina Macario with the hold-up play and finds Lavelle in the box. A deflection keeps the midfielder onside, and it's 1-0 very early in the opening match against Portugal. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:55 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Kick off is about five minutes away, so let's have some fun with a little prediction!

Sandra: Yes, the USWNT will have been apart for four months, but that doesn't mean players are out of form, and newer players will be eager to perform well. The NWSL regular season is only winding down, and players on European clubs have had plenty of action between club and Champions League. It might not be a blowout, but it'll be a win. Pick: USA 2, Portugal 0 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:47 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Despite the relaunch of the U-23 program and younger players earning more senior callups and first national team caps than ever, veteran players are still very much part of the equation moving forward, according to Emma Hayes.

"You can't compete to win without experience. You cannot. Some of that experience is not just in the things you see on the pitch, it's the sort of things you do not see," said Hayes. 

"I think about Lindsay [Heaps], since I've come to this country, what an unbelievable leader she's been, in terms of driving standards, I would say, alongside Emily Sonnet, alongside our Rose [Lavelle] in different ways, and not just upholding standards, but actually bringing people into it, so people belong, so they feel valued, and also adapt with the changes that come with the differences in generations, to be able to meet them where they're at. The thing that stands out the most to me is their humility."

During training camps, Hayes has scheduled individual check-ins with her players. They're part of the overall camp experience, which also include performance check-ins. Hayes says sometimes the one-on-ones run a little long but they're her favorite because the conversations are always so varied, especially among her older players. 

"What I value in those three in particular is all of the above. There's a little bit of old school in them, but their humility, their honesty, their generosity, their spirit is such they were joy to be around, and I love their company, as well as their qualities on the field, but I think it is absolutely important to talk about those qualities off the field, because they're all the things fans and media do not see, and they are first class."

There's always a layer of gratitude among the conversations, and throughout the camps, Hayes tries to connect younger players to the veterans, whether it's Claire Hutton to Heaps, or in this more recent camp, Jordyn Bugg to Sonnett. 

"They don't take it for granted ... I always say to our less experienced players, you look up to these people. I said to Jordyn Bugg, spend some time with Emily Sonnett this week. I think it would be really good for your next steps to talk about her journey.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:43 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

With the U-23 program revamp, there's been more normalizing of player rotation and experimentation. Where previous generations had constant caps, callups, and were viewed as "locks," there's a new feel to the player pool where everyone could have a shot at cracking a senior roster.

During this October window, it's not just the U-23 team getting involved in training; the U-20 camp will also get an experience alongside the senior team. They'll join the national team camps when the group takes on New Zealand in Kansas City on Oct. 29. 

While it might feel like a strange changing of the guard, it's been coming. The historic 2023 World Cup elimination set in motion an immediate jolt of change. U.S. Soccer hired Emma Hayes, with a key component of stabilizing the program while ensuring it was sustainable for the future. The first big roster shock came when former USWNT forward Alex Morgan wasn't selected for the 2024 Olympics.

A gold medal win quickly helped heal hearts, and it's been more of the same while under Hayes. Honoring the past, while strengthening the future by building through the present, has been a staple of the program over the last year. The match against Portugal on Thursday is set to be a retirement celebration for Morgan, while Sunday's match will honor goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. 

Between a wider range of new players getting called in while other USWNT legends retire, for some players, it's the only version of the USWNT program that they know. 

"I've only experienced the experimental phase, and for me, it's been pretty amazing getting this opportunity and having the trust that Emma does have in me, and the other younger generation as everyone likes to say, but each camp we've gone into, she always shows the footprint of -- or the gold print, she likes to call it -- of what the next two years are going to look like " said 19-year-old midfielder Claire Hutton.

"It's pretty cool just to see and know that we're taking it one camp at a time. Each game matters, each training matters, because at the end of the day, there's only a limited amount until the World Cup and until the Olympics. So for me personally, I do feel like, yes, there is a pressure to it, but at the same time, as we're staying present, we're staying focused on what we currently have. It keeps it consistent, and it keeps everybody where their feet are at the moment."

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:38 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

A key component of USWNT success is when there's a healthy Rose Lavelle available. The creative midfielder had ankle surgery over the offseason and has used the bulk of the NWSL season working her minutes back up. She's been in sharp form since the summer break, and recently scored the decisive goal to send her club side, Gotham FC, into the 2025 NWSL postseason.

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:32 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Hello from Chester on Alex Morgan night! Emma Hayes hinted that Trinity Rodman would be visiting for the match despite her not being in the squad due to picking up an injury, and as the teams are warming up at Subaru Park, Hayes and Rodman are catching up on the sidelines as everyone is ready for tonight's celebration. 

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:31 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Looks like Emma Hayes has gone with a mix of veterans and less experienced players. The manager is going with six starters from the USWNT's last game, a 3-0 win against Canada in July. Lavelle, Thompson, Cooper, Coffey, Patterson, and Sonnett are all getting another start in the USWNT's return to the pitch. The U.S. starting lineup averages 52.4 caps per player, including this match.

The experimentation continues for Hayes and her staff as the group builds towards World Cup qualifiers next year. 

"This is really the build towards qualification for next year. That's what the start of this cycle actually means. And that's not to say that this is the pool of players, solely. You know, it was difficult to make roster selections for this camp," the coach said after the roster dropped.

'We felt that by taking 26 players, one, I want to honor the place where NWSL is with playoffs, and want to maximize. We take 26 so that I can play players, and also send them back to their clubs in a really good condition. But I think this was the one camp I had to make some really, really hard decisions, and that's the place that I wanted to be in, but it's the build for qualification for next year."

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:21 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Here's how the USWNT is lining up tonight!

USWNT Starting XI: 24-Phallon Tullis-Joyce, 3-Avery Patterson, 5-Tara McKeown, 10-Lindsey Heaps (Capt.), 12-Michelle Cooper, 14-Emily Sonnett, 16-Rose Lavelle, 17-Sam Coffey, 20-Catarina Macario, 21-Alyssa Thompson, 23-Emily Fox

Available Subs: 18 Claudia Dickey, 4-Jordyn Bugg, 6-Emily Sams, 7-Lily Yohannes, 8-Jaedyn Shaw, 9-Ally Sentnor, 13-Olivia Moultrie, 15-Claire Hutton, 19-Emma Sears, 22-Yazmeen Ryan, 25-Lilly Reale, 26-Kennedy Wesley

Not dressing: Mandy McGlynn, Lo'eau LaBonta

[Oct 23, 2025 at 6:18 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Hello and welcome to USWNT vs. Portugal! I'm Sandra Herrera, and I'll be with you providing analysis of today's match. Chuck Booth is on the ground and will provide live updates from Chester, Pa.!