The United States played well against Australia in a lot of ways, but ultimately needed a 90th minute goal from Lindsey Horan to maintain some control over their 2018 Tournament of Nations destiny. Tonight, they face Brazil in what may be a must-win game (depending on how Australia’s earlier game against Japan turns out). So far, it’s been a mixed tournament for the USWNT, who shredded Japan in a wide-open but sloppy game before looking more precise and less dangerous against the Matildas. Finding a happy medium between those two performances is likely the object tonight.
Location: Toyota Park (Bridgeview, IL)
Kickoff time: 8:30pm Eastern
Projected USWNT starting 11: (433) - Alyssa Naeher; Emily Sonnett, Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn; Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz, Morgan Brian; Christen Press, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe
Bench: Ashlyn Harris, Adrianna Franch, Merritt Mathias, Tierna Davidson, Casey Short, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni, Rose Lavelle, Allie Long, Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath, Amy Rodriguez
It feels like Jill Ellis will keep Sauerbrunn in the lineup with the tournament on the line, and that Press (who did very well running outside-in to overload Japan’s centerbacks) will get a recall over Heath at right forward.