In Chester, Pennsylvania, on a full house evening at Subaru Park, Spain left the United States with a 2-2 draw that felt less like a rescue than an opportunity allowed to drift away. The world champions had led the Olympic champions by two goals and, for an hour, appeared to have found a clearer answer to the contest that had brought the sides together in Washington on Saturday. At the centre of it was Alexia Putellas, marking her 150th appearance for Spain with a goal, an assist and the calm authority of a player making a landmark occasion her own.
Montse Tomé’s successor Sonia Bermúdez made six changes from the previous friendly, bringing Misa Rodríguez, Oihane Hernández, Andrea Medina, Clara Pinedo and Clara Serrajordi into the side, while Irene Paredes returned in defence. Emma Hayes retained the same United States shape but altered four personnel. Spain’s revised selection looked more secure in possession and more alert when the Americans tried to break quickly, with their defensive and midfield lines closing spaces earlier than they had days before.
Putellas set the tone almost immediately. From inside her own half, she sent Salma Paralluelo clear with a pass that travelled through two American lines. In the 13th minute, another incisive delivery released Pinedo, only for Phallon Tullis-Joyce to win their one-on-one duel. Spain’s pressure and circulation steadily gave them control, even as both teams searched for their rhythm.
The opening goal arrived in the 27th minute through a move down the right. Serrajordi’s measured cross was cleverly allowed to run by Pinedo, leaving Putellas arriving at the far post to finish. Five minutes later, Spain doubled their advantage after Tullis-Joyce, hurried while playing out, sent the ball straight to Putellas. The Barcelona midfielder took a touch, looked up and supplied Paralluelo, who struck decisively for 2-0.
A comeback in Pennsylvania
Spain began the second half on the front foot again, but the match changed four minutes after the restart. Sophia Wilson got ahead of Paredes in a physical challenge that the Spanish defender believed included an elbow. Play continued, and Ashley Sanchez received the ball on the left side of the box before placing her effort beyond Misa at the far post. A VAR review followed, but the goal stood. Sanchez’s finish underlined the form that has made her the NWSL’s leading scorer this season.
Hayes responded with five substitutions, introducing Alyssa Thompson, Jaelin Howell, Lily Yohannes, Mallory Swanson and Michelle Cooper in the 61st minute. Spain continued to keep the ball well in the final third and largely prevented the United States from finding the transitions they wanted. Yet the hosts kept pushing in front of their crowd, and the equaliser came in the 86th minute. Cooper advanced into the area and rolled the ball into Swanson’s path; the forward drove a right-footed shot across Misa and into the net.
The Americans pressed on through the closing moments, backed by 18,648 spectators, but Spain held their ground. The result nevertheless carried frustration for Bermúdez’s side: a sharper, more composed performance had put them in command, and Putellas’ special night seemed destined to end in victory rather than a shared result.
Canada’s Myriam Marcotte refereed the friendly and booked Spain substitutes Natalia Ramos and Ornella Vignola.
Teams and scorers
United States started with Phallon Tullis-Joyce; Emily Fox, Tierna Davidson, Kennedy Wesley and Gisele Thompson; Claire Hutton, Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps; Trinity Rodman, Ashley Sanchez and Sophia Wilson. Alyssa Thompson replaced Gisele Thompson in the 61st minute, while Howell, Yohannes, Swanson and Cooper came on for Hutton, Heaps, Lavelle and Rodman at the same time. Emma Sears replaced Wilson in the 80th minute, with Pietra Tordin on for Sanchez and Kate del Fava taking Davidson’s place.
Spain began with Misa Rodríguez; Oihane Hernández, Paredes, María Méndez and Medina; Patri Guijarro, Serrajordi and Putellas; Paralluelo, Pinedo and Edna Imade. Ona Batlle, Lucía Corrales and Alba Redondo entered at half-time for Oihane, Paralluelo and Imade. Fiamma Benítez and Lucía García replaced Putellas and Pinedo in the 61st minute, before Laia Codina, Vignola and Ramos came on for Paredes, Medina and Serrajordi in the 77th.
Putellas scored in the 27th minute and Paralluelo added Spain’s second five minutes later. Sanchez reduced the deficit in the 49th minute, before Swanson completed the United States comeback four minutes from time.
