The US women’s national football team is back in action as they beat Republic of Ireland by a solitary goal by Alan Cook ahead of FIFA Women’s’ World Cup 2023 on Tuesday night at the Citi Park, St Louis. Earlier the US team notched a 2-0 victory over the Irish team last Saturday at Austin, Texas.
The biggest news of the weekend was the loss of Mallory Swanson, who suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee near the end of the first half. Coach Vilatko Andonovski told to the reporters ahead of the Tuesday match “she is doing better than what I thought.”
Swanson was replaced by 18 years old Alyssa Thompson, who made headlines as number one pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft by Angel City FC and becamethe youngest draftee in the league history.
The American looked disjointed failing to finish chances and struggling at times to contain Ireland. “ The things that were missing is not something that worries me,” says coach Andonovski after the game “It was not about the team’s concept it was more about individual players. The team is still coming to terms with the sudden loss of leading scorer Mallory Swanson.” 
The USA team is also working on several players back from lengthy injuries and trying to figure out who fits where with 100 days to go for the Women’s World Cup. 
Julie Ertz, who is back in the USWNT since 2021 after having her first child last summer, is still working on her timing but still showed some flashes of the dominating midfield.