The United States women's national team will certainly feel Mallory Swanson's absence at the World Cup this summer. How couldn't you? At the time of her injury, there were few players in the world in better form than Swanson, who looked poised for a breakout tournament. But against Wales, on a day where the USWNT's attack sputtered once again, Swanson's potential replacement stepped up and made her case in dominant fashion.
Trinity Rodman scored both goals in the USWNT's 2-0 win on Sunday in a game that certainly wasn't ideal for a team heading to the World Cup this week. A rough and tumble clash with several hard fouls, the U.S. looked like a team still building chemistry, not like one whose next game will be a World Cup opener.
Rodman made life a bit better with her winner, which came on a picture-perfect cross from Sophia Smith. It was a standout performance from the Washington Spirit star, who actually came off the bench to play centrally, despite primarily operating on the wing.
Her second goal, though, was the better of the two, as Rodman curled home a shot from just inside the box to seal the 2-0 win.
Starting on the left was teenager Alyssa Thompson and, during her time on the field, the rising star was the USWNT's most dynamic attacker. Not everything she tried worked out, but she certainly showed plenty of promise in what was a strong showing.
Now, Vlatako Andonovski will have plenty to sort out. Does he go with Rodman or Thompson in the attack? How does he get more out of the forward line than what we saw against Wales? And how, as this cycle nears its end, does he line up a team that still looks like one that has plenty to figure out?
GOAL rates the USWNT's players from PayPal Park...