LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – When you come to an international friendly like the U.S. Women’s National Team matchup with Argentina at Lynn Family Stadium Wednesday night, the hope is that, maybe, you’ll get to see one of the best players in the world do something memorable.
Naomi Girma delivered. One of the top center backs in the world did something she has never done before. Not only did Girma score her first goal for the national team – opening the scoring with a first-half header to put the Americans up 1-0 -- but she added a second early in the second half to cap the scoring in a 3-0 U.S. victory before a satisfied crowd of 13,543, the largest ever in the facility for a women’s game.
The third match was the last for the year on its home soil for the USWNT, which was seeing its first action since taking Gold in the Paris Olympics over the summer.
“It was kind of our victory tour, so (we got) three solid wins and a lot of celebration and proud moments for individuals,” former Racing Louisville defender Emily Fox said.
Naomi Girma flicks a corner kick into the box that glances off an Argentina defender for an own-goal in a U.S. Women's National Team victory in Lynn Family Stadium on Oct. 30, 2024.
Coach Emma Hayes used a bit of a makeshift lineup to rest some players who will be back in action soon for NWSL playoff runs.
In addition to her two goals, Girma also had a hand in the other score, flicking a Rose Lavelle corner kick toward the near post, where it glanced off an Argentina center back Aldana Cometti’s right foot and into the net for an own goal.
“I feel like anytime anyone gets their first goal, it’s always such a joy and the whole team gets excited,” Girma said. “So it was fun to get mine tonight.”
Her first one, she said, “just fell right in front of me, it was so great. I was like, I don’t think I can miss this. It fell right on my head.”
The second was a header off a pass from Alyssa Malonson, who recorded her first international assist.
After that score, Girma’s teammates bowed down to her before she dashed off to hug teammate Sophia Smith on the sideline.
That final score began with a long cross from Racing Louisville’s Emma Sears, who earned her first start for the national team fresh off of a brilliant debut – in which she scored a goal and had an assist in a win over Iceland.
The game also marked the 100th international cap for Lavelle, who was honored before the game.
The U.S. will close out its year with a pair of matches in Europe – against England in Wembly on Nov. 30 and at the Netherlands on Dec. 3.
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