US women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes expressed pride over Catarina Macario’s return to form, with the Chelsea forward scoring her first goal for the USWNT in a 2-0 win over Colombia at the SheBelieves Cup. The match saw Macario score in the 33rd minute and play heavily throughout the game.
Hayes had previously worked with Macario at Chelsea, witnessing her struggles with knee injuries that kept her out of the Olympics. However, with Macario back on the squad, both player and coach celebrated the win.
Macario was involved in the US attack for most of the 63 minutes she played, showcasing her instincts around the goal. Hayes praised her performance, saying she’s “got an instinct in and around the goal” that was demonstrated by the goal.
Other players also impressed Hayes, including Aly Sentnor and Lily Johannes. Sentnor scored a 60th-minute goal from 30 yards out, while Johannes made vital defensive contributions, including blocking a shot late in the game.
The USWNT is now in second place in the SheBelieves Cup standings due to Japan’s 4-0 win over Australia. The team will face Australia in Glendale, Arizona, three days later, before facing Japan on February 26 in San Diego, California.
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43946532/shebelieves-cup-hayes-celebrates-macario-scoring-uswnt-return