Macario back to scoring ways as USA beat Colombia

Macario's highly promising progress was halted by an ACL injury in June 2022 and she has suffered a number of setbacks in her return to action. Although she played four games for Emma Hayes' team last year, the Chelsea forward had not scored for the USWNT since April 2022.

The goal came in the 33rd minute and it was created by the talented 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, who floated a lovely pass over the top to Yazmeen Ryan who fired across the face of the goal for Macario to slide home.

The USA had gone close earlier when a Macario corner reached Jenna Nighswonger at the back post and her volley crashed out off the bar. Hayes was forced, by injuries, to pick a squad missing many of her first choices and Olympic gold medal winners and opted to give several of the next generation their chance for Thursday's game in Houston.

But despite the absence of the 'Triple Espresso' frontline - Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson (previously Smith) - the USA looked dangerous.

Yohannes, who plays in the Netherlands for Ajax, was the stand-out with the teenager's elegance and poise on the ball matched only by her impressive passing range.

 

February 21, 2025

Colombia battled hard but even this largely second string USA team was a class above them and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on the hour. It was an outstanding solo effort from Ally Sentnor that made it 2-0, the forward collecting the ball in the inside-left channel and cutting inside before blasting into the top corner from 25-yards out.

For Macario, who missed the 2023 World Cup and last year's Olympics there was real relief at being back on the scoresheet. "I just felt like it was a big weight off my shoulders. I am just so happy to be starting for the national team again, to be playing again," she said, before reflecting on her fitness struggles.

"There are a lot of tears that were shed, a lot of heartbreaks that's for sure, a lot of times when I thought I wouldn't play again, just a lot of adversity and I am just thankful to be playing again," she added.