USWNT vs Portugal today: Olivia Moultrie brace powers 3–1 rebound win; Alex Morgan tribute, Rose Lavelle note, and what’s next on the USWNT schedule

Bassyonni

ago 3 hours

USWNT vs Portugal

The USWNT answered fast and emphatically in East Hartford on Sunday, beating Portugal 3–1 behind a blistering Olivia Moultrie brace inside the opening 10 minutes before Sam Coffey iced it late. The result steadies the window after Thursday’s 2–1 setback and sends a youthful lineup into midweek with renewed rhythm. A pregame ceremony in Connecticut also honored longtime No. 1 Alyssa Naeher, a fitting moment in her home state during a game that doubled as a chemistry check for coach Emma Hayes’ evolving core.

USWNT vs Portugal: how the match unfolded

Lightning start: Moultrie struck twice early—first by timing a late box run, then by finishing a slick combination that collapsed Portugal’s left channel.
Portugal response: Jéssica Silva halved the deficit to make it 2–1 before the break, but the U.S. controlled territory and tempo after halftime.
Sealed late: With fresh legs in midfield, Coffey curled home in the 82nd minute to restore a two-goal cushion and close the door.
Lineup notes: Eight changes from Thursday produced an average age just over 21; teenagers Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jordyn Bugg featured, underscoring the youth push.

Tactically, the U.S. tightened distances in midfield, pressed more selectively, and protected transition moments that Portugal exploited in the first meeting. The wing rotations were cleaner, the nine dropped in to link play, and the back line managed depth without ceding easy diagonals.

Alex Morgan tribute and Rose Lavelle’s milestone strike

Thursday’s opener in Chester came with a heartfelt Alex Morgan celebration, marking her retirement a year after a decorated international career. On the field that night, Rose Lavelle authored the window’s other headline by scoring just 30 seconds into the match—the kind of early punch that set the tone even as Portugal rallied late for a first-ever win over the U.S. The weekend’s split—1 loss, 1 win—captures the transition moment: legends recognized, new leaders emerging.

What Sunday’s win told us

Young spine, mature control: With Moultrie and Coffey starring and Yohannes anchoring phases, the midfield produced both bite and craft.
Sharper rest defense: When the U.S. lost the ball, the nearest three reacted in sync, cutting off counters that burned them on Thursday.
Set-piece discipline: Fewer cheap fouls in wide areas, fewer scrambled clearances at the back post.

Injury watch remained a subplot this window, with select attackers managed or unavailable, but the depth pieces handled bigger roles and banked valuable minutes.

USWNT schedule: dates, times, and what’s next

Wed, Oct 29 — vs New Zealand, Kansas City
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. GMT (Thu)
- Notes: Final match of the October window; look for rotation balance—veteran stability plus another look at the youthful midfield trio.
November international window (TBA): Opponents and venues to be confirmed; expect one top-10 test and one developmental fixture.
2026 early slate: Traditional January camp window, then a late-winter pair of friendlies; tournament participation to be announced.

Times subject to change; check day-of listings. UK availability typically posts overnight with next-evening replays.

USA vs Portugal takeaways for the bigger picture

Finishing touch returns: Early goals changed the game state and let the press trigger on U.S. terms.
Positional clarity: The six/eight roles looked defined rather than interchangeable for interchangeability’s sake; it helped structure second balls.
Wing balance: The U.S. found width without isolating fullbacks, using underlaps to create cleaner cutbacks instead of low-percentage crosses.

Player spotlights

Olivia Moultrie: Two composed finishes and confident tempo control between the lines; her off-ball timing is starting to punish set defensive shapes.
Sam Coffey: Late dagger plus steady distribution—sees the early switch that stretches blocks before they settle.
Alyssa Naeher: Honored pregame; a reminder of the standard at the position during an era of trophies.

For searches like “USWNT vs Portugal today” and “US women’s soccer”

Today’s result: USA 3–1 Portugal in East Hartford.
Thursday’s result: USA 1–2 Portugal (historic first Portugal win).
Next up: USA vs New Zealand, Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. ET in Kansas City.

With one eye on legacy moments and the other on tomorrow’s engine room, the USWNT found both urgency and balance this weekend. The response arrived on time; now the task is to bottle it for Wednesday and beyond.