USWNT vs. Mexico score: Sophia Smith scores winner as USA get revenge on regional rivals

There was just one goal in the game, but Smith got it in the second half

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HARRISON, N.J. -- The U.S. women's national team beat Mexico 1-0 on Saturday in front of a sell-out crowd at Red Bull Arena, extending new head coach Emma Hayes' winning streak to three games as the group continues their final preparations for the Olympic Games.

The game's lone goal came in the 64th minute courtesy of Sophia Smith, who built on a promising new partnership with Mallory Swanson to score. Swanson played a slick little pass to Smith in the penalty area, and Smith outmaneuvered a couple of defenders around her before slotting the ball into the back of the net from close range.

It was an unsurprisingly dominant showing from the USWNT, who boasted more than 70% of the ball and outshot Mexico 16-3 but struggled to actually find the back of the net for much of the match. The hosts put just six shots on target, affirming a comment Hayes made a month ago that the fluidity of the USWNT's attack is a top area of improvement.

The penultimate match before the Olympics came with several celebratory moments, honoring both the USWNT's past and present. The first-ever players on the USWNT, which began play in 1985, were brought onto the pitch pre-match, as was the 1999 team that is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic Women's World Cup win.

As for the current group, Alyssa Naeher formally celebrated her 100th cap that she earned in March with a pre-game ceremony, while NWSL rookie Croix Bethune made her senior team debut before heading to the Olympics as an alternate.

The USWNT wrap up their Olympics prep on Tuesday against Costa Rica at Washington, D.C.'s Audi Field.

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USA 1, MEX  0

62' At long last, the deadlock is broken courtesy of Sophia Smith, who has had her sights set on goal all day long. She combines well with Swanson, whose slick little pass to Smith in the box means the latter is able to outmaneuver the defenders around her and finally score the game's first goal. It's early days in the Hayes era but those two already have a strong partnership brewing, something the head coach commented herself when they paired well in Haye's first game -- a 4-0 win over South Korea in June.

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FT: USA 1, MEX 0

It was not a smooth journey to the finish line for the USWNT, but they have another win on the board as they count down to the Olympics. There will no doubt be plenty of learnings for head coach Emma Hayes, who has already admitted that there are a lot of details she's eager to introduce tot he team over the course of her tenure.

 
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Croix Bethune's debut

79' The USWNT make one final sub by bringing on Olympics alternate Croix Bethune in the place of Mallory Swanson. This is Bethune's debut and comes after an electric start to life as a professional -- the Washington Spirit player has won the NWSL's Rookie of the Month award three times so far this season and feels like a frontrunner to succeed USWNT teammate Jenna Nighswonger as the Rookie of the Year.

 
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Sell out crowd

The announcer reveals that 26,376 have filled Red Bull Arena, making it a sell out crowd. It comes as little surprise -- this venue has historically been kind to the USWNT, who played send off games here in 2015 and 2019 in front of similar crowds.

 
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More chances for the USWNT

73' Things feel much more smooth between Rodman, Swanson and Smith, who combine for Smith to get another promising shot off. Swanson and Smith work together again just a moment later for another chance for Smith at goal, but she can't pull it off that time.

 
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Three changes for the USWNT

65' Albert, Sonnett and Dunn (who gets a huge applause as a native of New York) come on for Horan, Nighswonger and Fox. These substitutes were being lined up before the goal but it will be fascinating to see if they were made to bolster the USWNT's attacking efforts today.

 
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Action on the sidelines

59' USWNT head coach Emma Hayes just finished talking to a batch of substitutes, including Crystal Dunn and Korbin Albert. It looks like changes could be on the way for the U.S. as Hayes begins to problem-solve for the first time in her USWNT career.

 
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Attacks in the second half

55' The USWNT are unchanged to start the second half, while Nieto comes on for Orejel for Mexico. Each team has had their looks at goal but the crowd at Red Bull Arena is still waiting eagerly for the game's opening goal.

 
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HT: USA 0, MEX 0

The USWNT did not lack meaningful chances during a dominant first half but they also struggled to finish them. It's clear a lack of cohesion is still plaguing the U.S. team, even with the many personnel changes over the last year.

 
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Dangerous freekick for the USWNT

45'+1 The hosts earn a freekick just on the edge on the penalty after Swanson gets pulled down Lavelle stands on the ball but sends it swinging well away from her teammates and the opposite side of the goal, where it rolls out of play.

 
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Mexico threaten with a freekick

39' Ovalle causes problems for the USWNT again and so Mexico land a freekick within shooting distance of the goal. Ovalle's the one who ends up taking it and goes for the back of the net, but sends the ball over the net instead. They still have yet to put a shot on frame with their limited opportunities.

 
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Coffey booked

31' Coffey gets a yellow card straight out of the hydration break, a booking that's met with a round of boos from the packed, pro-USWNT crowd at Red Bull Arena.

 
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No penalty for the USWNT

30' Smith is near goal again and this time, goalkeeper Barreras comes off her line for a tackle. While Hayes throws her hands up asking for a penalty, Barreras is still on the ground and medical staff run to treat her during a hydration break.

 
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Mexico with a freekick

26' Mexico win a freekick yards from goal and Sanchez goes for goal, but the ball lands out of danger so all Naeher has to do is keep an eye on it. It's been a back-and-forth feeling the last several minutes, perhaps down to the fact that this is just Hayes' third game in charge of the USWNT and there are still a lot of details she has yet to implement.

 
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Smith almost scores again

23' The USWNT are back in their search for a goal and this time, the ball falls to Smith. She's unable to convert yet again today, and the number of missed shots are starting to rack up.

 
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Mexico with a chance

22' Mexico make their way towards goal and Ovalle's the one with the ball at her feet in front of goal, but she's unable to get the shot on target. It was a promising opportunity for Mexico -- and a demonstration that the visitors can cause damage, especially with the score still 0-0.

 
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Swanson nearly scores

21' Girma's ball starts a promising play, and Lavelle is able to keep things going. She eventually finds Rodman as an option and then the ball lands to Swanson, who forces a corner but nothing comes of it.

 
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A calmer pace

20' The USWNT have not racked a ton of more shots in the last 10 minutes -- just a shot from Smith that was promising but landed off target. It seems like Mexico have settled a little more into this match, doing well to keep the U.S. out of their box and doing well with the counterpress when they have a chance.

 
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USWNT in charge

10' This game has mostly been one-way traffic for the USWNT, who already have three shots -- all of which are on target. The limited fluidity Emma Hayes identified as an area of improvement after her first games in charge in June, though, is still a problem. It probably makes sense, then, for Hayes to go witha. first-choice team -- every rep is valuable with 12 days to go until the Olympics.

 
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USWNT go forward

2' The USWNT have their first meaningful chance of the game as Fox plays Lavelle into the box and a deflection means Smith has a nice chance, forcing the game's first save. The crowd is electric every time the USWNT make a forward-minded run, which so far has been fairly frequent.

 
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First half underway

The ref blows the whistle and the game ahas officially begun.

 
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Celebrating Alyssa Naeher

There's another pre-match ceremony, this time for Alyssa Naeher's 100th cap. She earned the distinction during the team's successful run at the Gold Cup and is also being honored by wearing the captain's armband today.

 
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A tribute to the legends

Before the game kicks off, U.S. Soccer is paying tribute to the USWNT players of old for the impact they have left on the team and the sport. First come out the 1985 team -- the first-ever edition of the USWNT -- and now out come the '99ers, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary of winning the World Cup. 

 
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Mexico starting XI

The San Diego Wave's Maria Sanchez headlines the lineup for the visiting team.

Mexico starting XI: Barreras; Orejel, Bernal, Luna, Sanchez, Palacios, Ovalle, Espinoza, Reyes, Camberos, Rodriguez

Substitutes: Espino, Felix, Martinez, Hernandez, Delgado, Ordoñez, Pelayo, Ferral, Nieto, Delgadillo, Perez, Reyes

 
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USWNT starting XI

Emma Hayes opts for a first-choice lineup, including a first start for goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher after missing Hayes' first camp with an injury. The Olympics alternates will also be available off the bench, but it's unclear how much game time they will get. Here's a look at the USWNT's lineup.

USWNT starting XI: Naeher, Fox, Girma, Davidson, Nighswonger, Coffey, Horan, Smith, Lavelle, Rodman, Swanson

Substitutes: Albert, Krueger, Dunn, Williams, Sonnett, Shaw, Murphy, Hershfelt, Bethune, Sams, Campbell

 
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Hello and welcome!

The USWNT's final preparations for the Olympics are officially underway, and today's test against Mexico is set to serve as an important opportunity for head coach Emma Hayes to tinker before the team lands in France. Saturday's game is intriguing in its own right because it's unclear if Hayes will experiment with her squad or start to settle on a first choice lineup, but it will also be an important occasion to measure the USWNT's progress five months after a surprise loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup.

Follow along for pre-game coverage as well as updates once the game is underway.