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USWNT match ratings against Thailand: This was Alex Morgan’s night

By Kevin Parvizi

REIMS, FRANCE - JUNE 11: Alex Morgan of the USA celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's eighth goal during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
REIMS, FRANCE - JUNE 11: Alex Morgan of the USA celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's eighth goal during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) /
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REIMS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Alex Morgan of United States of America, Rose Lavelle of United States of America and Samantha Mewis of United States of America celebrate after their team’s seventh goal with team mates during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
REIMS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Alex Morgan of United States of America, Rose Lavelle of United States of America and Samantha Mewis of United States of America celebrate after their team’s seventh goal with team mates during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France group F match between USA and Thailand at Stade Auguste Delaune on June 11, 2019 in Reims, France. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

CM Rose Lavelle 8/10

Rose Lavelle is renowned for her attacking abilities in the midfield, and while stronger sides will test her defensively, this was a big-time performance from the 24-year-old. Lavelle’s first strike was hit with too much pace for Thailand’s keeper to deal with, and her second was a simple finish set up from Mewis’s low cross. Her shooting range and finishing will come in handy for the USWNT, but when Sauerbrunn returns from injury, her place in the starting lineup could be called into question after Mewis’s brilliance.

CM Lindsey Horan 7/10

Lindsey Horan had the quietest game of any of the United States’s midfielders and attackers, but she still grabbed a goal and was a handful for Thailand’s defense. There’s a reason why Horan was the NWSL’s MVP last season; she is one of the most intelligent players in the world and is absolutely dominant in the box. Horan’s interplay and eye for goal were both on display, and she’ll have some true standout performances later in the tournament.

CM Sam Mewis 9/10

The North Carolina Courage midfielder entered the starting lineup due to Sauerbrunn’s injury, which shifted Ertz to centerback, and Sam Mewis made quite the statement. She was impossible to stop on the ball, and her energy and strength created so many dangerous attacks for the USWNT. Mewis is one of the toughest players to take off of the ball, and she’s a sharp passer. There are few midfielders in the world who are as well-rounded as she is. On a bit of a hot streak after grabbing more goals, Mewis set up Lavelle for another. She’s a rare athlete, and it’ll be difficult to bench her again after this performance.

Substitute CM Carli Lloyd 7.5/10

Since there was some controversy regarding Carli Lloyd’s inclusion into the USWNT this year, she came into the tournament with a massive chip on her shoulder. She wants to win, she wants to be in the starting lineup and she wants to grab goals. Although she didn’t fulfill the second of these three objectives, she scored as a substitute and looked sharp in this one. From the moment she entered the game for Lavelle, Lloyd made a huge impact. She was hungry on the ball, took defenders on, made skillful turns and hammered home after coming close on multiple occasions. Lloyd is still an asset, especially off the bench.