Goals Lindsey Horan and Lynn Williams energize fans as USWNT romps past Iceland | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 27: Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States celebrates scoring with teammate Lynn Williams #6 of the United States during the second half against Iceland at GEODIS Park on October 27, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Wilkinson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

John Wilkinson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF

For about 70 minutes, Iceland gave the United States enough trouble to bring back memories of the classic 1990s film D2: The mighty ducksin other words, the last time a team from Iceland turned out to be such a thorn in the side of a group of American athletes.

The USWNT trailed Iceland for much of Sunday’s friendly after Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute.

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Iceland with the Olimpico and the USWNT trail for the first time in the Emma Hayes era
Watch USA vs. Iceland live on TNT, truTV and Max pic.twitter.com/tZx4hqpRyt

But Lynn Williams drew the United States level in the 72nd minute, Lindsey Horan scored the winner just minutes later and Emma Sears made it three in stoppage time as the Americans beat Iceland 3-1 for the second straight friendly match.

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Emma Sears makes it a 3-1 USWNT win with a goal on her debut
Watch the US versus Argentina on TNT, truTV and Max on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/ckPMhtGd7T

It was the second match in a row between the countries that kept Iceland interesting. During Thursday’s friendly match, the two countries were level until Jaedyn Williams (85th minute) and Sophia Smith (88th minute) gave the United States a 3-1 victory.

This time, Williams and Horan were the heroes, and social media gave both duo their flowers:

Tamerra Griffioen @tamerra_nikol

Lynn Williams comes to the rescue against a steely European team? Well, I never

Paul @DashFanIRL

I’m very happy that Lynn Williams is finally flourishing for the national team.
It was so frustrating for years that she burned the NWSL and the USWNT.
Now she’s just all fire.

Justin Horneker @hornekerjustin

Lynn Williams is my favorite American #uswnt

Erin @ErinDobby

We’ll add that Lynn Williams assist to the list of ‘things we’d like to see’

Jason Anderson @JasonDCfootball

One other thing I’d like to note: Bringing Horan into the game has really changed the urgency #USWNT played along. She’s neater and quicker to get her head up, and the US has been able to disorganize Iceland since the break in a way they couldn’t in the first. https://t.co/mIwQ7cbVOJ

Ghost of Carson Shaw @DMV_Chris

Don’t make Horan angry. She will score on you

Laura D @ldarn11

Sassy Horan is the best Horan.

On paper, the statistics will suggest that the United States dominated this game. The Americans controlled 64.7 percent of the ball, beating Iceland by a huge margin of 17-4 (5-3 on goal) and keeping six corner kicks to just one for their counterparts.

But at least for the first half, it didn’t feel like a dominant display. Iceland played with discipline and determination, and while the lead went against the run of play, it didn’t necessarily feel undeserved.

But the United States showed its own grit, once again maintaining its composure for the full 90 minutes and finding a way to beat Iceland again late in the match. It’s a promising sign to see the United States put together two strong performances this summer thanks to its Olympic gold medal, even without a full-strength group and without some players starting out of position.

The Hayes era is off to about the best start it can get. The future for the USWNT seems very bright under the new manager.