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Sanchez and Swanson came back and scored, and the bench drew level with Spain

The U.S. trailed 2-0 again and drew 2-2 at Subaru Park. Ashley Sanchez scored on her first start in nearly two years, and Mallory Swanson's 86th-minute volley came off a move started by two substitutes.

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Maya ArguelloOct 14, 20264 min read
Every call on this site goes on a public ledger and gets graded. The misses stay up.
Mallory Swanson, in an ESPN portrait in a club kit.

The United States drew 2-2 with Spain at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., on Tuesday, three days after losing 2-0 to the same team. Spain led 2-0 after 32 minutes, and all four of Spain's shots on goal came in that opening half hour. The ratings rise from the back line to the attack, and the best of them belong to the two players who scored and the substitutes who built the equalizer.

Starters#

Phallon Tullis-Joyce, goalkeeper, 5/10 (90 min). Made both her saves inside the first 15 minutes, including a one-handed stop from close range by the federation's account. Then her quick clearance of Fox's back pass went straight to Alexia Putellas, who started the move for Spain's second goal.

Emily Fox, defender, 5/10 (90 min). Under pressure and facing her own goal, she played the ball back to Tullis-Joyce in the 32nd minute, and Spain scored from the clearance. Her switch of play out left set up Sanchez's chance two minutes later.

Kennedy Wesley, defender, 6/10 (90 min). Started at center back and finished the match, and Spain did not put a shot on goal after the 32nd minute. She won two free kicks, one before halftime and one in the 52nd.

Tierna Davidson, defender, 6/10 (80 min). Part of a back four starting together for the first time, and the second half was the quiet one for that line. She won two free kicks and conceded one corner. Kate Del Fava replaced her in the 80th.

Gisele Thompson, defender, 6/10 (61 min). One of Hayes's four changes to the lineup. She won a free kick on the left wing and set up Sanchez's 30th-minute shot from a tight angle, which went just wide. Alyssa Thompson replaced her in the 61st.

Claire Hutton, midfielder, 5/10 (61 min). One of Hayes's four changes, inserted into the midfield. Neither report records a shot, a chance created or a foul for her, and Jaelin Howell replaced her in the 61st.

Lindsey Heaps, midfielder, 6/10 (61 min). The captain's 180th cap. She set up Wilson's sixth-minute shot, which was saved, and by U.S. Soccer's goal rundown her pass to Wilson on the right started the first U.S. goal. Lily Yohannes replaced her in the 61st.

Rose Lavelle, midfielder, 6/10 (61 min). Her 124th cap moved her past Julie Ertz into 34th on the program's list. Her free kick from about 30 yards found Rodman's head just before halftime, and the header was on target. Swanson replaced her in the 61st.

Trinity Rodman, forward, 5/10 (60 min). Her header from Lavelle's free kick went straight at Misa Rodriguez, and it was her one shot. She was caught offside once and committed one foul. Michelle Cooper replaced her in the 60th.

Sophia Wilson, forward, 7/10 (80 min). Fended off a tackle near midfield, ran at the Spain goal and slid the ball wide to Sanchez for the 49th-minute goal, her 12th international assist and her first since July 2024. She also had three shots, one saved. Emma Sears replaced her in the 80th.

Ashley Sanchez, forward, 8/10 (80 min). Her first U.S. start since Oct. 30, 2024. She dribbled into the box, stutter-stepped her defender and scored low into the far corner, her first U.S. goal since July 2022. She had two first-half chances go wide and fed Yohannes in the move behind Swanson's 69th-minute chance.

Substitutes#

Michelle Cooper, forward, 7/10 (30 min). Replaced Rodman in the 60th. She took Del Fava's long ball inside the box, held it up and found Swanson unmarked for the equalizer, her third international assist. One foul.

Alyssa Thompson, forward, 6/10 (29 min). Came on for Gisele Thompson in the 61st. Both her shots were blocked, and her pass set up Yohannes's last shot in stoppage time. She was fouled in the 80th minute, and Natalia Ramos was booked for it.

Lily Yohannes, midfielder, 7/10 (29 min). Her first-time pass behind Spain's back line sent Swanson through in the 69th. In stoppage time her shot from outside the box took a deflection and nearly went in before Rodriguez scooped it away. She committed three fouls.

Mallory Swanson, forward, 8/10 (29 min). Rodriguez saved her left-footer in the 69th. In the 86th she collected Cooper's pass, swiveled and volleyed into the bottom left corner from 15 yards: her 39th U.S. goal and her first since the Olympic final winner in August 2024.

Jaelin Howell, midfielder, 6/10 (29 min). Her first U.S. appearance in 316 days and her seventh cap. Neither report records a shot or a foul for her, but the U.S. midfield she joined in the 61st conceded no shot on goal and scored once.

Kate Del Fava, defender, 7/10 (10 min). Her first cap, at 28. Six minutes after she came on, her long ball over Spain's back line found Cooper and started the equalizer. She conceded one corner late on.

Emma Sears, forward, 6/10 (10 min). A short cameo in place of Wilson from the 80th. Neither report records a shot or a chance for her, and the U.S. scored once while she was on.

Pietra Tordin, forward, 6/10 (10 min). Her first cap, in place of Sanchez from the 80th. Her one shot, from the center of the box in the 83rd, was blocked.

Ratings are out of 10. A 6 is a solid international performance.

Sources: U.S. Soccer, "U.S. Women's National Team Battles Spain to 2-2 Draw in Rematch as Ashley Sanchez and Mallory Swanson Score," match recap and report, October 14, 2026; U.S. Soccer, "USWNT vs. Spain: Starting XI & Lineup Notes," October 13, 2026; ESPN match summary and commentary, United States vs. Spain, October 13, 2026.

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