USWNT loses two straight for first time since '17

An understrength Spain women's squad bushed the United States 2-0 successful a affable successful Pamplona connected Tuesday night.

Laia Codina enactment the hosts up earlier the interruption and Esther Gonzalez doubled the pb successful the 2nd fractional with a stunning volley to springiness Spain an improbable triumph implicit the the U.S.

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It was the archetypal clip the USWNT had allowing aggregate goals successful consecutive games since Feb. 27 and March 2 of 2019, successful matches against Japan and England, respectively, pursuing a 2-1 nonaccomplishment to the Lionessess for Vlatko Andonovski's broadside connected Friday.

Spain was without galore of its apical players, who are embroiled successful a conflict with the country's federation implicit who should beryllium coaching the team. At slightest 15 players refused call-ups for a brace of friendlies successful this planetary model arsenic a amusement of protestation amid the team's tendency to spot the women's crippled successful Spain professionalized.

The determination was seen by the Spanish federation arsenic an effort to unit the resignation of manager Jorge Vilda, but the team's players denied that was the case.

Vilda, who said helium volition not resign arsenic coach, oversaw the women's triumph against the U.S. connected Tuesday and arsenic good arsenic a 1-1 gully with Sweden connected Friday.

Barcelona's Patricia Guijarro and goalkeeper Sandra Panos, and Manchester United's Lucia Garcia were among the apical players near retired of the squad against the U.S. Jenni Hermoso and Alexia Putellas were not included due to the fact that of injury.

Codina scored successful the 39th minute. It was the archetypal extremity disconnected a acceptable portion that the United States had conceded since past summer's Tokyo Olympics. Gonzalez added a extremity successful the 72nd.

The United States hadn't mislaid 2 consecutive since the March 2017 SheBelieves Cup, erstwhile the squad mislaid consecutive games to England and France.

Both teams are preparing for adjacent summer's World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The United States, the world's top-ranked team, has won the past 2 World Cups.

The U.S. players are reeling pursuing the release past week of a study connected misconduct successful the National Women's Soccer League. A year-long probe led by erstwhile acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates recovered "systemic" maltreatment and misconduct successful women's soccer.

U.S. skipper Becky Sauerbrunn said players were "horrified" by the revelations. Five of 10 coaches successful the NWSL past play were either fired oregon stepped down amid allegations of inappropriate behavior. Yates besides offered recommendations for alteration going forward.

The United States had won the erstwhile 3 meetings against Spain.