Alana Cook's Birthday Goal Secures USWNT Win Against Ireland in World Cup Warmup
Alana Cook's stunning goal on her birthday helped the USWNT secure a 1-0 victory over Ireland in a World Cup warmup friendly. Alyssa Thompson made her first start and became the youngest player to start for the USWNT since 2016. Mallory Swanson was absent due to a successful surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in her left knee. The USWNT struggled to break down Ireland's defense, but Cook's goal and Emily Fox's goal in the previous friendly against Ireland provided some much-needed scoring contributions. The team will face Wales in their final match before the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.