Naomi Girma scores the first two goals for the USWNT in the win over Argentina

This international window was all about firsts for the U.S. Women’s National Team. For Naomi Girma, this was her first goal on the international stage – and her second.

The US defender took advantage of a ball deflected by Argentine defender Aldana Cometti and easily headed it through a gap in front of the Argentine goal. The sellout crowd of 13,543 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville roared as Girma’s goal gave the USWNT the first goal.

“I’m glad I was able to get us on the board,” Girma said in her halftime interview. “I’m just looking forward to the second half, then hopefully we can break it down further.”

And that’s exactly what the USA did, closing the night with a 3-0 win.

The USWNT ended the first half 2-0 after an Argentine own goal in the 44th minute that was put in danger by Girma. It didn’t take long for the team to pick up that momentum in the second half and Girma stunned the crowd again with another header assisted by Alyssa Malonson. It was Malonson’s first assist for the USA on their debut.

In her first international match and start, Alyssa Malonson assists Naomi Girma’s first brace of her career!!! #USWNT X @VW pic.twitter.com/pmg0pcJsqx

— United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 31, 2024

Girma beamed with joy and ended the evening with the captain’s armband after Lindsay Horan was substituted in the 61st minute.

Wednesday night’s game was the final of three friendlies for the USWNT in the October international window. The team also won two games against Iceland, both ending with a score of 3-1. The window was also a celebration, as it was the first time the United States played together since winning Olympic gold in Paris, and it served as an opportunity to mark the retirement of Kelley O’Hara as well as the 100 caps of Mallory Swanson, Emily Sonnett and To pay tribute to Rose Lavelle.

According to OptaJack, Wednesday’s matchday lineup marked the first time since March 7, 2001 that three different U.S. players were in the starting lineup for their national team debuts.

3 – Three different ones #USWNT Players (Eva Gaetino, Mandy Haught and Alyssa Malonson) will make their national team debuts in the same game for the first time since four on March 7, 2001 against Italy. Newbies. pic.twitter.com/mzv4oVFFUL

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) October 30, 2024

Those players, Eva Gaetino, Mandy Haught and Malonson, were just three of the seven players who earned their first cap for the national team this month. They join Racing Louisville’s Hal Hershfelt, Emily Sams, Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears, who became just the fourth USWNT player to record a goal and an assist in her debut on Sunday.

The heavy rotation of the roster was also necessary to manage the workload of the players, who now return to their NWSL clubs for the final week of the regular season.

While this window was a dry run for several first call-ups, November’s camp will come with a tougher test on the other side of the Atlantic. The team’s next two games are against European heavyweights England and the Netherlands on November 30 and December 3.

(Top photo: Katie Stratman / Imagn Images)