Fired-up Horan shows mettle as US World Cup co-captain, says coach
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[July 28, 2023]
By Amy Tennery
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Lindsey Horan bounced back from a hard hit to
show her mettle as a captain in Thursday's 1-1 draw against the
Netherlands, coach Vlatko Andonovski said, as she asserts her
leadership at the Women's World Cup.
The midfielder went down in the 59th minute of the chippy affair
after Netherlands midfielder Danielle van de Donk - her Lyon team
mate - slammed into her hard.
Horan gingerly got to her feet and hobbled off to the sideline as
the U.S. were down 0-1, before returning moments later to the pitch,
where she and van de Donk shared an angry exchange.
Horan got the ultimate revenge only moments later, as she powered a
header into the goal to level the affair for the Americans.
"Obviously, it's a very difficult moment. And instead of crying
about it, she just goes and makes a statement," said Andonovski.
"And basically shows everyone where the direction of the game is
going to take. I was very happy with her."
Horan, who is a co-captain with veteran Alex Morgan, showed there
was no lasting animosity as she posted a photo of her embracing van
de Donk to social media after the match with the caption "We are
still friends!"
But as far one of her former national team mates was concerned, the
incident was a good reminder to U.S. opponents: Don't make Horan
mad.
"Every time I played against Lindsey Horan we've gotten into a
little tussle or tackle. You always see that fire," retired U.S.
great and current Fox Sports analyst Carli Lloyd said in televised
remarks after the match.
"This is the Lindsey Horan that needs to step up and show up for
this team."
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Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup
Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Group E - United States v
Netherlands - Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand -
July 27, 2023 Lindsey Horan of the U.S. celebrates scoring their
first goal with Andi Sullivan and teammates REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
The former co-captain Lloyd famously handed off her
number 10 jersey to Horan when she retired, marking a meaningful
endorsement from one of the most decorated players ever to wear the
crest.
Horan also gleaned valuable experience from injured captain Becky
Sauerbrunn, who announced in June that she would have to miss the
tournament, after time spent together on the Portland Thorns and the
winning 2019 U.S. team.
But she made clear she planned to stamp out her own footprint in the
captaincy.
"I want to be my own type of leader," she told reporters ahead of
the tournament. "I think we all have different variations of that."
The United States, who beat Vietnam 3-0 in their World Cup opener,
close out the group stage against Portugal on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Wellington; Editing by Christian
Schmollinger)
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