Ashley Sanchez steps up as USWNT learns to win without Catarina Macario

Catarina Macario was meant to be the focal point of the United States' generational transition. That plan, however, had to be put on hold after the 22-year-old tore her ACL in May in Lyon's final match of the season.

On Saturday, ahead of next month's World Cup qualifiers, the Americans got their first look at life without Macario — and a preview of what much of qualifying will look like against lower-ranked opposition.

The U.S. slogged through a scoreless first half against Colombia at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, before scoring three times in a much better second 45 minutes to win, 3-0.

Washington Spirit striker Ashley Hatch started in the No. 9 role on Saturday ahead of Alex Morgan, who leads the National Women's Soccer League with 11 goals in 10 regular-season games (17 goals in 17 games all competitions). Hatch is a seasoned poacher who won the NWSL Golden Boot last season, and she is the most traditional center-forward option the U.S. has. She got her first start of 2022 on Saturday, and there appeared to be a lack of familiarity with wingers Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh as the U.S. struggled through the first half. Movement from the front three was too stagnant, and execution in the final third was frequently sloppy.

Colombia set up in a low defensive block much like the U.S. expects to see from some opponents at World Cup qualifying, which begins on July 4. Overmatched opponents have played the Americans that way for years with varying levels of success, although Colombia's use of a sweeper behind its back four is unlike anything the U.S. has seen in a long time.

«It's no secret that they were very much focused on not getting scored on,» U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. «So, the main