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.

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).

Like Lavelle, Sanchez is unpredictable, trying bold moves that range from backheel nutmegs when she is trapped on the sideline in a 2-v-1, to a scorpion-kick assist.

"I think that Ashley Sanchez was one of the main reasons why we got a little more sophisticated in the second half," Andonovski said.

Together, Sanchez and Lavelle give the U.S.

Macario, who was one of the best players in Europe this season for Champions League winners Lyon, established herself this spring as a false nine whose interchange with Lavelle created a fluid, dangerous attack capable of confusing opponents.

Andonovski marveled at how the players around Macario adapted to her.

Placing such significance on the absence of a player who only has 17 caps might seem like hyperbole but building around Macario for right now, and for the 2023 World Cup, is exactly what the U.S.

Hatch is not done having a say -- and Andonovski praised her postgame when asked -- but Morgan reminded the world (and Andonovski) on Saturday why she has been the U.S.' dominant forward of the past decade, scoring 115 goals and winning a pair of World Cups over 190 caps.

finds itself now, on the eve of World Cup qualifying: turning back to Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, who also made her return to the team and assisted on the third goal, and to new players like Sanchez and Taylor Kornieck, who scored that final tally in her first international cap.

Whether Andonovski has the right mix of veterans and youth will be determined at World Cup qualifying in Mexico