The US Women’s National Team has dominated the international soccer landscape for 23 years. Ever since the 1999 World Cup won and Brandi Chastain’s famous celebration USWNT has been among the fore runners in terms of FIFA World Cup wins; only Germany and Japan have taken the title since ’99, with the States looking to make it a hat trick in 2023. The US, of course, also won the maiden tournament in 1991 under its previous guise of the FIFA World Championship for Women’s Football for the M&Ms Cup. Bit of a mouthful. The United States are undoubtedly the Queens of international soccer.
This is a delicate time for the US, however. The Stars and Stripes are going through something of a changing of the guard. Forgive the British Imperial reference, but there’s no better term to describe the transitional phase besetting the USWNT now. The likes of Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath have been missing from recent rosters with players like Trinity Rodman and Catarina Maccario taking centre stage. That being said, there should be one name at the forefront of Vlatko Andonovski’s planning for Australia and New Zealand next summer: Ashley Sanchez.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say something here. It might sound crazy, but it’s not the craziest thing I’ve ever said. I once said that Star Wars: The Last Jedi was ‘pretty good’. Wild, right? Anyway, I think Ashley Sanchez has the ability to become one of the world’s best players. I really believe that. Crazy? Maybe not
Sanchez is a player with incredible close control, a low centre of gravity, quick dribbling speeds and is one who is very gifted technically. She can create, dribble, pass, shoot… She has it all in her locker. I have delved into some of her previous footage to show you what I mean, just in case you don’t believe me. I mean, I know you do. I’m not breaking new ground here by telling you that Ashley Sanchez is good at soccer. But how good is she? The answer is very.
Trickery
First off, look at the clip in figure 1. This is a goal Sanchez scored for the Spirit away at Kansas City in 2021. A long ball is clipped forward from the back and Trinity Rodman does well to chest the ball into the path of Sanchez, who slaloms her way past 3 defenders in the area before hitting a low shot with the outside of her boot and into the corner. It’s that tight control she has under pressure and her low centre of gravity that allows her to jink her way around a clutch of defenders. She’s very similar to players like Lieke Martens and Fran Kirby in that regard, and she has the potential to be every bit as good as them.
Figure 1 is a clip showing a goal from Ashley Sanchez against Kansas City in the 2021 season. Video credit: Sauce Separately.
In her last match (a 4-1 routing of the Orlando Pride) Sanchez was a dominant force. She reads the game so well and is so alert to the play. Her reaction times are incredibly fast. If you look at the clip in figure 2, you’ll see an example of her capitalising on an opponent’s mistake. Against the Pride, Orlando’s goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse botches her clearance and Sanchez is onto it in a flash. She plays a little give and go before bamboozling the Pride’s defence and setting up Ashley Hatch. She’s so dangerous in close spaces.
Figure 2 shows some of Sanchez’s highlights in her recent appearance against the Orlando Pride. Video credit: NWSL.
Now, the more cynical amongst you might say ‘well, can she do it in the big games?’ Granted, she’ll face tougher defences than those of 2021’s iteration of Kansas City and this year’s newly formed Orlando Pride defensive line. However, she’s already shined on the biggest stage. She has an NWSL Championship winners medal under her belt after all. She may have had a quieter game in the final, but she was instrumental in the semi-final defeat of OL Reign. Her game winning goal (figure 3) perfectly encapsulated her quick thinking and ingenuity.
Figure 3 is a clip showing Sanchez’s game winning goal from the 2021 NWSL Championship semi-final. Video credit: NWSL.
Continued growth
Sanchez has continued her upward trajectory this season. Whilst it’s still early days, the 23-year-old has 1 goal, 12 key passes and 6 drawn fouls across her 4 appearances so far in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup according to NWSLSoccer.com. She’s finally beginning to receive international recognition too, winning 6 caps since her maiden appearance in November’s USWNT win over Australia.
Sanchez also recently bagged her first goal in the win over Uzbekistan (figure 4). This is a goal that also perfectly encapsulates her game. She has the confidence to be direct, to take people on and go for goal. Admittedly she’ll face much sterner tests than that put up by Uzbekistan, but still… Playing for one’s country brings its own pressures. Sanchez looked right at home. She does well to see the space ahead of her and backs her own ability to work the angle and create a chance.
Figure 4 is a clip showing Sanchez’s goal against Uzbekistan. Video credit: USWNT.
Off the ball movement
Sanchez’s off the ball movement is another mightily impressive facet of her overall play. It’s arguably her best asset, in fact. Her movement is indicative of someone with a very high soccer IQ. She’s great at finding those little pockets of space in and around the penalty, and in fact when she drops a little deeper too (figure 5). The main issue she faces is a natural by-product of her quality; she gets doubled up on rather a lot (also figure 5). In this instance, vs North Carolina Courage, she’s able to pivot and pop the ball off to a teammate which then allows her team to get moving up the field again.
To her credit, though, she still finds the space, particularly during key transition moments when everything is a little more frenetic. In figure 6, Rodman breaks down the left and Sanchez slyly gives her marker the slip and peels into space on the right. This is really clever play as she anticipates the cutback from Rodman. In this instance it never comes, but the point still stands.
Sanchez’s stats stand up against the world’s best
Whilst Sanchez undoubtedly has the potential to be one of the world’s best players, she’s not quite there yet. Due to her progression from the US college system, she’s only been in the pros since the age of 21. Still, her stats hold up against some of the best in the world right now. In my opinion, Chelsea’s Fran Kirby is one of the best no. 10s in the world. I used fotmob.com’s comparison tool to compare Sanchez ‘s stats to those of the England ace in the WSL this season, as well as her Blues teammate Pernille Harder (figures 7 & 8).
Sanchez’s performance stats in the 2021 season certainly hold up here. Although, the Spirit are NWSL Champions, I do not believe they are as strong as the likes of Chelsea and other clubs in Europe. They also play in a very high level league in the NWSL, one that’s set up to promote parity. So, when you consider that her statistics gain even more traction.
Have I convinced you yet? No, OK then watch this goal. I’m an Orlando supporter and even I was clapping when this went in.
WHAT A GOAL from Ashley Sanchez 😳
🎥 @NWSL pic.twitter.com/GGVXW8sShj
— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) August 22, 2021
It’s hard not to see, given Sanchez’s relative ability and career trajectory, how the USWNT moves forward and grows without her. The USWNT have an embarrassment of riches in an attacking sense, so Sanchez will have to work hard to earn a spot on the plan next summer. If she does, don’t be surprised if she flourishes Down Under.
*All statistics courtesy of NWSLSoccer.com and FotMob.com.
**Piece written prior to round of games on the 16th of April.
Written by Dan Berridge
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