THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Alyssa Naeher ended her national team career with one last win.

The stalwart goalkeeper made two critical saves in her final match for the US, and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday.

“I definitely wasn’t thinking about it during the game, just wanted to win the game and do what I could to come away with the ‘W’ for us to close out the year,” Naeher said.

Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute for the US, who won their fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer and wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.

Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European exhibitions would be her final matches. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the US, with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts.

Naeher is the only US keeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. She was in goal when the US defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final.

“I feel like in my heart I would love to keep going. In my head, in my body and mind, I feel like it’s the right time. And I think it’s the right time with this team as well as it builds toward the future and toward 2027,” Naeher said. “This environment, this team, is an incredible team to be a part of, but it’s also really hard and really challenging in a lot of ways as well.

“I feel like I’ve given everything I have to give for this team and that’s why I feel at peace with that.”

The Netherlands took the lead on center back Veerle Buurman’s header off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Naeher prevented a second goal when she punched away Dominique Janssen’s shot in the 38th.

The US drew even at the end of the first half on an own goal that deflected off Buurman and past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

Naeher slid to stop Danielle van de Donk’s shot in the 69th minute before Williams, a second-half substitute, scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st of her career.

“I wouldn’t say that this was our prettiest game of soccer ever. And sometimes that’s how games go. You can talk about tactics, you can talk about formations, you talk about everything, but the biggest thing was matching their intensity. Getting to the second ball, getting to the first ball. That was the shift that needed to happen,” Williams said about the team’s second-half mindset.

Naeher finished with six saves.

She is not quite finished with soccer yet: She will continue playing next season for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League.

“She’s been consistent again and again. Even when she’s been questioned at times in her career, she’s always found the answer,” US coach Emma Hayes said. “Not only has she been a great player in this program, but let me tell you, she’s so loved by everyone, players and staff alike. She is the best teammate you could ask for and that just speaks volumes to the person that she is.”

Lily Yohannes came in as a substitute in the second half. Yohannes, who has dual citizenship, opted to play for the US over the Netherlands last month. She plays professionally for the Dutch club Ajax.

The US finished the year without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, who were left off the roster for the final two matches to rest and heal nagging injuries.

The US are unbeaten in 15 matches under Hayes, who took over in May.

LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Ruud van Nistelrooy savoured his first match in charge of Leicester with a 3-1 Premier League win over West Ham, while Crystal Palace edged Ipswich 1-0 on Tuesday.
Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka got the goals as Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his new role shortly after his departure from Manchester United.
The Dutchman said he had been “astonished” by the number of offers he received after a four-game spell as interim United boss, which included two wins over Leicester.
A lethal finisher in his playing days, Van Nistelrooy watched on approvingly as Vardy opened the scoring after just 99 seconds at the King Power.
The 37-year-old had initially been flagged offside, but a VAR review showed he was clearly on for his fifth goal of the season.
Defeat ramps up the scrutiny of Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui after a seventh defeat in 14 Premier League games.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and had 31 shots to Leicester’s eight but failed to make it count.
West Ham did have a goal controversially ruled out when Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen punched the ball into his own net and was relieved to be awarded a foul due to minimal contact from Tomas Soucek.
Conor Coady also cleared off the line from Crysencio Summerville in the second half.
But Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and doubled their lead when El Khannouss coolly stroked home Kasey McAteer’s pass.
Daka then blasted in to make it 3-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug netted a late consolation with his first West Ham goal.
Victory lifts Leicester up to 15th, four points above the relegation zone, and within two points of 14th-placed West Ham.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal at Portman Road as Palace won the battle of two more sides at the bottom end of the table.
The Frenchman produced a classy finish from Eberechi Eze’s pass on the hour mark to secure the Eagles’ first away win of the season.
Palace pull three points clear of the bottom three, while Ipswich remain second from bottom and winless at home on their return to the top flight.
However, Palace captain Marc Guehi is now at risk of a suspension after defying a Football Association warning over displaying religious messages.
As part of the “Rainbow Laces” campaign to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, Premier League captains are wearing rainbow-colored armbands.
Guehi’s armband bore the message “I love Jesus” during their 1-1 draw against Newcastle, prompting the FA to contact Guehi and Palace and remind them of rules forbidding the display of religious messages.
The England defender doubled down on his message with “Jesus loves you” displayed on his rainbow-colored armband.
Ipswich captain Sam Mursi, who also caused controversy by opting not to wear the rainbow armband against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, once again wore a regular armband.
His club issued a statement on Monday saying he chose not to wear the rainbow armband due to his religious beliefs.