Top 5 Goals: SheBelieves Cup & International Break

The international break can be a touchy subject with soccer fans. Some love to see their favorite players suiting up for their respective countries; others simply hate that we’re on break from the club leagues worldwide. However, this international break is far spicier with the SheBelieves Cup ongoing and a trophy on the line. The stars came out to shine in a big way. Let’s look at the Top 5 Goals from the SheBelieves Cup and the international break so far. 

5. Debinha – Brazil

Debinha opens the #SheBelievesCup scoring!

🇯🇵JPN 0 – 1 BRA 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/Ltp1FuzKuR

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 16, 2023

Brazil picked up three points in their first match against Japan, but that was not the big story. Marta made her return after missing all of 2022 with an ACL injury and made an immediate impact. At age 37, the legend has proved she can still do it and provided a genius assist to Debinha four minutes after being subbed on.

Marta took on one defender on the left wing and hit her with a vintage stepover to get the defender to hesitate for a split second. That’s all Marta needed to get the ball into the box and find a wide-open Debhinha, who finished the move off emphatically.

What a moment for Marta and Brazil.

4. Lauren James – England

LAUREN JAMES‼️ The @ChelseaFCW player scores her first goal for the @Lionesses 🤩🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

🎥 @AttackingThird pic.twitter.com/1tFdlNStbt

— ata football (@atafball) February 16, 2023

Lauren James is quickly becoming the talk of the town in more women’s soccer circles, but she’s always had this ability, as we’ve seen at Manchester United and Chelsea. Finally, James could show off her ability in the same way for her country.

England dominated Norway, and James put the finishing touches on the game with her first-ever goal for England. All it took was one quick touch inside to clear the defender. Then, with no hesitation, she fired the shot past the keeper on the near post.

Lauren James is making the beautiful game look easy, and the burgeoning star’s rise will only go up. 

3. Vanessa Gilles – Canada

Vanessa Gilles opens the scoring for Canada! 🍁 pic.twitter.com/3s8yEppnml

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 20, 2023

Vanessa Gilles’ story is one of perseverance, from semi-pro soccer in Canada to D1 Arkema to Angel City, and now playing for one of the best clubs in the world in Lyon.

A stalwart at center back, Gilles has also proven to be a threat in the air. Brazil’s defense was poor in marking Gilles; she’s the one player that should not be wide open on a corner kick. It looked like Brazil went with a zonal marking strategy; the defender is responsible for anyone in their area. Yet Gilles got a running start right into the space, and the corner kick was perfect.

No keeper is stopping a header with that much power; that’s one of the many things Vanessa Gilles brings to the table.  

2. Evelyne Viens – Canada

Évelyne Viens doubles Canada's lead! pic.twitter.com/0jIg03UeFU

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 20, 2023

It is excellent to see Evelyne Viens getting more opportunities with the Canadian national team, especially when they’ve always needed a goal scorer. Viens was a college star who kept herself sharp and has been occasionally called into the national team.

Viens has scored four times in her previous 16 matches, one in four for someone who isn’t in the team a lot, indicating she can still be a goal scorer.

That’s precisely what she displayed here. Amid all the chaos with the ball in the air, Viens kept her eye on the target and volleyed home from close range. It’s a great strike and very easy to get wrong. Evelyne Viens will take advantage if the ball isn’t cleared in the box.

1. Mallory Swanson – USWNT

GO ON, @MALPUGH!!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/gPvHwm2lyY

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 17, 2023

Mallory Swanson is well on her way to winning MVP of the SheBelieves Cup with all three of the team’s goals in the competition. However, this goal was the best of the three and showed her quick reflexes.

Alex Morgan nudged the ball into the path, but it had plenty of spins and took a quick bounce off the turf. Swanson was ready and, in one fluid motion, put her foot through the ball and found the back of the net.

2023 might just be Mallory Swanson’s year; she’s firing on all cylinders to start and will be a massive player for the USWNT if they are to repeat as champions this summer. 

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