'I just didn't recognise us', claims Hayes after USWNT go down to Portugal

Emma Hayes claimed she did not recognise her team after the United States went down 2-1 to Portugal in a friendly on Thursday.

Diana Gomes and Fatima Pinto grabbed the goals for Portugal as they came back to claim their first-ever win over the United States.

It had all started so well for Hayes' team in Philadelphia, where Rose Lavelle struck after just 33 seconds.

Lavelle's goal carried on the celebratory atmosphere after USWNT great Alex Morgan was honoured on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

But Hayes was left dejected by her side's performance from then on. Even though the USA, who had beaten Portugal by an aggregate score of 39-0 over the previous 11 matches between the nations, mustered 16 shots and 1.63 expected goals, the former Chelsea boss felt they were way off where they needed to be in what was their first game since July.

"It felt to me like we just hadn't played together for a long time," Hayes said, as reported by The Guardian.

"I just didn't recognise us.

"Sometimes, you can start the game like that and you think to yourself, I hope we don't sit back and be passive. That's what we did.

"We didn't look like the team that we’ve been working on but that's what happens when you've got 113 days apart."

Hayes' sentiment was echoed by midfielder Sam Coffey.

She said: "There is a standard of winning, and it kind of exceeds all those things, whether it's the time apart or the age of the team or experience.

"We have a choice now of how we respond."

Hayes' team will look to respond positively when they take on Portugal in another friendly on Sunday, before they face New Zealand next week.