Alyssa Naeher's Legendary USWNT Career Saluted by Fans in Win vs. Netherlands

Alyssa Naeher didn't get a shutout in her final game as the goalkeeper for the United States women's team. But thanks to Lynn Williams, she did secure one final victory before her retirement from international play.

Despite the absence of the Triple Espresso trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, the USWNT bested a tough Netherlands team on Tuesday, 2-1.

Williams scored the game-winner in the 71st minute, while the Americans were also aided by Veerle Buurman's own-goal in the first half.

Buurman also opened the friendly's scoring, notching the Dutch's lone goal in the 15th minute.

But Naeher was the story, and not only because it was her final match for the USWNT. She also made a number of key saves in the contest (six in total), stifling a torrid Dutch attack in the first half while keeping the United States in the contest.

After the match, social media gave the USWNT legend her well-deserved flowers:

It was a fantastic end to Naeher's decorated international career, and a positive close to what has been a superb year for the USNWT in general, highlighted by the gold medal at the Summer Olympics. The Americans will surely take an away draw against England and an away win over the Dutch—both without Triple Espresso—to close out the calendar year.

It didn't come easy on Tuesday, however. The Netherlands dominated possession (57.2 percent), outshot the USWNT by a 23-5 margin (7-4 on goal) and had nine corners to exactly zero for the Americans. The Dutch dominated this game, especially the first half, but the USWNT managed to steal a win regardless.

It was certainly what Naeher after a career that has included a gold medal and two World Cup triumphs.

"Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honor," she said in a statement announcing her retirement last week. "When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with; teammates that have turned into lifelong friends."