Spain Sink USWNT 2-0 in Washington as Hair-Pull Red Card Caps Wild Friendly

Spain beat the US women's national team 2-0 in a friendly at Audi Field, striking twice in the first 14 minutes before a VAR-reviewed hair-pull by Athenea del Castillo produced a stoppage-time red card.

Spain Sink USWNT 2-0 in Washington as Hair-Pull Red Card Caps Wild Friendly

World champions Spain outclassed the Olympic champion United States 2-0 in a women's international friendly at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., on Saturday — then lost substitute Athenea del Castillo to one of the strangest red cards of the year.

Spain needed just three minutes to strike, Patri Guijarro lashing home a long-range effort past Claudia Dickey. Eleven minutes later Eva Navarro volleyed in at the back post from Salma Paralluelo's cross, and the visitors never looked back. The Americans thought they had a lifeline when Sophia Wilson was brought down in the box in the 68th minute, but 19-year-old Lily Yohannes saw her low penalty saved by Adriana Nanclares. Wilson also had a goal ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

The bizarre finale came in stoppage time, when del Castillo — on the pitch only as a substitute — was shown a straight red for pulling Michelle Cooper's hair, spotted by VAR and judged violent conduct. It was the first time since a March 2017 defeat to France that the USWNT trailed 2-0 at halftime. The teams meet again Tuesday in Chester, Pennsylvania, where Emma Hayes' side will demand a response.