US women beat Ireland 4-0 for the second straight match

CINCINNATI (AP) — Izzy Rodriguez scored in her first appearance for the national team and the United States shut out Ireland 4-0 on Sunday.

Lynn Biyendolo, Yazmeen Ryan and Alyssa Thompson also scored for the United States, which beat Ireland by an identical score in Commerce City, Colorado, on Thursday.

The United States went up early when Biyendolo took a cross from Emma Sears and calmly scored her 25th international goal in the 11th minute. Biyendolo was captain for the match.

“I say this all the time, it's such an honor to even play for the national team, be a part of camps. But to be captain, I'm going to remember this day forever,” Biyendolo said.

Left back Rodriguez started in her debut and scored on a rebound goal in the 42nd minute to make it 2-0.

After halftime, Sears kept the ball in play and sent it to Olivia Moultrie, who crossed to Ryan for the goal in the 66th minute. It was Ryan's first international goal.

Thompson came off the bench and scored in her second straight match in the 86th minute.

Rose Lavelle, who is from Cincinnati, was sent in as a substitute in the 87th minute by coach Emma Hayes after the crowd at TQL Stadium started chanting her name. Lavelle scored in Thursday's match, making her first appearance of the year for the national team after having ankle surgery.

“Emma had said she'd put me in for a little cameo at the end, so that was always the plan,” Lavelle said. “I really appreciated that. I think it's always special coming home.”

In addition to Rodriguez, Seattle Reign midfielder Sam Meza also started in her debut for the team. Hayes made 11 changes to the starting lineup from Thursday's match.

Twenty-four players have made their debut for the national team in 24 games under Hayes, who has been tasked with preparing the team for qualification for the Women's World Cup.

“I think we are still pushing. We want to get a game that we score five goals. But I think that what we want right now is the ability to put anybody into the lineup, and that there's a consistency and the level doesn't drop,” Biyendolo said.

The United States was without many of its Europe-based players, including Lindsay Heaps and Crystal Dunn, who Hayes was resting following the European season.

Ireland was also missing a few stars, including Katie McCabe, who was given time off after the season with Arsenal, and Denise O'Sullivan, who plays for the North Carolina Courage and is injured.

“I feel like everybody is not just trusting the process, but carrying out all the things we ask them to do,” Hayes said. “Everybody’s showed themselves so, so well.”

The United States next plays Canada on Wednesday at Audi Field In Washington.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

United States forward Lynn Biyendolo (6) kicks the ball past Ireland defenders Jessie Stapleton (2) and Anna Patten (12) as United States forward Yazmeen Ryan (22) moves in during the first half of an international friendly women's soccer match in Cincinnati, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

United States midfielder Izzy Rodriguez (11) celebrates after scoring with forward Emma Sears (19) during the first half of an international friendly women's soccer match against Ireland in Cincinnati, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Ireland midfielder Kyra Carusa, right, and United States forward Lynn Biyendolo, left, battle for the ball during the first half of an international friendly women's soccer match in Cincinnati, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Ireland forward Saoirse Noonan, left, and United States forward Yazmeen Ryan (22) battle for the ball during the first half of an international friendly women's soccer match in Cincinnati, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has proposed negotiations after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic as an ongoing crackdown on demonstrators has led to hundreds of deaths.

Trump said late Sunday that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports mount of increasing deaths and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night.

Iran did not acknowledge Trump’s comments immediately. It has previously warned the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has accurately reported on past unrest in Iran, gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said at least 544 people have been killed so far, including 496 protesters and 48 people from the security forces. It said more than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

The Latest:

The semiofficial Fars news agency in Iran, which is close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, on Monday began calling out Iranian celebrities and leaders on social media who have expressed support for the protests over the past two weeks, especially before the internet was shut down.

The threat comes as writers and other cultural leaders were targeted even before protests. The news agency highlighted specific celebrities who posted in solidarity with the protesters and scolded them for not condemning vandalism and destruction to public property or the deaths of security forces killed during clashes. The news agency accused those celebrities and leaders of inciting riots by expressing their support.

Canada said it “stands with the brave people of Iran” in a statement on social media that strongly condemned the killing of protesters during widespread protests that have rocked the country over the past two weeks.

“The Iranian regime must halt its horrific repression and intimidation and respect the human rights of its citizens,” Canada’s government said on Monday.

Iran’s foreign minister claimed Monday that “the situation has come under total control” after a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests in the country.

Abbas Araghchi offered no evidence for his claim.

Araghchi spoke to foreign diplomats in Tehran. The Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network, which has been allowed to work despite the internet being cut off in the country, carried his remarks.

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

Iran’s foreign minister alleged Monday that nationwide protests in his nation “turned violent and bloody to give an excuse” for U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene.

Abbas Araghchi offered no evidence for his claim, which comes after over 500 have been reported killed by activists -- the vast majority coming from demonstrators.

Araghchi spoke to foreign diplomats in Tehran. The Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network, which has been allowed to work despite the internet being cut off in the country, carried his remarks.

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

Iran has summoned the British ambassador over protesters twice taking down the Iranian flag at their embassy in London.

Iranian state television also said Monday that it complained about “certain terrorist organization that, under the guise of media, spread lies and promote violence and terrorism.” The United Kingdom is home to offices of the BBC’s Persian service and Iran International, both which long have been targeted by Iran.

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed.

A huge crowd of demonstrators, some waving the flag of Iran, gathered Sunday afternoon along Veteran Avenue in LA’s Westwood neighborhood to protest against the Iranian government. Police eventually issued a dispersal order, and by early evening only about a hundred protesters were still in the area, ABC7 reported.

Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran.

Los Angeles police responded Sunday after somebody drove a U-Haul box truck down a street crowded with the the demonstrators, causing protesters to scramble out of the way and then run after the speeding vehicle to try to attack the driver. A police statement said one person was hit by the truck but nobody was seriously hurt.

The driver, a man who was not identified, was detained “pending further investigation,” police said in a statement Sunday evening.

Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)