Matildas fall to another SheBelieves Cup defeat after horror start against USA | OneFootball

The Matildas’ rediscovered grit was hailed by coach Tom Sermanni after his side refused to “cave in” after a nightmare start to their SheBelieves Cup encounter with hosts and world No 1 USA.

Just 42 seconds were on the clock at State Farm Stadium in Glendale when Lynn Biyendolo opened the scoring for the US, prompting fears of a repeat thrashing after the Matildas slumped to a 4-0 defeat to Japan in their opening game last week.

But Sermanni was pleased with the way his side responded to the early blow as they put in a much-improved performance and, despite going two goals behind in the second half, made a game of it through Michelle Heyman’s 80th-minute goal.

“Our effort and attitude were so much better in this game – especially after the start we had,” he said. “Given the performance of the last game and the result and then losing the goal after probably less than a minute, I think we could easily have just caved in today.

“So from a perspective of the team digging in and sticking in there, II was really pleased with that part of our performance and that effort.”

Just days after conceding four against a rampant Japan – their major rivals for next year’s Women’s Asian Cup title – Sermanni re-shuffled his defensive line, swapping out Clare Hunt for Charlotte Grant and moving captain Steph Catley into the centre.

But barely a sweat has been broken before they were picking the ball out of their own net. In the first attack of the game, USA winger Emma Sears swept past a scrambling Ellie Carpenter, twisting and turning the Lyon defender before slipping through forward Jaedyn Shaw, who squared for an unmarked Biyendolo to tap into an empty net.

Australia’s panicked defence was almost punished again soon after as Biyendolo bundled home a spill from Teagan Micah, but it was chalked off for an offside in the build-up.

Despite the USA starting what broadcast commentator Robbie Thompson described as “an untested XI”, with head coach Emma Hayes rotating the entire team following their win over Colombia on Friday, this young, vibrant side commanded the game both in and out of possession in the opening stages.

Their passes were sharp, their touches were tidy and their interchanges were smooth, contrasted with the Matildas who barely had time to look up before being smothered by multiple white shirts.

However, instead of collapsing further as they did against Japan, the Matildas stood firm, staying structured off the ball and closing spaces through the middle to reduce the number of clear-cut chances.

Australia grew in confidence the longer they withstood the USA’s barrage, and as the final 10 minutes of the half ticked over, the team who had registered just one shot against Japan were finding themselves slicing in and around the hosts’ penalty area.

Caitlin Foord was the team’s best attacking outlet in her natural left wing position, coming inside several times to receive the ball and spin, feeding youngster Holly McNamara or the overlapping Grant, who delivered a handful of dangerous crosses into the area.

Carpenter, too, began to grow into the game when the threat of Sears waned, combining a number of times with Hayley Raso down the right to send some neat cut-backs into the box that were hastily cleared.

Winonah Heatley, earning a start in place of Katrina Gorry, ran off a rolled ankle to impress alongside the industrious Kyra Cooney-Cross; the two forming a solid midfield foundation that allowed Australia’s attackers to spring forward, ending the half with three times as many shots as their opening match just days ago.

The second half began with the same energy as had ended the first, with McNamara almost pouncing on some lazy goalkeeping by Mandy McGlynn, but that was the extent of her involvement as the largely-isolated forward was replaced by Michelle Heyman just after the hour. Young Melbourne Victory midfielder Alana Murphy also earned her first cap for Australia, replacing the ineffective Mary Fowler.

Despite their mid-game resurgence, Australia’s hopes of a first SheBelieves Cup win faded as a piercing Claire Hutton pass cut through the wall of flouro yellow shirts to set up substitute Michelle Cooper, who squeezed the ball beneath Micah in the 67th minute to make it 2-0.

Heyman was responsible for the Matildas’ only attempt on target in the 80th minute of the game as she charged through the US centre-backs to head home a curling Raso cross, while two consecutive fingertip saves from Micah down the other end kept Australia’s hopes of a possible last-gasp equaliser alive as stoppage time loomed.

Two free kicks from Murphy in the closing moments of the game could have swung the game in Australia’s favour, but some resolute defending from the USA ensured the Matildas were left wondering what could have been.

Header image: [Photograph: Chris Coduto/Getty Images]