It was a sweltering evening in Marseille, as Tony Gustavsson’s Australian side searched to make amends after a precarious start to their Olympics campaign. As they looked to face their toughest opponents yet, the Matildas would be required to take a point off of the USA to keep their future on their own terms.

Though they would fail to do so, as an unforgiving USA outfit showed up once again to gather their third win in the group stages and survive a late attacking surge from the Aussies.

The Lineups

AUS: Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Torpey, Fowler, Raso, Foord

USA: Naeher; Fox, Girma, Dunn, Sonnett, Horan, Lavelle, Coffey, Rodman, Smith, Swanson

The Action

The dominant US outfit looked electric from the outset, as Trinity Rodman searched to give her side the advantage in the opening stages. Cutting with ease did Rodman, as she fired off a left-footed strike straight into the gloves of Mackenzie Arnold. The Australian keeper failed to collect it cleanly, as Sophia Smith fired the remains over the crossbar.

The Matildas would have their first look at it as Katrina Gorry was instrumental in an up-the-field build up along the left side. Finding Caitlin Foord and then receiving it back, Gorry located an unmarked Mary Fowler on the edge of the area. The Manchester City attacker liked her chances from distance, and fired her strike just wide of the far-right post.

Clever footwork from Sophia Smith saw her breakdown the Australian last line, before the Portland Thorns forward orchestrated a clever flick over the top of the Matildas defence and into the path of Mallory Swanson. Despite Swanson’s best efforts, Arnold would meet the ball first and clear the play away from danger.

Kaitlyn Torpey opened up the space for herself before catalysing a play down the width. Raso carried the play in, before sending a searching ball across the face of call. Foord was caught sleeping on the back post as Crystal Dunn cleared the play away from danger.

The counter attack was on for the USA, as Lindsey Horan located Dunn on the edge of the area. Liking her chances from distance, the US defender fired her strike true, but a stretching Arnold was ready to tip it over the crossbar. Another spectacular save would follow moments later, as Horan connected well with a searching cross before Arnold palmed her header into the crossbar and away.

After countless chances, the USA finally got their breakthrough before the half time break. Smith connected with an in-swinging corner, before Rodman finished off the work amidst the scuffle at the back post to break the deadlock. After various VAR checks for an offside impediment made by Sam Coffey in the build up, the goal remained on the scoresheet.

Australia needed to make up the deficit as the second half commenced, and were given a chance to do so through Hayley Raso. Raso found herself with space on the edge of the area, but fired a disappointing strike right into the hands of Alyssa Naeher.

A dire situation came later on for Australia, as Clare Wheeler teed up a misplaced pass to roll possession towards Korbin Albert on the edge of the area. A brilliant strike saw the net ripple, as the USA doubled their advantage in the 77th minute.

Sophia Smith was extremely unlucky not to add a third, after she surpassed Carpenter with ease down the left side. Sending her strike into the goalpost, the ball trickled the line before being cleaned up by Arnold.

Alanna Kennedy would give the Aussies a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes, putting one past Naeher to bring the deficit to a single score. She would have the opportunity to do so again just moments later, as Carpenter delivered a cross onto her head inside of the area- but her strike would bobble wide.

The victory in the USA sees Emma Hayes’ side go undefeated in the group stages, whilst Australia now have to rely on results from Group A to hope that their Olympic dream isn’t over before it even began.