The Matildas fell to yet another disappointment at the SheBelieves Cup, losing 2-1 to the United States on February 27, 2023, at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. This second defeat struck hard following their previous embarrassing 4-0 loss to Japan just days earlier.
The match started on the worst possible note for Australia when Lynn Biyendolo scored just 41 seconds after the kickoff, exploiting defensive gaps to put the USA firmly on the front foot. The Australian side was caught flat-footed, showcasing the problems they've faced throughout the tournament.
"A nightmare start for Australia," said former Matilda Grace Gill during her commentary of the match. The early goal seemed to set the tone, allowing the world’s number one ranked team to control the game. But the Matildas regrouped and improved their performance compared to their previous outing against Japan.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni made four significant changes to his lineup, with goalkeeper Teagan Micah, defender Charlotte Grant, midfielder Winonah Heatley, and striker Holly McNamara coming on, as they sought to bring fresh energy and tactical changes to the field.
Despite their early setback, Australia began to find their footing and should have equalized before halftime. Hayley Raso came close to scoring, but her shot went wide after she found herself unmarked at the far post.
The match continued with the USA maintaining pressure, and though Australia showed signs of resilience, they conceded another goal to Michelle Cooper just before the 68th minute. Cooper, making her mark as a substitute, calmly found the back of the net after receiving an assist from Claire Hutton.
It seemed as if the Matildas were heading for another defeat; they were struggling to convert their chances, with Micah saving several shots as the USA ramped up their attack.
Just when hope seemed lost, the veteran Michelle Heyman entered the fray late on and made her impact felt. Her goal came from a well-timed cross by Hayley Raso, which Heyman headed home in the 80th minute. "It’s my job," she said after the match, reflecting on her goal as Australia sought to create late-game drama.
A relentless push came after Heyman’s effort, with Australia seeking to equalize, displaying more attacking intent than they had shown against Japan. They had something to build on, but as the clock wound down, the Matildas could not find the final touch needed to level the match.
Despite their efforts, the scoreline meant the Matildas now faced two losses from two matches. The defeat served as yet another reminder of the gaps they needed to fill when competing at the highest level against teams like the USA. Coach Sermanni acknowledged post-match, "Football wise, we’ve got a lot of stuff to do. We need to work on how we keep the ball from a technical perspective, and we also need to get back to being more physical."
Defensively, Australia needs to sharpen up to avoid conceding early and making costly errors. They now set their focus on their next fixture against Colombia, hoping to salvage some pride from the tournament.
Reflecting on her team’s progress, Sermanni admitted, "It was much improved compared to the loss against Japan. We showed character getting back in the game and sticking with the task, but we have to learn from our mistakes to compete at this level consistently."
Early challenges notwithstanding, the Matildas have not lost their fighting spirit and look to build momentum moving forward. Their next match against Colombia will be pivotal as they seek to finish the tournament on a positive note.