The Commbank Matildas lost 2-1 to the United States at the SheBelieves Cup but there were plenty of takeaways, especially through the lens of the Ninja A-League.
Legendary striker and Canberra United great Michelle Heyman came off the bench to score late in the second half to give the Matildas a glimmer of hope but it could not prevent Australia from suffering a second straight loss at the prestigious four-nation tournament in Arizona on Monday (AEDT).
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On a night where Melbourne City star Holly McNamara made her first start for the Matildas in 1,122 days, interim head coach Tom Sermanni also handed national team debuts to Ninja A-League duo – Melbourne Victory teen Alana Murphy and Brisbane Roar phenomenon Laini Freier, who became Matildas 235 and 236 respectively when coming on in the second-half.
While twin sister and Roar teammate Sharn Freier is sidelined for the remainder of the season through injury, Laini Freier’s bow means the Freiers are the first twins and second sisters to represent the senior Matildas.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Jets defender Natasha Prior also earned herself another cap for Australia as a substitute against the Olympic champions.
The result leaves the Matildas with two defeats from two alongside Colombia in the group, whom they play on Thursday morning in their final match of the tournament.
Coming into the game off the back of their 4-0 humbling by Japan, Sermanni’s Matildas got off to a disastrous start and found themselves a goal down after just 41 seconds at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
Passing their way out from the back under little to no pressure from the Matildas, USA soon had the ball in the back of the Australia net as Lynn Biyendolo finished off a clinical team move.
The USA flew forward at will and had plenty of chances to bag themselves a second and had the ball in the back of the net before the flag was raised for offside.
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Despite predominantly being on the back foot though the Matildas did eventually calm their nerves and while they didn’t register a shot on target in the first half they at least established a foothold in the game.
Starting the second-half with more aggression, McNamara almost forced the equaliser in the 50th minute as she closed down US keeper Mandy McGlynn inside the box however the home side’s defence eventually got the situation under control.
Byendolo should have made it 2-0 in the 57th minute but the forward stuck her shot into the side-netting after latching on to a poor back pass from Winonah Heatley.
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However the home crowd wouldn’t have to wait long before cheering a second as Michelle Cooper made it 2-0 in the 68th minute.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, midfielder Claire Hutton played a brilliant defence-splitting pass into the path of Ally Sentnor and while the substitute couldn’t provide the finish her teammate was on hand to slot the ball beyond Teagan Micah.
The Matildas finally bagged their first goal of the SheBelieves Cup though and it arrived in the 80th minute thanks to a familiar source of Ninja A-League goals.
Racing down the right, Hayley Raso whipped a pinpoint cross into the box and onto the head of Canberra forward Heyman who powered her header past the keeper from close range.
Interim head coach Sermanni rolled the dice immediately after the goal and introduced even more Ninja A-League talent off the bench, bringing on Brisbane Roar forward Freier in a bid to provide some late spark, however it was the home side who came closest to bagging another goal.
Goalkeeper Micha produced two top-class saves within the space of 60-seconds to keep the scoreline at 2-1; first, tipping a shot from close range round the post before then showcasing her reactions to deny the USA from point-blank range at the resulting corner.
