The USA have had to fight their way to victory over Australia, seeing off a much-improved Matildas outfit in a 2-1 SheBelieves Cup win.
Just three days after they were embarrassed in a 4-0 tournament-opening loss to Japan, which interim coach Tom Sermanni described as “un-Australian”, the Matildas restored some pride with their performance in Arizona on Monday (AEDT).
The Americans scored through Lynn Biyendolo just 41 seconds into the match, and Australia looked to be in for another long day at the office.
But with a team sporting four changes from the Japan loss, Sermanni’s troops did well to rally and go toe-to-toe with the Americans for the next hour.
The only time the Matildas let their guard down, world No.1 USA struck through Michelle Cooper in the 68th minute.
Veteran striker Michelle Heyman headed in a Hayley Raso cross in the 80th minute to set up a nervy finish, but the USA kept cool heads and held on for victory.
While Sermanni juggled his squad, USA coach Emma Hayes made 11 changes from the side that opened the friendly tournament with a 2-0 win over Colombia.
It showed the USA’s enormous depth compared with Australia, and even if this was a second-string outfit, it didn’t show when Jaedyn Shaw powered down the left side of the box in the first minute.
Shaw found ex-Western Sydney and Melbourne Victory forward Biyendolo, who tucked the ball past Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah.
Australia were looking shaky and their defence breathed a sigh of relief when Biyendolo had effort disallowed offside just five minutes later.
From that point the Matildas began to mix it with the USA, and while shots on target were few and far between, they were at least stretching and testing the home side’s defence as halftime approached.
Holly McNamara, enjoying her first start for the Matildas in more than three years, nearly got a breakthrough soon after halftime.
The Melbourne City striker forced USA goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn into an error at the back, which led to an Australian corner.
McGlynn tipped Steph Catley’s delivery away and the USA hung on, before reclaiming control of the match and punishing a momentary lapse of concentration in the Australian backline.
Catley and Charli Grant couldn’t contain Allyson Sentnor, who teed up Cooper for the USA’s second goal.
Heyman gave Australia some hope when she turned in Raso’s cross as full-time neared, but the Matildas were unable to land a second blow.
Sentnor had the chance to kill off the game, but some brilliant goalkeeping from Micah denied her late on.