Australia’s brutal reaction to ‘disastrous’ blunder

The Matildas’ big showdown with the USA has become a “disaster” with an unfathomable miss highlighting the misery.

Kyah Simon after the worst miss of her career. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images,

The Matildas conceded just 24 seconds into their showdown with the USA — and somehow it only got worse from there.

The Matildas were trounced 3-0 in front of a record crowd of 36,109 in Sydney.

Against the run of play, Australia should have been level 1-1 if not for one of the worst misses you’ll ever see.

Kyah Simon was the culprit, with her simple tap in from just a few yards out hitting high on her boot and sailing over the top of the goal.

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It was a brutal moment that Australian football commentators could not handle.

Instead, the USA doubled their advantage early in the second half when the Matildas defence struggled to clear a high ball well outside the box. The USA picked up the crumbs and allowed Rose Lavelle to score from in behind the defence.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyah Simon of the Matildas reacts after a shot on goal went wide during game one of the series International Friendly series between the Australia Matildas and the United States of America Women's National Team at Stadium Australia on November 27, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyah Simon of the Matildas reacts during game one of the series International Friendly series between the Australia Matildas and the United States of America Women's National Team at Stadium Australia on November 27, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Soon it was 3-0 mid-way through the second half when the USA scored from a dubious penalty that had the Australian defence furious about the call. Lindsey Horan slotted the penalty kick.

America had earlier scored their first goal inside the first minute through Ashley Hatch.

It was a nightmare for head coach Tony Gustavsson and his team.

However, the worst moment came at the other end of the field when Simon missed what should have been a certain goal when Sam Kerr sent in a perfect cross right at the feet of her teammate.

Simon’s face said it all after she had completely butchered her tap-in in the 38th minute of play.

She was substituted out of the game at the start of the second half.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyah Simon of the Matildas reacts after a shot on goal went wide during game one of the series International Friendly series between the Australia Matildas and the United States of America Women's National Team at Stadium Australia on November 27, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Former Australian footballer Grace Gill said in commentary for Network 10 it was a “disastrous” moment for the Matildas.

“A disastrous start is a fair statement to make but the Matildas were not without chances,” she said at half time. Kyah Simon, she would want that one over. She won’t get another chance on a platter like that.”

Other commentators on Twitter were much more scathing.

That's about the worst miss you'll see from Simon. #ausvusa

— Dan Colasimone (@DanColasimone) November 27, 2021

How? How did Simon miss that? #AUSvUSApic.twitter.com/eXxAw1mFN5

— Ed Jackson (@edjacko) November 27, 2021

How
Did
She
Miss
That !
😭😭😭😭😭😭#AUSvUSA@TheMatildas@10SportAU

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) November 27, 2021

Kyah Simon. Very Spursy.

— Tony Harper (@toneharper) November 27, 2021

To make things worse, star scorer Kerr was taken out of the game early when her movement appeared to be hampered.

Team USA had not played in Australia since winning silver at the Sydney 2000 Olympics – making it the first time this crop of Matildas have taken on their rivals on home soil.

The ugly result means the Matildas have beaten the US just once in 32 attempts.

They will get a chance at redemption on Tuesday night when the two teams play the second match of their two-game series in Newcastle.

Originally published as Australia’s brutal reaction to ‘disastrous’ blunder