Australia v USA at the SheBelieves Cup: Matildas defeated 2-1 despite late Michelle Heyman goal

Australia’s SheBelieves Cup campaign is in tatters following a defeat to Team USA. But this was no thrashing. And, thanks to a late Michell Heyman goal, almost became something special.

A late goal from substitute Michelle Heyman wasn’t enough as the Matildas’ disappointing form at the She Believes Cup continued on Monday with a 2-1 loss to the United States.

Desperate to make amends after being thrashed 4-0 by Japan last Friday, the Matildas showed some fight in Arizona against the world’s top-ranked women’s football team.

However, the Americans, who fielded very much an experimental 11, were too strong and grabbed a deserved victory on home soil.

Heyman’s 80th-minute header from a Hayley Raso cross gave the Matildas some late hope, but anything other than an American win would have been the wrong result in a match in which the Australians again paid for a sloppy start.

Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni made four changes to the team that started in the embarrassing loss to Japan.

Goalkeeper Teagan Micah, defender Charlotte Grant, midfielder Winonah Heatley and attacker Holly McNamara came in Mackenzie Arnold, Clare Hunt, Katrina Gorry and Tameka Yallop.

However, it didn’t see it was going to make a difference early, with the Matildas making a disastrous start, conceding a goal in just the first minute.

It was all too easy for Americans, who exposed the right side of Australia’s defence.

Attacker Emma Sears fed the overlapping Jaedyn Shaw, who in turn laid the ball into the path of forward Lynn Biyendolo, who netted from close range.

Team USA open the scoring against the Matildas

Seven minutes later, Biyendolo had the ball in the back of the net again, however she was ruled offside.

“It was a much better effort from the players, and more so after the terrible start we had,” Sermanni told Paramount Plus.

“Football wise, we’ve got a lot of stuff to do. We need to work on a lot of things, how we keep the ball from a technical perspective, and we also need to get back to being a bit more physical.”

Biyendolo, who had spells in the A-League women’s competition with Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers, continued to cause headaches for the Australians, forcing a good save out of goalkeeper Micah in the 16th minute.

The Matildas were eventually able to impose themselves on the contest, and should have equalised late in the first-half through Raso.

Hayley Raso was among the Matildas’ best in an improved showing. Picture: Getty

However, the winger failed to hit the target from close range after being found unmarked at the far post by a well-placed corner from Kyra Cooney-Cross.

It was the Americans’ turn to be wasteful 12 minutes into the second half after a poor back pass for Winonah Heatley was intercepted by Biyendolo.

However, with only Micah to beat, Biyendolo rushed her shot and failed to direct her strike on target.

Michelle Heyman (L) ensured it was a grandstand finish with her late goal. Picture: Getty

But, the USA’s dominance was eventually rewarded with a second goal in the 68th minute.

Again, it was far too easy for the Matildas’ liking, with a direct pass into the heart of Australia’s defence from midfielder Claire Hutton finding Ally Sentnor, who fed her fellow substitute Michelle Cooper, who produced a calm finish to double her side’s lead.

The Matildas ensured it would be a tight finish through Heyman’s late goal.

However, if not for some heroics from Micah in the dying stages, who denied Cooper and Sentnor with fine saves, the scoreline would have blown out.

Originally published as Australia v USA at the SheBelieves Cup: Matildas defeated 2-1 despite late Michelle Heyman goal