The USA defeated Australia 2-1 in their final group stage match at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, finishing top of Group B and extending their unbeaten run under Emma Hayes to seven matches.
The US Women's National Team has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after defeating Zambia and Germany in their opening two matches. Emma Hayes could have rested her players ahead of the quarter-final, but the new manager decided to field an unchanged XI to continue building USA's chemistry on the pitch.
How the game happened
Just three minutes into the game, the United States suffered a fatal blow when Samantha Coffey received a yellow card for a foul on Katrina Gorry. The 25-year-old will be suspended for the quarter-final due to a yellow card accumulation in the group stage, leaving a huge hole in the USA's midfield.
Although the Stars and Stripes dominated the first half, they struggled to find the quality needed in the final third to overtake low-ranked Australia. After 43 minutes that had been interrupted, the USA finally got a chance from a corner played by Rose Lavelle. Sophia Smith fired the ball into the back post, and Trinity Rodman's streak ended in just three years to give the USA a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The start of the second half is poor for both sides. Australia couldn't find anything close to the level needed to beat USA's Alyssa Naeher. The USA, on the other hand, controlled the game well, held it and continued to push forward. Korbin Albert would go on to seal the game with a powerful right-footed strike from 20 yards in the 77th minute.
The Matildas made a late surge, scoring a potential consolation goal in the 92nd minute through Alanna Kennedy.
GK: Alyssa Naeher – 5/10 – Naeher will have little to do tonight against an Australian side that spent almost the entire game pinned in their own half, and conceded the first real chance he faced.
RB: Emily Fox – 6/10 – Fox is one of the USWNT's most consistent players, and has worked hard to link up with Trinity Rodman to get the Stars and Stripes past Australia's low block.
CB: Naomi Girma – 6/10 – Girma was as strong as ever back in the Stars and Stripes, working well with Sonnett after Davidson's injury.
CB: Emily Sonnett – 5/10 – Sonnett had a solid game filling in for the injured Tierna Davidson, but didn't follow Kennedy in Australia's late-game goal.
LB: Crystal Dunn – 5/10 – Dunn continues to shine defensively, but lacked quality service in the final third to give the USA more chances on goal.
CM: Lindsey Horan – 6/10 – Horan had a quiet first 45 minutes, but became more involved in the second half when the game opened up, combining well with the front three.
CM: Samantha Coffey – 5/10 – Coffey's game was marred after receiving an unnecessary yellow card in the third minute, which led to him being suspended from the quarter-finals.
CM: Rose Lavelle – 6/10 – Lavelle was also the USWNT's most powerful midfielder, delivering excellent set pieces and constantly pushing forward to probe and attack the Matildas' back five.
RW: Trinity Rodman – 7/10 – Rodman scored the USA's first goal just before halftime, scoring his second goal of the tournament.
ST: Mallory Swanson – 6/10 – Swanson was kept off the score sheet for the first time at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she still made her presence felt in the few chances she had.
LW: Sophia Smith – 7/10 – Smith continues to have an outstanding tournament, helping the USA open the scoring and creating dangerous opportunities for his team in the final third.
What you are holding
SUB: Jenna Nighswonger – 6/10 – Nighswonger came on on the break for Dunn and headed home on the left side as he helped the USA take control of the game.
SUB: Lynn Williams – 5/10 – Williams was unable to get on the end of what would have been the third goal of the game.
SUB: Korbin Albert – 6/10 – Albert struggled to find his rhythm early, picking up a needless yellow card on almost his first touch of the game, but scored his first goal to seal the game for the USWNT.
SUB: Casey Krueger – 5/10 – Krueger made a key block in the 79th minute to keep the USA in the lead.
SUB: Croix Bethune – 5/10 – Bethune made his Olympic debut, coming on for the remaining ten minutes of the game.
The manager
Emma Hayes – 8/10 – The big story coming into the 2024 Olympics is how badly the USA struggled in the final third against a compact defense. Australia fielded a back five against the Stars and Stripes today, but the USWNT got the breakthrough they needed (and then some) to pick up three points, something they failed to do two weeks ago against Costa Rica.
Emma Hayes' impact on the team is evident with each match the women play at the Olympics as they continue to build chemistry and momentum heading into the quarter-finals against Japan.
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