The Matildas have benched superstars Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler as the Australians conceded just 15 minutes into the final game of their SheBelieves Cup campaign against Colombia.
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
Chasing the game has been the theme of this tournament in the United States for the Matildas and Wendy Bonilla’s rocket off the far post put them in that position once again.
It was an excellent counter-attack from the Colombians following a Matildas turnover in midfield, and after goalkeeper Teagan Micah pulled off a brilliant save early in the piece, there was nothing she could do this time.
The Matildas responded by missing two excellent opportunities in front of goal.
Michelle Hayman failed to take control of a pass from Emily van Egmond that the Colombian goalkeeper mopped up, and Kyra Cooney-Cross launched a shot wide in what would have been her second ever goal in national colours.
They remained without an equaliser at half time however, and suffered the blow of Ellie Carpenter being subbed off with what appeared to be a quad injury.
After losses to Japan and USA, interim manager Tom Sermanni made five changes to the starting XI with load management front of mind.
“We said before we were going to shuffle the squad around a little bit for a variety of reasons, one in particular was the players are playing in multiple leagues at the moments and we need to be very careful with them and make sure they go back healthy,” Sermanni told Paramount pre-match.
Michelle Heyman, who came off the bench against USA to score Australia’s lone goal of the tournament so far, will start up front as striker, while it is the second straight match that Tegan Micah has been preferred to penalty shootout hero from the 2023 World Cup Mackenzie Arnold in goals.
It is the first time that the Matildas have ever played Colombia, who also lost to USA and Japan in their opening games.
“They’ve got a couple of outstanding players in the line-up, we need to sort of look after them and obviously being South American they’ve got a certain rhythm, a certain way of playing that’s a little bit different to the Japanese and a little bit different to the Americans,” Sermanni said.
Matildas starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Teagan Micah
Defenders: Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Charli Grant
Midfielders: Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Tameka Yallop, Emily van Egmond
Forwards: Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso
Discussion about this post