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Sheargold apologises for Matildas rant | 04:33
The Matildas’ disappointing SheBelieves Cup campaign has ended with a third straight defeat, this time at the hands of Colombia.
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In Australia’s maiden appearance in the annual four-team tournament hosted by the United States, the Matildas walk away with out a point to their name on the table, and having scored just two goals and conceding eight.
The 2-1 loss to Colombia followed a similar script to the previous game’s 2-1 defeat to the host nation, but was a far more competitive outing than the first up 4-0 thrashing by Japan.
The Matildas looked like they may at least salvage a draw, or use a wave of momentum to pull off a come from behind win, against Colombia but the South Americans had the answers every time the Australians threw something their way.
Hayley Raso levelled the scores with a 69th minute goal via a deflection after a superb touch to make the most of some stellar build up play from Mary Fowler and Charli Grant.
It was reward for persistence as the Matildas had squandered several chances throughout the match, but only three minutes later Colombia were in front again with captain Catalina Usme taking the space given to her and launching a shot, that was deflected off Tash Prior, into the back of the net.
From then on, the Colombians wasted time and held up play expertly to ensure the Matildas would not salvage a point.
Superstars Caitlin Foord and Fowler started on the bench as the Australians conceded just 15 minutes into the match.
Chasing the game has been the theme of this tournament for the Matildas as they fell behind in the opening minute against the USA 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.
Heyman, who came off the bench against USA to score Australia’s lone goal of the tournament so far, started up front as striker, while it was the second straight match that Tegan Micah has been preferred to penalty shootout hero from the 2023 World Cup Mackenzie Arnold in goals.
It was the first time that the Matildas 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 pre-match.
