USA women’s soccer 2-1 Australia: USWNT wins group, will face Japan in quarterfinals

And that’s exactly what the USWNT did. It wasn’t a wide open, end-to-end game (aided by a red card) as it was against Zambia, when the USA scored three goals in the opening half-hour. It wasn’t a dominant display from beginning to end as it was against Germany, when the USWNT pulled away late and won 4-1.

Australia posed a completely different stylistic challenge — something you’re always going to face at major tournaments — and Emma Hayes’ side dealt with it wonderfully. There are still questions about defensive personnel, especially with injury (center back Tierna Davidson) and suspension (defensive midfielder Sam Coffey) looming, but they have already shown they can score with — and outscore — anybody.

Australia can advance as one of two 3rd-place finishers with a draw, but they’ll need another goal late, late in stoppage time.

Korbin Albert was the one to replace Rose Lavelle in the 65th minute, intended to introduce some fresh legs and defensive work rate to the midfield. What head coach Emma Hayes also got was a belter of a goal to make it 2-0 with just over 10 minutes left to play.

Sam Coffey has already picked up a suspension for yellow-card accumulation and will miss the quarterfinal matchup with Japan, so it’s no surprise that Emma Hayes chose to play it safe with (and rest) Trinity Rodman midway through the second half. Midfielder Rose Lavelle and right back Emily Fox also left the game alongside Rodman. Left back Crystal Dunn was subbed at halftime.

Australia are beginning to threaten a bit as they grow more desperate late, but they still have just one shot on target to show.

(USA-Australia)

• Possession: 76-24
• Shots: 16-3
• On target: 8-1

As things stand, the USA leads Australia 1-0 and Germany is now 3-1 up on Zambia, meaning they’ll finish one-two in Group B.

We know the Americans will face Japan as group winners. Germany will face the runners-up from Group A, which could be any one of France, Canada or Colombia — to be determined at 3 pm ET today.

Barbra Banda might just win the Golden Boot in the group stage alone, without her team winning or drawing a single game. Zambia were beaten 3-0 by the USA and 6-5 by Australia, with Banda scoring a hat trick against the Matildas on Sunday.

She has scored again and given Zambia a faint chance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but they trail Germany 2-1 early in the second half.

USWNT forward Mallory Swanson and France’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto trail Banda on three goals each.

Trinity Rodman is a yellow card away from joining Sam Coffey in being suspended for the quarterfinal clash with Japan. She’s still on the field as the game restarts, but will likely be subbed out after 15 or 20 more minutes.

Halftime stats update (USA-Australia):

• Possession: 78-22
• Shots: 11-1
• On target: 7-0

One of the things Emma Hayes has preached early in her USWNT tenure is the need for patience when opposing teams defend deep against them. Patience is required from the players, of course, but also patience from the fans.

Australia is ranked 12th in the world, and this is what they do, which is to say they’re very good at it. Of course it’s going to be a challenge and a bit of a slog at times, but that’s all part of the process of winning halves, winning games and, ultimately, winning tournaments.

They showed a bit of patience in the first half, didn’t start launching balls forward and lose control of the game, and eventually the goal came.

At long last, the USWNT leads. Sophia Smith headed a high cross down and toward the back post, where Trinity Rodman was quickest to pounce and poke the ball home.

An interesting video review also occurred as the on-field video system, or perhaps the referee’s radio equipment to the back-room VAR, appeared to not be working. The review was to determine whether Sam Coffey affected and Australian defender and the goalkeeper while in an offside position. Eventually, the ref went to the monitor and decided there was no offense. Goal, USA!

Emily Fox flighted a fantastic diagonal ball to the back post where Lindsey Horan rose highest and headed the ball on goal but right into the chest of goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, who palmed the ball onto the crossbar and back into play. Inches from an opening goal, but a very clever scoring chance.

Sophia Smith nearly found Mallory Swanson with one inventive flick inside the six-yard box, but other than that the Americans are struggling to break down Australia’s organized defensive setup and creating passing options, let alone shooting chances. It’s mostly sideways passing right now, followed by a failed through ball out of desperation.

Rose Lavelle is the type of player that typically stands out in these cagey affairs, and the USA team could really use her creative touch right now.

20-minute stats update (USA-Australia):

• Possession: 78-22
• Shots: 2-0
• On target: 1-0

Total domination thus far, but Australia’s low-block defense has settled in and is making the USWNT really work for their chances now.

If the USWNT finishes top of the group with a draw or win against Australia, we now know they will face no. 7-ranked Japan at Stade de Lyon on Saturday.

Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has made a pair of big saves already inside the opening 10 minutes, first denying Mallory Swanson’s goal-bound shot from the left side of the six and then standing tall to block Trinity Rodman’s heavy hit from near the penalty spot. Coffey’s yellow card and impending suspension are the only blemishes thus far.

Two yellow cards in three games, and the USWNT will be without its starting defensive midfielder when they face either Spain, Japan or Brazil in the quarterfinals. Coffey played all 180 minutes against Zambia and Germany.

It’s a vocal, pro-USA crowd inside Stade de Marseille, as the USWNT and Australia get things underway.

Current Golden Boot standings

3 goals

• Barbra Banda (Zambia)
• Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)
• Mallory Swanson (USA)

2 goals

• Steph Catley (Australia)
• Racheal Kundananji (Zambia)
• Sophia Smith (USA)

USA

Naeher - Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Dunn - Coffey, Horan, Lavelle - Rodman, Smith, Swanson

Australia

Arnold - Carpenter, Kennedy, Hunt, Catley - Gorry, Torpey, Cooney-Cross - Raso, Foord, Fowler

If the USA women’s soccer team finishes 1st in Group B, they will play the runners-up from Group C. Good news, right? Not so fast. The 2nd-place finisher in Group C will be one of world no. 1 Spain, no. 7 Japan or no. 9 Brazil — three powers in the women’s international game.

Germany (2016), Canada (2020) and Norway (2000) can all call themselves Olympic champions in women’s soccer, but no one comes close to the USWNT’s four gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012).