Never Say Die CommBank Matildas hold out for draw with World No.1
It was looking like another defeat to the USWNT for the CommBank Matildas, until they pulled one back for a 1-1 draw in front of a record-breaking 20,495-strong Newcastle crowd.
The draw is Australia's fifth against the US, with this being the first time they have not lost to the USWNT on home soil.
It was déjà vu for fans when in the opening minutes of the match, US forward Ashley Hatch found the back of the Commonwealth Bank Matildas’ net, assisted by Midge Purce.
A back-heel from Kerr to Yallop forcing a save in the seventh minute was a promising sign for Tillies fans, which was followed by a great run from Raso to Kerr to Carpenter in the 12th minute.
Fans witnessed the exciting promise of 18-year-old Mary Fowler and skipper Sam Kerr, when Fowler played her a perfect ball before Kerr slipped on the wet pitch. Fowler later sent a ball over to Kyah Simon, crossing it to Kerr, who nodded it over the crossbar.
In the 21st minute, it was looking like the Aussies were going to equalise, when Kyra Cooney-Cross picked up a Steph Catley corner, volleying the ball toward goal before it bounced off the far post.
Cooney-Cross and Fowler weren’t the only teenagers showing promising signs of the future, with Courtney Nevin taking a long-range shot at goal, then minutes later, challenged Lindsey ‘The Great’ Horan and prevented an almost-certain US goal.
Hayley Raso and Emily Fox provided for a physical and entertaining battle up and down the wing, with Raso’s performance earning her the Rebel Player of the Match.
The chances were flowing but the women in green and gold were struggling to finish them.
In the 70th minute, Emily Gielnik came onto the pitch for her 50th National Team cap, replacing Raso, while Alanna Kennedy replaced Kyra Cooney-Cross.
In minute 85, Clare Wheeler joined fellow Novocastrian, Emily van Egmond on the McDonald Jones Stadium pitch, to the delight of her home crowd and made an immediate impact.
Just three minutes later, parity was restored when Wheeler won the ball from Ashley Sanchez, sending it onto Catley, then Kerr who finally passed to Kyah Simon.
Simon’s ball spun towards goal, deflecting off veteran Becky Sauerbrunn, past keeper Casey Murphy and into the USWNT goal.
Four minutes of time was added on, with the CommBank Matildas able to hold on until the final whistle, content with taking one point from the World No.1 for their last National Team match of 2021.