'Nightmare' 24-second start stuns Matildas

2 years ago 209

The Matildas had arguably their worst-ever commencement erstwhile the USA recovered the backmost of the nett conscionable 24 seconds into today's friendly.

After kick-off astatine Sydney's Stadium Australia, the shot was chipped and headed astir arsenic the Australians rapidly recovered themselves defending.

The location broadside ne'er recovered from that aboriginal setback, losing 3-0 successful beforehand of a grounds assemblage of 36,109.

USA's Lynn Williams executed a sparkling through-ball header arsenic striker Ashley Hatch recovered herself 1 connected 1 with Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah.

AS IT HAPPENED: Matildas good beaten by USA

And Hatch made nary mistake of the aboriginal opportunity, burying the shot successful the bottom-right corner.

"Worst imaginable start," said Network 10 caller Robbie Thomson.

"A nightmare commencement for the Matildas.

"Probably the fastest extremity (Hatch) volition ever score. Just 24 seconds in."

Australia settled their mode into the crippled afterwards, and should person scored one, if not aggregate goals, successful the last 10 minutes of the half.

The astir glorious accidental came astatine the feet of Kyah Simon, who someway blazed her changeable implicit the people with the keeper beaten and the extremity conscionable a mates of metres away.

Kyah Simon's fearfulness miss against USA

The Australians went into the sheds with their tails up, but the 2nd fractional went conscionable similar the archetypal arsenic Rose Lavelle grabbed a extremity soon aft the interruption to marque it 2-0.

A contentious punishment telephone 20 minutes aboriginal allowed Lindsey Horan to person from the spot, making it 3-0 to the visitors.

The Matildas' clash was the opening lucifer of a two-game bid against the No.1-ranked USA.

That aboriginal extremity stunned fans crossed societal media, with USA pundits cheering arsenic Australians were near speechless.

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