Opening minute disaster for Matildas as USA inflict early pain; striker’s emotional comeback – LIVE

It took just 41 seconds for the Matildas to fall behind with the USA scoring the opening goal in a flash in Arizona.

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The nighmare start for the Australians came via a blunder at the back which allowed Lynn Biyendolo to stroll into the box unmarked and complete a tap-in.

“A nightmare start for Australia,” former Matilda Grace Gill said on commentary.

Biyendolo put the ball into the back of the net for a second time at the eight-minute mark, but the linesperson’s flag saved the Matildas from falling 2-0 down.

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The Matildas have made four changes to the starting XI that was humbled 4-0 by Japan for their an important SheBelievesCup clash with the USA.

The Olympic champions are always a formidable opponent, and particularly so on home soil, with the Australians desperately needing to lift their game in Arizona after an incredibly disappointing first up defeat.

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, defender Clare Hunt, and veterans Tamika Yallop and Katrina Gorry have all been benched with goalkeeper Teagan Micah, defender Winonah Heatley, recalled striker Holly McNamara and Charli Grant taking their places in the starting side.

McNamara’s comeback is special as she makes her first start in national colours in more than three years after enduring three ACL tears.

“It’s fantastic for her and for the team,” Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni told Paramount+.

“She’s done an exceptional job to get herself fit and healthy after three ACLs in quick succession. It’s important to get her out there and see how she goes from the start.”

Meanwhile, USA have opted to change all eleven players in the starting team from their previous match – the first time they have done so in 24 years.

“The thing that the US has done now is they’ve built up not just a starting team, but a real quality squad, where even if they have five or six key players missing, they’ve still got an outstanding team … so they’re a very formidable side at the moment,” Sermanni said.

“Everybody plays a little bit different to Japan, but the US and the Australian styles in general, have been, to a degree, quite similar,” Sermanni said.

“If you look historically, particularly over the last 10 or 15 years, most of the games between the US and the Aussies have been quite tight and very competitive because I think we’re two very similar nations in many ways.”