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Australia has lost 3-1 in the opening game of their 2015 Women’s World Cup campaign to the USA despite a promising first half performance.
USA proved too good in a dominant second half display, after the two teams entered the break with the score tied at 1-1.
Australia put on plenty of early pressure, but gave up the first goal of the match thanks to a deflected shot from USA’s Megan Rapinoe.
It was an ominous sign for the Aussies, with the world number one team scoring with their first real opportunity of the match against the flow of play.
The goal didn’t dishearten the Matildas, however, who levelled the scores in the 27th minute thanks to midfielder Lisa De Vanna.
They could have gone into the halfway mark with a lead if it weren’t for some brilliance from USA goalkeeper Hope Solo.
Sparkling form from the shotstopper saw several good chances from the Aussies plucked out of the air, keeping the match tied as the ends swapped.
Towards the end of the half it looked as though the Matildas were going to flag, and that’s exactly what happened. The USA began to assert themselves in the second half, and searched for the goal to tear the game open.
It would be the boot of Christen Press that would give the USA their lead, thanks to some slick setup work from Sydney Leroux down the side of the pitch.
The Matildas managed to hold on for another quarter hour before Rapinoe again knocked one into the bottom corner, to give the USA an imposing 3-1 lead.
Two goals were reward for a dominant second half, and the score wouldn’t change again as the Cup favourites started their campaign in style with a two-goal victory.
Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe showed their class for the Americans, who cement their reputation as the best in the world with a well-earned victory.
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Matildas, who couldn’t quite win the crucial moments. They toiled hard, and will be positive ahead of their hitouts against Nigeria and Sweden.
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