USA 3 -1 Australia Highlights HD FIFA Women’s… by aledichannel5

The 3-1 scoreline does not do justice to the USA or the Australians. The Matildas came flying out of the gates early in the first half forcing two superb Hope Solo saves to deny Emily Van Egmond and Sam Kerr. The USA went ahead in the 13th minute after some neat footwork by Megan Rapinoe left her with space to thunder a shot which took a fortunate deflection. Australia kept pressing on with their speed and movement and in the 26th minute Lisa De Vanna swept the ball past Solo after the USA were unable to deal with the rapid fire interchange of passes inside the box. The nervy Americans finished the half without further damage. They looked slow, short of ideas, and relied far too much on the long ball to Abby Wambach.

The second half was more USA as the passing game picked up and in the 61st minute, Rapinoe found Sydney Leroux down the left, powering her way through and sliding a pass to Christen Press. The Stanford standout coolly slotted her shot past Melissa Barbieri. At the other end, Solo had some work to do as she palmed a ball from a Van Egmond long range blast. The Australians now visibly fading, ceded more of the ball to the USA, and in the 78th minute, Rapinoe (who else?) picking up the ball in the final third drove up to the box and smacked the ball with a low, angled drive that beat Barbieri.

The USA get all 3 points in the Group of Death as Sweden with former US coach Pia Sundhage now in charge faltered to a 3-3 stalemate against Nigeria.