Final thoughts
Well, well, well. What a result for Australia. That’s the first time in 27 games they’ve managed to get one over the USA and it could well be a watershed moment for the team. Their progression continues apace and the result proves they have what it takes to mix it with the very best in the world. Next up is Japan, and another victory over their Asian rivals will put them on course for silverware in a week’s time.
For the US, it’s a third home defeat of the year, following losses to France and England, and their failure to find a way through what was admittedly a resolute Australian defence will nevertheless raise questions, given the talent available to coach Jill Ellis.
That’s all from me for now. Thanks for joining me. Until next time.
Full-time: USA 0-1 Australia
90+4 min: There it is! All over and the Matildas have secured a famous win over the reigning world champions thanks to Tameka Butt’s goal just after the hour mark!
90+3 min: Corner to Australia, and they’ll be in no hurry at all to take this one. The intensity of a few minutes ago has been lost momentarily.
90+2 min: Australian make another change, with Kerr making way for Princess Ibini to make her debut.
90+1min: Four minutes of added is to be played. There’s still time for a late equaliser! Williams is booked for time wasting!
90 min: Mewes, with some tissue jutting out of her nose, takes it, but it’s poor. Moments later, Rapinoe tries her luck, but it’s another disappointing effort. The Americans are getting desperate here.
89 min: Rapinoe now is brought down, having been felled by Gorry, who is shown a yellow card – the first of the game. Free-kick to the US.
88 min: Time is running out for the US. Rapinoe barges Carpenter off the ball before sending a ball into the box, but nothing comes of it and Australia can clear their lines.
86 min: Williams, for once today, shows a moment of uncertainty as Morgan races onto a long ball. The American gets on the end of it with Williams in no-mans land, but with a little help from her defenders, she’s able to get back and repel the attack.
85 min: Another superb opportunity for the States! O’Hara finds Dunn, who controls well on her chest before prodding towards goal, but Williams is there again to turn the ball around the post! It’s coming, isn’t it?
84 min: These final minutes are going to be a real test of the Australians’ resolve and how well they can handle the pressure of leading the best team on the planet.
82 min: Ooh! Great chance for an American equaliser! But Morgan, having used her strength to get the better of Catley, fires into the side netting!
81 min: Kennedy takes the free-kick, but her effort floats just over the bar.
80 min: But here’s a great chance for the Matildas to double their lead, with a free-kick nearly dead centre, about 25 yards out. But before it’s taken, there’ll be another change: Gielnik on for Foord.
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79 min: We’re approaching squeaky-bum time now. Just over 10 minutes left for the Matildas to hold on for a famous win – and for the US to find a goal to maintain their unbeaten record against Australia.
78 min: Rapinoe splits the Australian defence to find the run of O’Hara on the right. She cuts it back into the box, but the Matildas hold firm and scramble the ball to safety.
76 min: O’Hara and Brian on for Smith and Long as the US attempt to find a formula to break down the resilient Australians. But that’s a decent enough debut from Smith, who should be pleased with her first outing in a USWNT jersey.
74 min: Mewis comes back on, and this match all of a sudden has a bit of bite. Van Egmond remonstrates with the referee over a perceived American high boot now.
72 min: And Alen Stajic takes Butt off immediately. Not sure if that was ordered by the referee (as was the case with Antonio Valencia in Manchester United’s game against Real Salt Lake last week). She’s replaced by Chloe Logarzo. Mewis remains on the sidelines, as trainers attempt to plug her nose.
71 min: Ouch. Blood pours from Mewis’ nose after she takes a high boot from Butt in the face. Nothing intentional, but pretty brutal consequences!
70 min: And here is Lloyd! Rapinoe finds her but Williams is equal to her fierce shot and repels it!
69 min: The US will look towards Lloyd and Morgan now to dig themselves out of this hole.
68 min: What a story brewing here! The Matildas are just over 20 minutes away from a famous win, and ending a 26-year drought against the US. To be fair, it’s been coming, such has been the visitors’ ascendency.
GOAL: USA 0-1 Australia (Butt)
67 min: Tameka Butt runs onto a loose ball, waits for it to fall (it seems like an age before it drops) and lashes past Naeher to put Australia ahead!
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63 min: So, we’ll now get an indication of how the Matildas can cope with Lloyd and Morgan. The former, might credit an Australian for her success, by the way:
62 min: We’ll have a break in play now after Portland team-mates Horan and Raso clash heads. Both trainers come on assess each player – and Horan will come off, with Carli Lloyd coming on to replace her. Alex Morgan is also on, for Press, and to massive acclaim from the crowd.
59 min: We’re approaching the hour mark in Seattle, and still no breakthrough, although it’s the Matildas who are slightly on top at the moment.
57 min: Here’s another change, this time for the Americans. Crystal Dunn, the Chelsea payer, replaces Pugh.
56 min: The Matildas have grown in stature as this game has progressed. It’s been a really impressive performance so far, not least for the way they weathered a bit of an early storm.
55 min: Foord takes up the baton in Australia’s midfield, moving forward with intent before Kellond-Knight gets the ball out on the left. She plays it into the box towards the dangerous Kerr, but she’s always stretching her neck backwards to get to it, and her header goes over the bar.
52 min: Here comes a change – the largely ineffectual De Vanna makes way for Hayley Raso, the Portland Thorns player.
51 min: It’s end-to-end stuff early on this half. Catley sends in a cross by the byline after Rapinoe lost the ball in a dangerous position, but it’s that woman again, Naeher, who claims confidently.
50 min: Straight down to the other end and Mewis has a chance to open the scoring but her low effort bounces just wide of Williams’ post!
49 min: At the other end, a neat turn by Gorry opens up the US defence but her shot is straight at Naeher, who saves competently.
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48 min: And a bit of ping-pong from the resulting corner kick again causes some panic in the Matildas’ defence, but the whistle goes and they can breathe easy.
48 min: The US start the second half in much the same vein as they did the first – with Rapinoe at the centre of things. Her strike on goal causes consternation in the Australia back line, and it’s sliced over Williams’ bar for an US corner.
47 min: There doesn’t appear to have been any changes made during the break, at least in terms of personnel.
Second half underway
46 min: OK, here we go again! We’re back up and running in Seattle.
After today, things move on to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, where the Matildas take on Japan first up, then the US play Brazil later in the day. Then the StubHub Center in Carson will host the final round of matches – Matildas v Brazil and USA v Japan. Just thought I’d let you know that.
Half-time: USA 0-0 Australia
45+1 min: There is, but Kennedy’s long ball forward goes all the way out of play. And there goes the whistle for half-time! It’s goalless at CenturyLink Field after an opening that was dominated by the US early on, before Australia came back into things and finished the stronger of the two teams. Time for a quick cuppa, and then back for the second half.
45 min: One minute of added time signalled at the end of the first half. Perhaps time for one more Australian attack?
44 min: A late corner fails to reap any advantage for Australia before Foord hits a long ball into the box and Naeher claims in commanding fashion. She’s been near-perfect so far today.
42 min: Here come the Matildas again down the left-hand side, but her cross isn’t great and Naeher is able to claim without any fuss.
41 min: But here’s Press latching onto a lovely ball through from Horan. She stabs at the ball but can’t get much power or any decent direction on it and Williams is able to scramble back and claim.
40 min: After a fairly torrid opening to the match, the Matildas are more than holding their own now and seemingly gaining in confidence.
39 min: Gorry, who has been her usual busy self so far today, plays another lovely little ball through for De Vanna on the left. But again the flag is up and the move breaks down.
38 min: And moments later Butt gets the ball in acres of space in the box but before she pulls the trigger, the whistle goes and the flag is up.
37 min: Gorry now forces Naeher into action with a long-range, daisy-cutting effort. The keeper is equal to it though.
34 min: De Vanna’s just been described as a “character” and a “maverick” by Ian Darke, the telly commentator. Having chatted to her a couple of years ago, I can confirm that:
33 min: Pugh goes down under a challenge from Kellond-Knight in the middle of the park and while she’s on the turf receiving treatment, the players head to the sidelines for a drinks break.
32 min: There’s Carli Lloyd on the bench – what a weapon to have in reserve. Hopefully we’ll see her at some stage today.
30 min: From the corner, Butt’s outstretched leg nearly but not quite gets to the ball in a bid to poke past Naeher. No dice though and, half an hour into this game, we’re still scoreless.
29 min: Here goes De Vanna, using all her pace against Smith. De Vanna hares into the US box before hitting the deck under the American’s challenge. Her arms go up, but the referee signals a corner.
28 min: In it goes, but the whistle goes again and nothing will transpire this time for the US.
27 min: Australia are able to play the ball around the back now. But they lose the ball before too long and when Horan is fouled, the US will have a chance to get a ball into the Matildas’ box.
24 min: Some desperate Matildas defending prevents Horan from capitalising on a bit of confusion in the visitors’ box.
23 min: Catley attempts a long-range pass towards Kerr, but it’s a touch too long and the ball runs all the way through to Naeher.
22 min: Naeher again has to be alert under pressure at the other end and she gets there just in time to hoof clear.
21 min: Another half-chance for the US! And it’s Rapinoe again who sets Australian hearts aflutter with a Van Basten-esque volley that goes wide of the mark.
19 min: Ooh! Kerr very nearly latches onto a backpass intended for Naeher. The US keeper darts off her line and manages to get there first – just.
17 min: This, of course, isn’t the only women’s football tournament on at the moment. Earlier, England booked their place in the quarter-finals at Euro 2017 with victory over Portugal.
16 min: Here come Australia now though. Kerr feeds Butt outside on the right but she’s always on the stretch and her first-time effort doesn’t trouble US keeper Naeher.
15 min: Pugh sees an effort deflected past Williams’ post for another US corner here, but Rapinoe’s delivery is poor and the ball sails all the way over the box and out of play.
14 min: De Vanna shows some real fight as she tussles with Smith. That’s the kind of grit and determination that has been her trademark over her career – and possibly what the Australians need today.
12 min: Not meaning to tempt fate, but the US are beginning to look ominous here.
11 min: Rapinoe goes close with a low shot after she cut back inside the box and unleashed an effort that Williams does well to get down to and tip around the post! First clear-cut chance of the game so far!
9 min: And here we go with a mass round of applause for Tony DiCicco. Lovely touch on this, the first US game since he passed away in June.
8 min: De Vanna is caught on the ball and the US break quickly. Rapinoe’s class shines through as she plays a lovely ball through for Horan, but the flag is up and she’s offside.
7 min: Catley now is pulled up for a foul as she tries to press the Americans high up the pitch. The Matildas haven’t been able to make any real inroads into the final third as yet.
5 min: Pugh and Press combine well on another American sortie forward, but again it comes to nothing. The pressure continues to build on the Matildas though.
4 min: Here come the US again, with Rapinoe pulling the strings. Press is caught offside eventually, but the hosts are enjoying the better of these opening exchanges so far.
3 min: The US win an early free-kick, but Rapinoe’s delivery isn’t accurate enough and the Matildas are able to clear without problems.
2 min: So, the US have plenty of strength in depth today – they’ve got the likes of Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux on the bench. Taylor Smith, the young right-back, makes her debut.
First half underway
1 min: And we’re off! It’s a pretty decent crowd at CenturyLink Field for this, the hosts’ opening match. No one’s in the upper tier, but the lower tier on the far side at least appears to be well filled.
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The sun is out over CenturyLink Field in Seattle, it’s just gone midday on the eastern seaboard of Australia, and we’ll be ready for kick-off once the anthems are done and dusted. Advance Australia Fair plays out before Star Spangled Banner and we’re good to go!
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Here come the teams, the US in all white, the Matildas in all yellow. Aside from a bit of chat with the mascots they’re holding hands with, both sets of players have that look of steely determination in their eyes.
There will be a moment taken in the ninth minute of the match today to pay tribute to the former USWNT coach, Tony DiCicco, who died last month. DiCicco was a trailblazer of the women’s game in the States and had a huge impact on the game there and across the world. He retired with the most number of wins of any US coach under his belt, along with an Olympic gold medal from 1996 and the 1999 World Cup. Players will also wear black armbands marked with “TD” in his memory.
Line-ups
Focused. Ready. And always for the 🔴⚪️🔵.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 28, 2017
Your XI for tonight's #ToN2017 match vs. @TheMatildas. pic.twitter.com/HsVy03S5lx
Here is how we line up for today's #ToN2017 opener! #GoMatildas #USAvAUS pic.twitter.com/MdXZAyQis6
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 28, 2017
Brazil 1-1 Japan
Just earlier, in the tournament opener and the first part of this double-header in Seattle, Orlando Pride player Camila’s howitzer saw Brazil come from behind to win a point against Japan, who took the lead thanks to Yika Momiki’s 63rd-minute header.
What a bomb! #BRAvJPN #ToN2017 pic.twitter.com/aFk0LjLM8N
— Ann Odong ⚽️📝 (@AnnOdong) July 28, 2017
Preamble
Hello there. Well, this promises to be quite the showpiece event at this inaugural Tournament of Nations, a four-team, round-robin comp that also features Brazil and Japan and will see games played in Seattle, San Diego and Carson. With all four teams currently residing in the top 10 of Fifa’s world rankings, we’re not going to be short on quality over the next six days.
The US (ranked one) and Australia (seven) have plenty of shared history, making this an especially intriguing clash at CenturyLink Field. The pair have faced each other 26 times before – incredibly the US have never lost – and this will be their first meeting since their opening World Cup group match in 2015, when the Matildas showed just how much they had improved, despite a 3-1 reverse against the eventual tournament winners.
Adding to the familiarity between the two sides are the five members of the Australian squad who currently ply their trade in the NWSL. Striker Sam Kerr, in particular, is certain to have featured in US pre-match team talks after her recent form for Sky Blue FC has lit up the league – the 11 goals she has scored so far this season has her second to just Megan Rapinoe in the race for the golden boot.
Kerr joins keeper Lydia Willians (Houston Dash), Steph Catley and Alanna Kennedy (Orlando Pride), and Hayley Raso as names instantly familiar with US soccer fans, but quality runs all the way through Alen Stajic’s squad and the USWNT will need be wary of threats from all over the park if they are to maintain their unbeaten streak today.
This isn’t just about team records, mind. Out-of-season tournaments (of which the US hosts its fair share) have their sceptics, but crucial rankings points are up for grabs here – especially important for the Australians heading into a World Cup year. If they can rise above Japan (currently six in the world), the Matildas will get a seeded spot.
So, don’t expect any ground to be ceded easily here. Kick-off is nearly upon us, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Oh, and please feel free to get in touch on the email – mike.hytner@theguardian.com – or Twitter @mike_hytner with your thoughts on today’s game, and anything else you feel like getting off your chest.
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Mike will be here shortly. In the meantime, have a read of Caitlin Murray’s pre-tournament analysis of the USWNT:
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