So, to Illinois, where the Matildas will take on their Asian Cup conquerors and the USA meet Brazil to decide who will be crowned 2018 Tournament of Nations champions. That all goes down Thursday evening US time, early Friday morning in Australia. But from me, for now, it’s good bye. Thanks for joining me.
Here’s an initial match report. More to follow from Matthew Hall in Hartford.
Wow, that was a hectic finish. It ends in heartbreak for the Matildas, who did everything they needed to do for 90 minutes, only to concede an injury-time equaliser. Still, that performance, against the world No 1 side, contained much to admire. Defensively, they were superb – keeping the likes of Alex Morgan quiet is no mean feat, and Alen Stajcic’s side have only reinforced their credentials with this draw, ahead of the World Cup. As for the US, what can you say? Great teams never say never and they proved it here.
A stalemate means both sides top the Tournament of Nations table with a win and a draw. And it will go down to the decider later this week. Australia play Asian nemesis Japan, while the US play Brazil.
Full-time USA 1-1 Australia
90+6 min: And there it is! All over in East Hartford! It ends all square after Horan’s late, late leveller!
90+5 min: Gielnik comes on for Raso as the Matildas seek some respite. Into the sixth minute of injury time now.
Updated
90+4 min: It’s relentless US pressure as the clock runs down. Rapinoe turns and gets in a cross, but Kennedy clears!
90+3 min: That’s the sign of champions I suppose. They never give up. But what a hammer blow for Australia. That’s a bitter, bitter pill to swallow.
90+2 min: But wait, is there another twist? Raso hares forward and gets to the byline before crossing in. The US clear their lines, but this is a frantic finish to the game!
GOAL: USA 1-1 Australia (Horan 90+1)
90+1 min: There it is! The corner is swung over and Horan gets her head to it to nod downwards and into the back of the net! Delight for the US! Despair for the Matildas.
90 min: Polkinghorne makes a crucial challenge as the tension ramps up. Corner to the US....
89 min: “U-S-A, U-S-A” bellow the crowd as they try to will the ball into the Australian net. Time is running out...
88 min: Ooh! More Rapinoe trickery on the left results in a near-post cross that Morgan can only head over the bar!
87 min: What a player to bring on with three minutes to go and a goal desperately needed: enter Carli Lloyd. Off goes Dunn, as the US go all out.
86 min: So close now to another famous victory for the Matildas over the world’s best side. Can they hold firm at the back?
Updated
85 min: And time now for a Matildas change now: off goes goalscorer Logarzo, and on comes Foord to replace her.
84 min: Kerr breaks! Chance here! No! She ducks and dives before letting off a shot, but it’s blocked! And then a touch of cramp afflicts her. She’ll be OK to carry on though.
83 min: Van Egmond gets booked for a foul on Press, prompting huge cheers from the crowd. Yellow cards won’t win this game at the moment though, only goals will. Rapinoe’s resulting free-kick is poor, and the ball sails over Williams’s bar.
82 min: 21,000 in the stadium tonight, although it feels like a lot more than that, given the state of my battered eardrums.
81 min: Press wins a corner for the US, and the noise levels amplify in expectation/hope. Nothing doing once again though as Dunn’s follow up effort runs wide.
80 min: Into the final 10 minutes and squeaky bum time for the Matildas.
79 min: Ertz is upended by Raso, and that’ll be a free-kick to the US. And we’ll have two more US changes: Lavelle for Dahlkemper and Short for Sonnett.
77 min: Press is called for a trip on Van Egmond. Neither she nor the US-heavy crowd is happy with that one, as frustration begins to creep in.
76 min: Now the Matildas do manage to get forward, and a ball is swung into the box, but the flag goes up for offside.
75 min: Morgan gets her head to another cross, but she can’t get either power or direction on it and it’s easy for Williams. Fifteen minutes remain for the US to turn this one around – and for the Matildas to hold on for what would be another defining result.
74 min: Here comes another US change, as Press comes on for Heath, who hasn’t really had the same impact as she did against Japan last week.
72 min: So far so good for the Matildas. They’ve been pretty much non existent as an attacking force this second half, but they’re defending like lionesses.
@mike_hytner Zerboni is a throwback, in the sense that she might throw someone back into the second row. But she has discovered the non-physical side of the game late in her career and played her way into the pool.
— Beau Dure 🗯️⚽👨👦 (@duresport) July 30, 2018
71 min: Kellond-Knight and Horan are both prone on the ground after a nasty coming together. EKK gets up first, then Horan. The latter escapes a booking for her part in the challenge which on another day could well have seen her brandished a slice of American cheese.
69 min: Ooh! Dangerwoman Rapinoe lets fly from the edge of the D. Williams is up to the task though and she does well to get her body behind the ball.
68 min: Sam Kerr! She finally weaves some magic with the ball at her feet, cutting back inside to line up a pop on goal. It’s not her best effort though, and the ball trickles through to Naeher, who claims easily enough.
67 min: Oooh! The ball shoots all the way through a posse of bodies stationed around Williams’s six-yard box! All it needs it the slightest of touches, but no one can apply one and the Matildas survive!
66 min: But the Matildas can’t seem to hold onto the ball for long at the moment and it’s given away cheaply again. Here come the US, with Rapinoe haring onto a through ball from Ertz. But that’s great defending from Kennedy. Corner to the US. Again.
65 min: Another corner soon follows, which Rapinoe takes. Williams rises, salmon-like, to claim it though and the pressure abates again.
64 min: Zerboni wins a corner with her first touch and we’re just in the middle of a little spell of pressure from the home side. Australia handle it though, and the corner is cleared to safety to give them a bit of breathing space.
63 min: Time for the US to change things up as Brian is taken off for Zerboni.
61 min: Nice work from Dunn as she escapes her marker on the edge of the Australian box. The move forward culminates with Morgan’s looping header sailing over the bar – no worries at all for Williams.
59 min: Nearly an hour gone, and still Australia’s lead is intact. It’s been a gutsy performance from the defending champions so far. And how they deal with the next half hour now will tell us a lot about their development.
58 min: Australia make a substitution – off goes De Vanna after a tireless evening of work, and on comes Kyah Simon, who she replaced in the starting lineup.
57 min: Williams then has her name taken for time wasting. And to be fair, it’s a little early for that kind of behaviour.
56 min: It opens up for a moment for Horan, but her shot looks tired and lacks power. Williams isn’t troubled.
53 min: Morgan continues to. seek a way through the Matildas defence but she’s frustrated again. Still plenty of time for the hosts to turn this one around.
52 min: Rapinoe again... but again she’s off target and her attempted right-foot curler into the top corner flies over Williams’s bar.
50 min: What can the US do now, as they look to break through Heath. The ball finds its way to the other side of the pitch, where Rapinoe turns Carpenter inside and out before firing in a cross. It’s dealt with again, but increasingly Rapinoe is looking dangerous.
49 min: Morgan twice delivers from the US left. Twice the Matildas defence repel her efforts. But here comes Rapinoe now, to the byline where she somehow manages to get a cross in, despite the attentions of Carpenter. Williams is forced to parry before it’s cleared to safety.
48 min: The sun has set on the stadium in Hartford during the half-time break and the floodlights are now on.
47 min: Kellond-Knight bends the free-kick around the US wall, but it bounces wide of the upright, with Naeher’s angles all covered.
46 min: Back underway in Connecticut! No chances to either side. And Sam Kerr bursts forward straight from the kick-off, only to be hauled down by Horan.
A half-time email from Murray Henman, who writes: “Seems a fairly evenly poised game so far. I’m particularly impressed by De Vanna today. And disappointing coverage by Fox. No pre-game or half-time comments.” De Vanna has indeed been great so far. She’s such a livewire, and her unpredictability is a constant worry for opponents, not to mention her pace.
This is from a few years ago, but it’s still worth a read, to get a small insight into where the fire in her belly comes from.
So, are we on course for another seismic result? The Matildas lead 1-0 at the break, despite the US having enjoyed more of the ball in the opening 45 minutes. The goal was beautifully taken, and Alen Stajcic will be nothing but delighted with the way his side have handled their more illustrious opponents so far. For the US, they’ll have to find their killer instinct in front of goal if they are to get back into this one. Rest assured though, if any team can, they can. Back in a mo.
Half-time: USA 0-1 Australia
45+3 min: And that’s your lot for the first half, which was highlighted by Logarzo’s cool finish, off the back of De Vanna’s blistering break.
45+2 min: Down to the other end, and Butt sees an effort bounce inches wide of Naeher’s post! The keeper had that one covered, to be fair.
45+1 min: Lovely stuff from Rapinoe, who turns Kennedy inside out before firing off a swerving effort that Williams does well to collect.
45 min: Well, you learn something new every day: Connecticut is the “nutmeg state”, apparently. De Vanna just got megged, so pretty fitting really.
44 min: Oooh! De Vanna volleys back across the face of goal from Raso’s cross, but it’s wide of the mark! That would have been quite the goal.
43 min: Raso wins a corner off Dunn. No, wait, it’s a throw. Just the wrong side of the corner flag. Carpenter will take it.
42 min: Excitement levels rise inside the stadium as Heath finds Morgan in the box, but the flag’s up on the far side. Oh dear, replays show that Morgan was definitely onside there...
41 min: Rapinoe again looks to unpick Australia’s lock, down the US left, but Raso does well to stretch out a boot and intercept her attempted through pass.
39 min: A sniff of a chance for Kerr! It doesn’t fall for her this time though and one of the most dangerous players on the planet remains goalless today.
38 min: Here come the US, with the usual suspects Morgan and Rapinoe involved again. In the end Ertz sees her shot blocked and Williams is able to claim the looping ball without too many issues.
37 min: Goalscorer Logarzo becomes the first player to get booked today, for a high arm while challenging for an aerial ball with Horan.
35 min: Raso looking to get a corner off Sauerbrunn, but that’s good defending from the US player and the ref awards a goal kick.
33 min: De Vanna’s looking Australia’s most dangerous player at the moment. Her pace is really unsettling the American back line.
32 min: Kerr and De Vanna link up well on the far side, but the move is broken up by a stern challenge from Sonnett.
31 min: Carpenter’s involved immediately, but she gives the ball away. Perhaps Stajcic needs to keep an eye on her after the blow to the face.
30 min: And we’re back underway after that brief break. Half an hour on the clock and Australia still lead thanks to Logarzo’s goal.
29 min: A dab of a tissue and a sip of water later, Carpenter is ready to get back to it. She’s ready to re-enter the fray to a round of applause from the generous crowd.
Carpenter feels the thunder. #USAvAUS #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/Y5xSr61Kfq
— fuboTV (@fuboTV) July 29, 2018
Updated
28 min: Carpenter is utterly poleaxed by a Dunn clearance! That one nearly takes her head off! Her head snaps back as the ball hits her right in the face, and she remains grounded as he nose is attended to.
27 min: De Vanna again now looks to break for the Matildas. But her reverse ball towards Kerr doesn’t reach its intended target this time.
25 min: No doubt the US have it within themselves to get back into this one though. Rapinoe and Morgan have already shown enough to suggest that, of course.
24 min: And despite looking the better of the two teams, the US now have to chase the game – and that could benefit the likes of De Vanna and her electric pace on the break. This one’s set up nicely!
23 min: A classic sucker punch from the Matildas there and they lead the US once again, just as they did a year ago in Seattle.
GOAL: USA 0-1 Australia (Logarzo 22)
22 min: Logarzo opens the scoring against the run of play after a blistering break! But that one’s all about Lisa De Vanna’s skill and pace – she turns her way out of trouble on the edge of her own box before haring up field. Logarzo makes the run and De Vanna finds her... through on goal she makes no mistake, finishing low to Naeher’s left!
Updated
21 min: That’s disappointing though. Rapinoe’s attempted cross doesn’t clear the first Australian shirt, and it’s cleared.
20 min: But there’s a chance here now as Morgan tumbles under a slight push from Polkinghorne. Free-kick, out on the left hand side, which Rapinoe will take.
19 min: The US are definitely enjoying the lion’s share of possession, and they’ve had the better chances so far, but the Matildas are doing a good enough job of spoiling the forays forward.
18 min: Morgan gets up gingerly after a robust challenge from Polkinghorne. Of course, no play acting or anything. And she’s back in the action soon enough as she latches onto Rapinoe’s quick throw. Williams to Australia’s rescue!
17 min: Big chance for Rapinoe after some sloppy defensive work by the Matildas. Carpenter is caught on the ball allowing Rapinoe in on goal, but the US star’s effort sails wide of the far upright! That’s a big let off for the Matildas.
16 min: Rapinoe’s caught offside as she looks to race onto a cross-field ball. Williams races off her line to collect at the edge of her area anyway.
15 min: Kerr again now, looking to unlock the US defence on her own. She looks to play the ball inside, but no dice this time.
14 min: De Vanna slips the ball inside to Butt, who is on the receiving end of a monster tackle from Ertz. A fair one, mind.
13 min: Kerr tries to break free through the middle, but she ends up sliding on her knees with the ball in the US possession.
12 min: The Matildas just need to put their foot on the ball at the moment, and start to string together a few passes. The US are pressing them into a few mistakes.
9 min: There was a touch of the Keystone Cops about that one there. But it remains goalless. The US are beginning to assert some sort of authority on the game now.
8 min: Ooh! Big chance for the US! Morgan’s ball narrowly evades Rapinoe in the box, only to fall to Horan who attempts a curler into the far corner. It’s blocked, but deflects into Kennedy’s face before bouncing just wide of Williams’s post!
Extremely funny scenes here: @mike_hytner watching @TheMatildas with headphones on in a dead silent newsroom, whistling along to the anthem without realising.
— Mirza Nurkić (@mnurkic) July 29, 2018
He got a round of applause
7 min: Here come the US again, this time with Rapinoe, who wins the hosts’ first corner of the game. Danger here. No, not this time. Rapinoe goes to the near post, where it’s easily cleared by Raso.
Updated
6 min: The US come down the other end and Heath sees a looping header well claimed by Williams in the Australia goal.
5 min: Lovely defending from Dunn here as she manages to muscle Raso off the ball. The Matildas recycle the ball though and there’s a sniff of a shooting chance but it’s blocked at close quarters.
4 min: Tobin Heath is starting for the Americans today after an impressive cameo off the bench in the opening victory over Japan. Alongside Morgan and Rapinoe, she stood out for me.
3 min: Nothing come of the corner, but some signs of intent from the visitors early doors.
2 min: Polkinghorne does well to bring the ball out of defence early on before some neat play by Kerr down on the byline wins the Matildas the first corner of the game. The US are in their blue away kit, by the way. Because they’re the home team. Go figure.
1 min: And finally, after team pics, the toss, exchanging of pennants, plenty of handshakes, some refreshments and a final team talk, we’re off! Nearly 15 minutes past the advertised kick-off time – what is this? State of Origin?
A taped version of Advance Australia Fair is played before a rousing rendition of Star Spangled Banner is belted out on the pitch.
It’s not a full house – plenty of spare seats to be had in the upper tier – but the lower parts of the stadium are busy. A big roar greets the players are they enter the field, trailing some naval personnel who are carrying the Tournament of Nations trophy. And to the anthems....
Here we go! We have pictures! And I can tell you the sun is still out in Connecticut, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan are leading the US team out from the dressing rooms and into the tunnel, where the Matildas are already waiting for them.
Updated
Still no feed on the television, and a check with the guide tells me there won’t be until five minutes past the hour. Good on Fox Sports in Australia for broadcasting the game, but is a bit of pre-game too much to ask?
Just under five minutes until kick-off, although unhelpfully the feed on my telly hasn’t started yet. But Twitter is telling me there’s a great atmosphere in Hartford. There’s a 40,000 capacity at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field and if ever there was a game to sell out, it’s this one.
The Matildas will be in their traditional gold kit today, having aired the green away strip last time out against Brazil. The US will, presumably, be in their usual colours.
An email! “Hi Mike.” Hi Supitha Dematagoda. “Just wondering if you have any thoughts on who is the better striker – Morgan or Kerr? I think Kerr has the ability to create a goal out of nothing, but Morgan is the more clinical of the two.” Oof. That’s a tough one, not least because of Morgan is five years older than Kerr and one might argue the American is at the peak of her career. Kerr, on the other hand, is seemingly improving with every game that goes by. The sky is the limit for her. But it’s dangerous to pick out one or the other, as anyone bored with the endless Messi-Ronaldo debate will know. Let’s appreciate both as the class acts they are.
Brazil and Japan were first up in Connecticut today; Brazil, thanks to an absolute pearler from Beatriz and a late Marta strike, registered a 2-1 win. Japan’s consolation effort, a Rika Masuya diving header, wasn’t too shabby either.
Make it two! Beatriz doubles Brazil's advantage nearing stoppage time.
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 29, 2018
🇯🇵0-2🇧🇷 | #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/SF7tocBZNU
Updated
The teams are in. Here’s how the US, looking to extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches, line up:
And now for the main event! Meet our starting XI vs. Australia in East Hartford.#ToN2018 lineup notes » https://t.co/rAns56k0X8 pic.twitter.com/gcibMkhKuh
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 29, 2018
And one change for the Matildas – Lisa De Vanna in for Kyah Simon.
The team is in!
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 29, 2018
⚽ @TheMatildas v @ussoccer_wnt
⌚ 9am AEST
📺 @FOXFOOTBALL 505
📱 My Football Live app#GoMatildas #ToN2018 pic.twitter.com/9Z2HLyw4rF
Preamble
Here we go then. A clash of the titans. OK, that might be overdoing it slightly, given Australia are ranked eighth by Fifa, to the US’s No 1, but such was the Matildas’ impact in the States this time last year (when you may recall they got one over their hosts for the first time ever) and during yet another victory over the higher-ranked Brazil last week – and some up and down stuff in between – this is arguably the one that neutrals will want to see.
A year ago Tameka Butt’s goal in Seattle gave the Matildas their first win in 27 attempts over the US and announced Alen Stajcic’s side as a force to be reckoned with. Twelve months on, the setting is East Rutherford in Connecticut, at Rentschler Field to be precise, and just how far Australia have come in the last year will be better gauged after coming up against the might of the USWNT.
The US were ominously good in their opener against Japan. Alex Morgan scored a hat-trick, Megan Rapinoe grabbed a goal and an assist and a dominant performance overall will have given Stajcic plenty of food for thought ahead of today’s clash.
Is there another upset on the cards that might just force us to rethink the suitability of using the word “upset” in this context? Or will natural order be restored? We’ll find out soon enough: kick-off is 7pm local, 9am AEST. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch on email (mike.hytner@theguardian.com) or Twitter (@mike_hytner) with any thoughts, predictions, views or gripes.
