USWNT Defeats Australia, 2-1, Dominating Group Stage Undefeated at Paris Olympics

MARSEILLE, France – The U.S. women’s national team earned a 2-1 victory against Australia on Wednesday night, closing out the three-game group stage with nine points. Forward Trinity Rodman and midfielder Korbin Albert highlighted the scoresheet, sending the U.S. off to the quarterfinals of the women’s soccer tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Going into the game, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes decided to keep the same starting 11 aside from defender Tierna Davidson, who was out due to a knee contusion injury sustained from a knee-on-knee collision against Germany on Sunday.

Hayes defended her decision of not trying out a different starting lineup because of the squad’s ever-growing chemistry, regardless of qualifying to the knockout stage due to already claiming six points within Group B – thanks to wins against Germany (4-1) and Zambia (3-0). 

“I took the decision to stay with the 11, because we’re still building connections and cohesions,” Hayes said. “And when you disrupt that, you have to start again. And I felt it was a game we needed that good (familiarity) to start and that finishing to come from the bench to give us that little bit. We have to expect that from … all those players coming in (off the bench that) they’re still developing their experiences too, and it got a bit hairy at the end.”

Hayes’ decision was successful in the end, even though Australia’s Alanna Kennedy picked up a goal in the first minute of stoppage time, giving her team some last-minute hope. Australia would’ve gone through as Group B runners-up if they could’ve secured the draw.

The scoreline didn’t make up for the majority of the game’s point-of-view on the pitch, however, as the USWNT’s aggression was constant from kickoff. The Aussies proceeded to counter this by playing in the low block, sitting back with five as a defensive unit to absorb the pressure.

Nevertheless, the U.S.’ dynamic front three of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, whom are all in the running for top goalscorer, applied nonstop pressure. The USWNT tallied 21 total shot attempts with 9 on goal with 71.7 percent possession.

One of those shot attempts found the back of the net heading into halftime as Rodman, 22, scored off a redirected shot in the box from fellow Smith, 23, in the 43rd minute.

USWNT captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan believed that the team’s hunger is what led to the 2-1 result even though they were facing heavily defensive tactics from the start.

“That's just us,” said Horan, 30, on playing with an attacking mindset even after qualifying. “You know, we want to win everything. And I think the biggest thing in this game was that could have been a very frustrating game, because they made it difficult for us to score – and they did a really good job with it – but we found the back of the net.

“We keep talking about this new identity, this new style, this new sense of confidence. I think it's playing with identity and the structure, but also exploiting these individual strengths. I think you see it in our front three. I think you see it in our attack. You see it in the way that we're finding chances and quality chances. So I think that's key right now.”

Going into the second half, the USWNT continued their pressure until their second goal in the 77th minute from midfielder Korbin Albert. The Grayslake, Illinois, native scored her first international goal after sending in a thumping strike from outside the 18-yard box. This came immediately after trapping a defensive clearance attempt from Claire Wheeler of Australia.

Horan was seen already sprinting to celebrate with Albert, 20, as soon as the ball was shot.

“I think, you know, when the ball leaves a foot like that – and the spin on it, and the way she hit it – you just knew it was going in the back of the net,” Horan explained. “And it's so cool to see from behind. So (for Albert) to come into a game like that, when we kind of needed a goal .. (I’m) so proud of her – such a cool moment for her.”

Korbin, who is currently playing in the Olympic soccer tournament not far from her club of Paris Saint-Germain, has been working extensively on her shooting with Hayes in the lead up to this game. Her hard work paid off as Hayes puts that “when she’s calm and when she’s confident, she can deliver big moments.”

The USWNT’s brief leadership under Hayes has seen a transformation into becoming the potential powerhouse that the team has been known to be. With nine goals scored, two goals allowed and nine points earned, Hayes attributes the success to the players mindset.

“I don’t give them anything,” Hayes said. “I just set them up. I just give them structure. I just give them organization. I give them gameplans. I create an environment. As always, I did it at Chelsea (FC Women), where people want to be. I’m one with a growth mindset, and we have a growth mindset. You seen in the last seven minutes that football can turn like that. So don’t get too cocky, because the game’s never over until the game’s over.”

The USWNT takes on Group C runners-up Japan in the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament on Aug. 3 at the Parc des Princes in Paris.