By Amelia Hirtle
The second of the two friendlies took place in Newcastle, Australia. Kiyah Simon scored the equalizer that gave her team the draw. In the first game, Simon missed a sitter that would have tied it near the end of the first. The US went on to win that game 3-0.
Ashley Hatch scored in a similar fashion as in the first game. Some poor defense by the Matildas allowed Lynn Williams to find Margaret Pure, who passed it off to Hatch who put it away. It is Hatch’s second goal in as many games.
In the 20th minute, the Matildas got their only shot on target off a volley from Mary Fowler. US goalkeeper Casey Murphy was able to get a glove on it and pushed the ball off the right post. The US attack continued in the first half, however, they were not able to capitalize.
Much like Murphy kept her team in the game for the first friendly, keeper Lydia Williams did the same in the second friendly. She made some key stops that gave her team the opportunity to score the tying goal, late.
On the equalizer, Sam Kerr received the ball and found Kiyah Simon. Simon struck the ball and it deflected off defender Becky Sauerbrunn for a goal. Murphy played the initial strike and was caught on the wrong foot as the ball deflected to the opposite side.
The USWNT ends their 2021 season with a win and a draw against the Matildas. With the chapter closed in 2021, the USWNT will now look ahead to 2022 where they will compete in the She Believes Cup and the CONCACAF W Championship which will serve as qualifiers for the confederation for the 2023 World Cup. Australia and New Zealand have already qualified for the 2023 World Cup because they are hosting the tournament.
Coming up next for the NWSL is the Expansion Draft which will take place on December 16th and the College Draft will occur on the 18th.