The Matildas’ struggles continued as they concluded their SheBelieves Cup campaign without a win, falling 2-1 to Colombia in San Diego. This defeat marked their third consecutive loss in the tournament, raising concerns about their form with just a year remaining before the Asian Cup on home soil.
Colombia struck early, with Wendy Bonilla delivering an excellent finish to put her side ahead. Australia battled back and found an equalizer in the second half through Hayley Raso, whose persistence in the box paid off. However, Colombia secured victory in the 73rd minute when Catalina Usme’s long-range effort took a heavy deflection off Clare Hunt, looping past goalkeeper Tegan Micah.
The loss extends Australia’s recent struggles, with eight defeats in their last 13 matches. Interim coach Tom Sermanni expressed his frustration, emphasizing the team’s need to be more resilient at the highest level. He acknowledged that his players created enough chances to win but were once again undone by defensive frailties.
It was a challenging tournament for Australia, with concerns mounting after a heavy defeat to Japan earlier in the competition. The ongoing uncertainty over the team’s coaching future adds to the instability, as Sermanni remains in charge for now but without a long-term appointment in place. Meanwhile, Football Australia marked the one-year countdown to the Asian Cup with events across the country, further highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
In the match itself, the Matildas struggled early, conceding within the opening quarter-hour for the third straight game. Micah, chosen ahead of Mackenzie Arnold in goal, made a crucial early save to deny Mayra Ramirez but could do little to stop Bonilla’s well-placed strike.
Colombia’s attacking duo of Ramirez and Linda Caicedo posed problems, yet their defense showed vulnerabilities when attempting to play out from the back. Australia had opportunities, but Michelle Heyman missed a key chance, while Kyra Cooney-Cross wasted two shooting opportunities.
Adding to the team’s woes, Ellie Carpenter was forced off injured just before halftime, raising further concerns. In response, Sermanni introduced Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler in the second half to bolster the attack. The changes made an impact, with Fowler involved in the build-up to Raso’s goal, combining well with Charli Grant before Raso’s deflected effort found the net.
However, Australia’s hopes were short-lived, as Colombia regained the lead just four minutes later. Usme’s speculative effort took an unfortunate deflection off Hunt, leaving Micah stranded as the ball looped into the net.
Reflecting on the tournament, Sermanni admitted it had not been an ideal preparation period but stressed the need for improvement. With key fixtures against South Korea in April, the Matildas must regroup quickly to address their ongoing struggles and build momentum ahead of their crucial home tournament.
