- Hayley Raso - 69'
- Wendy Bonilla - 15'
- Catalina Usme - 73'
Colombia ensure Matildas lose all three SheBelieves Cup games
The Matildas' miserable SheBelieves Cup campaign has ended on a frustrating low note, with Ellie Carpenter injured as Australia lost 2-1 to Colombia to finish last in the four-team invitational tournament.
The same day Football Australia celebrated a year to go until the Asian Cup on home soil, the Matildas, still without a permanent head coach, slumped to their third defeat in a week.
Wednesday's 2-1 defeat in San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium followed a 2-1 loss to the United States and 4-0 thumping at the hands of Japan -- in a tournament meant to be ideal preparation for the Asian Cup.
Carpenter, who played 90 minutes in the first two games, was substituted with an apparent quad issue late in the first half.
Tony Gustavsson's permanent successor won't be in charge for Australia's next games in April, with Football Australia chief executive James Johnson confirming interim coach Tom Sermanni will take the reins against South Korea.
Wendy Bonilla's cracking strike in the 15th minute gave Colombia the lead before Hayley Raso's deflected strike -- Australia's only shot on target -- equalised in the 69th.
But Catalina Usme scored the winner four minutes later with a deflected long-range shot.
Sermanni fielded an experienced team and Emily van Egmond looped an opportunistic chance just wide in the third minute.
Teagan Micah, selected ahead of Mackenzie Arnold, made an excellent one-handed save to deny Leicy Santos in the seventh minute.
Shortly after, a poor turnover from Katrina Gorry proved costly as Linda Caicedo nipped in, working the ball to Mayra RamÃrez, who turned on a dime and launched a wonderful cross-field ball into the path of Bonilla. The winger burst forward and rifled a wonderful strike past a diving Micah.
Michelle Heyman should have equalised in the 21st minute when Van Egmond put her through on goal. But the veteran striker dithered on the ball, allowing Colombia goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo to get a hand in.
Two minutes later, Gorry intercepted a stray pass and squared the ball for Kyra Cooney-Cross, who had one shot blocked then fired her rebound wide.
Sermanni turned to Caitlin Foord at half-time and she ripped a strike wide in the 54th minute.
The Australians struck when Charlotte Grant and Mary Fowler combined beautifully down the left before Raso barged through the Colombia defence to force a shot home.
But the Matildas were brought undone four minutes later by Usme.
Micah made a big save to deny Caicedo at the death.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ekaterina Koroleva
SheBelieves Cup Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +8 | 9 |
United States | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 6 |
Colombia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 3 |
Australia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 0 |