USA vs Australia – Football Match Report – 27 July 2021

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United States women’s national team striker Alex Morgan scored a goal canceled by the VAR as Vlatko Andonovsky’s side drew 0-0 with Australia in their final group stage match for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The result means USWNT qualifies as second place while Australia waits for subsequent results to see if they will qualify as the best third-placed team.

Women’s Olympic Football Arch & Fixtures

“It was a great test for us today to see that the players can implement the match plan very well,” Andonovsky said in a post-match press conference.

“So whatever we feel, we have to do to win the [next] A game, we’ll give it to them and then let them do their work.”

USWNT continued its mediocre form in this tournament with Matildas dominating possession early on. In the first 15 minutes, Tony Gustafson’s team grabbed 62%.

“The only thing that surprised me a little bit was that they were a bit passive in their pressure and I’m used to seeing them so aggressive,” Gustafson, who used to work as an assistant coach with the USWNT, said at a press conference.

Mary Fowler, a late substitute in the starting line-up for Olympic debutant Caitlin Ford, had an excellent opportunity to put Australia ahead in the 20th minute but her header bounced off the crossbar.

Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr compete for the ball. Atsushi Tomura / Getty Images

Gustafson confirmed after the match that Ford felt something in her leg and that she rested as a precaution.

Morgan appeared to put USWNT ahead in the 33rd minute when he headed a Kelly O’Hara header into the net but a VAR review showed her elbow was just an offside and the goal was disallowed.

Australia’s dominance of possession continued into the second half but they were unable to make an impact.

Christen Press had a perfect opportunity in the 56th minute to put USWNT ahead after a through pass placed it behind Ellie Carpenter but a heavy touch saw the ball swerve away from them.

In a low-level match with few chances, neither side managed to break through in the final stages with a draw, a fair result between two teams far from their best.

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