HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 20: Catarina Macario #20 of USA controls the ball in front of Leicy Santos … [+]
The United States women’s soccer team defeated Colombia 2-0 on Thursday’s opening day of the invitational SheBelieves Cup, as Catarina Macario and Ally Sentnor got on the scoresheet.
Playing in front of 15,043 fans at Shell Energy Stadium in downtown Houston, forward Macario scored the opener in the 33rd minute following a well-worked team move from the Olympic champions. It was her first international goal in nearly three years.
Macario, making her first appearance since last June, thumped a first-time shot past the goalkeeper after connecting with a cross by Yazmeen Ryan from the right wing into the six-yard box. Lily Yohannes also played a crucial role in the build-up, setting up Ryan with a lobbed ball over the Colombian defense.
The 2023 World Cup quarterfinalists Colombia almost drew level four minutes later, but No. 9 Mayra Ramirez blasted her shot high after a mazy run through the U.S. defense. Macario’s goal was the only shot on target by either team in the first half.
In the second half, the hosts doubled their lead when Sentnor scored her first international goal in the 60th minute with a terrific long-range strike. The 21-year-old Utah Royals forward cut inside from the left channel, took a few touches and unleashed a rocket-like strike from about 30 yards, which swerved into the right side of the net.
The two goals wrapped up a solid 2-0 win for the USWNT, also bringing up their 14th win under coach Emma Hayes. The Englishwoman, who took over in May last year, has yet to lose a game in 16 matches in charge.
Speaking after the match, goalscorer Macario said it was “surreal” to get back on the scoresheet after a long time.
Macario was the 2022 SheBelieves Cup MVP but sustained an ACL injury later that year, which forced her to miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She was on the roster for last summer’s Paris Olympics but couldn’t play because of lingering knee irritation.
“I just felt like it was a big weight off my shoulders,” the 25-year-old midfielder said in an interview. “You know, just so happy, so thrilled to be scoring for the national team again, to be playing again.
“I am still working on my fitness, obviously, but yeah, just to be having fun… it just means the whole world. I just hope to keep getting better and better,” she added.
Japan Demolish Australian Defense
HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 20: Mina Tanaka #11 of Japan controls the ball against … [+]
Before the USA vs Colombia match, Japan faced Australia in the tournament opener, thrashing the Matildas 4-0. Forward Mina Tanaka scored twice in the first half before setting up Maika Hamano for the team’s third goal, while Moeka Minami wrapped up the rout with a late header.
Three of Japan’s four goals came from Australia’s defensive errors, prompting Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni to describe their performance as “un-Australian”.
“It was a pretty huge wake-up call, I think,” Sermanni said after Australia’s heaviest-ever defeat to Asian heavyweights Japan.
“It was one of those games where we were outplayed basically from the start straight through to the finish of the game in every department.
“We were outplayed football-wise, we were outplayed physically, we were outplayed I think mentally, outplayed on our decision-making,” he added.
The round-robin SheBelieves Cup competition will resume Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Colombia will face Japan before the United States take on Australia.
The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, February 26, in San Diego. The U.S. will face Japan, while Colombia will play Australia.
The tournament’s winner will be determined by total points, with the first tiebreaker being the goal difference, followed by the most goals scored.
