The United States Women’s National Team had another lackluster performance as they battled Australia to a scoreless draw at Kashima Stadium in Kashima. Despite the result, the USWNT qualified for the knockout stage of the Olympic tournament as Group G runners-up, with Sweden beating New Zealand in the other matchup occurring simultaneously.
Starting XI: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Kelley O’Hara, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Capt.), 12-Tierna Davidson, 2-Crystal Dunn; 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle (6-Kristie Mewis - 88’), 3-Samantha Mewis (9-Lindsey Horan - 65’); 11-Christen Press (21-Lynn Williams - 74’), 13-Alex Morgan (10-Carli Lloyd - 74’), 15-Megan Rapinoe (7-Tobin Heath - 65’)
Unused Subs: 18-Adrianna Franch, 20-Casey Krueger
With 1,000 school children in attendance for the match, giving Americans their first match at the Olympics in front of a crowd of any size, it was a pretty tight affair for both teams in the first half.