Kyah Simon’s deflected strike in the 88th minute earned the Matildas a one-all draw with the world champion US side in front of a lively crowd of 20,495 at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday night, November 30.

The 11th-ranked Matildas were beaten 3-0 by the Americans at Stadium Australia in Sydney on November 27.

Australia was behind again just four minutes into the Newcastle game after Ashley Hatch scored when Australia’s makeshift defence, minus Alanna Kennedy and Clare Polkinghorne, was exposed.

The US had the better of the chances and were largely untroubled defensively until Newcastle product Clare Wheeler, who came on in the 85th minute, won possession and sparked a late attack that led to the equaliser.

Australia’s match against the US at McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday night attracted a bumper crowd of 20,495.
Image source: Matildas Facebook page

The match was the Australians’ final hit-out before the 2022 Asian Cup in India in January.

It was the seventh time the Matildas had played in Newcastle, having won five matches, lost one and now drawn two.

The bumper crowd number was a record for the Matildas in Newcastle, surpassing 16,829 when Australia played Brazil in September 2017.

Gina Cranson