Aussies beat U.S. women for 1st time ever

SEATTLE — The U.S. Women’s National Team had never lost to Australia. That changed on Thursday in Seattle.

Even with USWNT’s veteran players on the field, some of whom were part of the 2015 World Cup-winning team, the U.S. could not overpower Australia late in the game in an international friendly at CenturyLink Field.

The U.S. lost to Australia 1-0 in a match that was part of the 2017 Tournament of Nations, which includes the national teams from the U.S., Australia, Brazil and Japan. Earlier on Thursday, Brazil and Japan tied 1-1.

“Right now, it’s not about playing the same 11 (players),” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “It’s really about giving players opportunities to show. I think we came out on the unfortunate side. Congratulations to Australia, but I’m obviously disappointed with the result.”

In the 27 previous games between the U.S. and Australia, which stretch to 1987, the U.S. team had won 25 times and had tied twice.

In front of a crowd of 15,748, Tameka Butt scored to give Australia the lead in the 67th minute.

Just three minutes later, Carli Lloyd, the U.S. team’s most experienced player, nearly scored off a cross from Megan Rapinoe, but it was saved by Australia’s starting goalkeeper, Lydia Williams, who plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League.

In the final third of the game, Williams had what Ellis called “two freaking amazing saves” — the one on Lloyd’s shot and another on a shot from Crystal Dunn in the 85th minute.

“I think at the end of the day we gave up a goal that was against the run of play and was unfortunate,” Alex Morgan said. “But we should have climbed our way back in, and we were a little unlucky.”

In the first and last 20 minutes, Ellis said her team played well and with high energy. But the U.S. players couldn’t find that in the middle portion of the game. Late in the first half, Morgan said the team was in “a little bit of a lull.” The tournament now moves to San Diego where the U.S. faces Brazil.