Houston (AFP) – Catarina Macario scored her first national team goal in nearly three years as the USA beat Colombia 2-0 in their opening game of the SheBelieves Cup on Thursday. Macario’s highly promising progress was halted by an ACL injury in June 2022, and she has suffered a number of setbacks in her return to action. Although she played four games for Emma Hayes’ team last year, the Chelsea forward had not scored for the USWNT since April 2022.
The goal came in the 33rd minute and it was created by the talented 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, who floated a lovely pass over the top to Yazmeen Ryan, who fired across the face of the goal for Macario to slide home. The USA had gone close earlier when a Macario corner reached Jenna Nighswonger at the back post, and her volley crashed out off the bar. Hayes was forced, by injuries, to pick a squad missing many of her first choices and Olympic gold medal winners, opting to give several of the next generation their chance for Thursday’s game in Houston.
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But despite the absence of the ‘Triple Espresso’ frontline – Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Wilson (previously Smith) – the USA looked dangerous. Yohannes, who plays in the Netherlands for Ajax, was the stand-out, with the teenager’s elegance and poise on the ball matched only by her impressive passing range.
Colombia battled hard, but even this largely second-string USA team was a class above them, and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on the hour. It was an outstanding solo effort from Ally Sentnor that made it 2-0, with the forward collecting the ball in the inside-left channel and cutting inside before blasting into the top corner from 25 yards out.
For Macario, who missed the 2023 World Cup and last year’s Olympics, there was real relief at being back on the scoresheet. “I just felt like it was a big weight off my shoulders. I am just so happy to be starting for the national team again, to be playing again,” she said, before reflecting on her fitness struggles. “There are a lot of tears that were shed, a lot of heartbreaks that’s for sure, a lot of times when I thought I wouldn’t play again, just a lot of adversity, and I am just thankful to be playing again,” she added.
In another match, Mina Tanaka struck twice as Japan outclassed Australia in a 4-0 win in their opening game, giving new coach Nils Nielsen the perfect start. Japan dominated from the outset, taking the lead in the sixth minute when a low shot from Fuka Nagano was directed into the bottom corner by Tanaka.
Tanaka doubled the lead in the 32nd minute when Hikaru Kitagawa crossed from the left, and the Japan striker took advantage of hesitant Australian defending to sneak and slide the ball home. Japan’s third goal showcased their clever, short-passing style, ending with Tanaka slipping the ball across the goal to Maika Hamano, who slotted home.
Australia were simply never in the contest at Shell Energy Stadium, with interim head coach Tom Sermanni’s side second best in all areas. Tanaka missed a great chance for her hat-trick but fired over from close range. However, Japan soon had their fourth when, from a short corner, Hikaru Kitagawa floated in a cross and Moeka Minami glanced in a header. Australia’s best effort came in the 87th minute when substitute Charlotte Grant hit the bar.
© 2024 AFP
