The U.S. women’s national team scored three goals in the second half to defeat Australia 3-1 in Bathurst on March 3.
The win was the second in three days for the Americans, who also won 4-0 on Feb. 28. The two teams meet for a third and final match March 5 in Canberra.
The U.S. struggled in the first half, hampered by a bumpy field wet from afternoon rains.
U.S. midfielder Justi Baumgardt broke the scoring deadlock in the 53rd minute. The Portland all-America ran under a bad Australian clearance, chested the ball down to her feet, and whacked a 20-yard half-volley over the Australian keeper Belinda Kitching. It was Baumgardt’s first international goal.
Australia appeared to draw even eight minutes later, but Katrina Boyd’s spinning shot was disallowed due to offsides after a discussion among the officials.
Kristine Lilly put the U.S. up 2-0 in the 67th minute. She took a pass from 1996 NCAA Final Four MVP Debbie Keller at the top of the penalty box. With her back to the goal, Lilly spun to her right and hit a left-footed shot to the upper right corner of the net.
Brandi Chastain scored the final U.S. goal on a penalty in the 76th minute after Lilly was taken down in the box.
Australia scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time, when Sunni Hughes intercepted a back pass and converted on a breakaway.
The match marked the international debut of UConn midfielder Kerry Connors.
March 3 in Bathurst
Australia 1 USA 3. Goals: Hughes 90; Baumgardt 53, Lilly 67, Chastain (pen.) 76.
Australia — Kitching, Starr, Salisbury, Gegenhuber, Swaffer, Black (Thornton), Peters (Revell), Youman (Wilson), Casagrande, Hughes, Boyd (Dunne).
USA — Scurry (Noonan, 46), Chastain, Fair, Pearce, Confer (Connors, 46), Venturini (Baumgardt, 46), Foudy, Lilly, Milbrett (Fotopoulos, 72), Hamm, Parlow (Keller, 46).
Yellow cards: Australia — Youman 31, Salisbury 74.
Referee: Jenny Bray.
Att.: 3,228.