SAN DIEGO (Feb. 26, 2025) – The Colombia Women’s National Team topped Australia 2-1 to claim third place at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. In the first game of the tournament’s final matchday, Las Cafeteras took the lead on a counterattack midway through the first half, Australia equalized after the break and a hard-hit, deflected shot from midfielder Catalina Usme secured three points for the South Americans. Australia dropped all three of its games in the tournament and finished fourth.
It was a back-and-forth affair as both sides traded chances while seeking their first victory of the tournament. Colombia’s breakthrough came on an opportunistic counter in the 15th. As the Matildas attempted to patiently build up, a pass back was intercepted by winger Linda Caicedo who played it up to center forward Mayra Ramirez. She flipped the field with a cross to winger Wendy Bonilla driving down the right flank. The forward ripped a shot from the top of the box to the far left post for the game’s opening goal.
Australia responded with a pair of chances. As Colombia attempted to play out of the back, Australia forced a turnover and played into the box, where an attempt by forward Kyra Cooney-Cross was halted by a tackle from defender Mary Alvarez and the follow-up went just wide.
The Matildas’ equalizer came in the 69th. A nice exchange down on the left wing saw outside back Charlotte Grant play a booming ball into the box for flank midfielder Hayley Raso. The attacker pushed the ball through the legs of a Colombian defender and hit a hard left-footed shot towards goal that ricocheted off another defender on the way into the back of the net.
The lead didn’t last long as Colombia netted the game-winner in the 73rd. On an attacking run for Las Cafeteras, Australia cleared an initial ball into the penalty box but it fell to Usme just beyond the arc and she dribbled forward before launching a shot. It deflected off an Australian defender and flew over and out of the reach of Matildas goalkeeper Teagan Micah, who played her college soccer at UCLA, for the deciding goal.
Both nations will return to action during the April international window after their first-ever appearances in the SheBelieves Cup. Colombia will face fellow SheBelieves Cup participant Japan once again in its next match on April 6 in Osaka. Australia will host Korea Republic in Sydney on April 4 and in Newcastle on April 7.
- 2025 Shebelieves cup MATCH REPORT -
Match: Australia Women’s National Team vs. Colombia Women’s National Team
Date: February 26, 2025
Competition: 2025 SheBelieves Cup
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium; San Diego, Calif.
Attendance: 10,072
Kickoff: 4:37 p.m. local (7:37 p.m. ET)
Weather: 62 degrees, sunny
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| AUS | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| COL | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| COL – Wendy Candelo (Mayra Ramírez) | 15th minute |
| AUS – Hayley Raso (Charlotte Grant) | 69 |
| COL – Catalina Usme | 73 |
Lineups:
AUS: 12-Teagan Micah; 2-Michelle Heyman (9-Caitlin Foord, 46), 4-Clare Hunt, 7-Steph Catley (Capt.) (5-Natasha Prior, 46), 10-Emily Van Egmond, 13-Tameka Yallop (11-Mary Fowler, 66), 16-Hayley Raso, 19-Katrina Gorry, 21-Ellie Carpenter (8-Kaitlyn Torpey, 45), 22-Charlotte Grant, 23-Kyra Cooney-Cross (6-Alana Murphy, 82)
Substitutions Not Used:1-Mackenzie Arnold, 18-Chloe Lincoln, 3-Winonah Heatley, 14-Alanna Kennedy, 15-Daniela Galic, 17-Holly McNamara, 20-Laini Freier
Head coach: Tom Sermanni
COL: 13-Natalia Giraldo; 2-Mary José Álvarez, 4-Ana Guzmán, 5-Yirleidis Minota, 9-Mayra Ramírez (23-Ivonne Chacon 90+2), 10-Leicy Santos (6-Daniela Montoya, 90+2), 11-Catalina Usme (Capt.), 15-Wendy Candelo (7-Manuela Pavi, 64), 18-Linda Caicedo, 20-Sara Sofia Restrepo (21-Camila Reyes, 80), 22-Daniela Caracas
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Luisa Agudelo, 12-Katherine Tapia, 3-Daniela Arias, 8-Marcela Restrepo, 14-Angela Barón, 16-Jorelyn Carabali, 17-Carolina Arias, 19-Karla Torres
Head coach: Ángelo Marsiglia
Stats Summary: AUS / COL
Shots: 9 / 12
Shots on Goal: 1 / 4
Saves: 2 / 0
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offside: 1 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
AUS – Hayley Raso (Caution) 38th minute
AUS – Clare Hunt (Caution) 65
AUS – Katrina Gorry (Caution) 82
COL - Ivonne Chacon (Caution) 90+8
Officials:
Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Meghan Mullen (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Salma Perez (USA)
4th Official: Alyssa Nichols (USA)