USA Loses 1-0 to Australia in 2017 Tournament of Nations Match

Australia entered Thursday night's Tournament of Nations opener 0-25-2 all-time against the United States women's national team.

But thanks to a 67th-minute scoring strike from Tameka Butt, Australia was able to exorcise long-held demons and capture a 1-0 win against the USWNT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. 

Australia was the only team to capture an outright win Thursday, as Japan and Brazil played to a 1-1 draw in the evening's first clash. 

Thursday's clash was the United States' first in a tournament setting since it finished last in the four-team table at March's SheBelieves Cup, but a handful of recent wins over Russia, Norway and Sweden suggested Jill Ellis' side would have the Matildas' number early. 

However, that wasn't the case. 

Although Megan Rapinoe looked sharp as a playmaker and facilitator out of the midfield, the U.S. only had one robust scoring chance to speak of in the first half. 

That came in the 11th minute when Rapinoe fired an attempt that nearly skirted past Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams. 

The team's official Twitter account relayed video of the opportunity: 

Australia wasn't any more prolific as its counter-attacking chances largely fizzled before it could gain any real steam. But the fact that the Matildas controlled play through the midfield and dominated possession late in the half was reason enough to be happy with their performance over the first 45 minutes. 

Those trends held steady through the opening stages of the second half, and it wasn't long before Australia secured a breakthrough against a flimsy American back line when Butt poked a go-ahead goal behind Alyssa Naeher in the 67th minute. 

The U.S. countered with some threatening runs after falling behind, but an equalizer proved elusive on a night when a malaise settled over the Stars and Stripes for extended stretches. 

Tournament of Nations play will resume Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, when the U.S. clashes with Brazil and Australia takes on Japan.