The USWNT underachived in the group stage. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

This was the first time in history that the U.S. women’s national team finished with fewer than six points in the group stage of a world championship event – Olympics or Women’s World Cup.

After Tuesday’s scoreless draw with Australia, the Americans had accrued four points with a 1-1-1 record.

This is the second time the USA has finished second in its group at the Olympics, with the only previous instance coming in 1996. The USA went on to win gold medal.

The USA received two yellow cards – one Megan Rapinoe and one to Rose Lavelle – so a caution for either in the quarterfinal match would mean a one-game suspension for the semifinal, should the USA win its next game.

The information was supplied by U.S. Soccer.

The USA’s record against Australia stands at 26-1-4 and 0-0-2 at the Olympics. Over its last three games with Australia, the USA has a record of 1-1-2 and all four matches have been decided by two goals or fewer.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski is now 23-1-2 in his first 26 games.

With her inclusion in Tuesday’s match day roster, forward Lynn Williams has been officially deemed an Olympian by the International Olympic Committee. She was the 10th player to earn her Olympic debut in Tokyo. Williams played the final 16 minutes of the match.

Goalkeepers Adrianna Franch and Jane Campbell are the only players in the squad yet to earn game minutes, though both have been named to a match roster and have been deemed Olympians by the IOC.

Andonovski made five changes from the starting line-up against New Zealand on Saturday. Kelley O’Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn replaced Abby Dahlkemper and Emily Sonnett on the back line, Samantha Mewis replaced Lindsey Horan in the midfield while Alex Morgan and Christen Press replaced Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd at forward.

Horan and Carli Lloyd are the only two players to appear in all 15 matches for the USA in 2021.
Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Naeher have started all three matches for the USA at the Olympics.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.