Physicality may be too harsh a word to describe the Americans' resolve. It was perhaps more their authoritative presence on the turf that defined their mindset as skipper Melissa Gonzalez, devoid of her off-turf jocularity, barked out orders.
They were strong on the ball, decisive in following a script that championed a simple edict of "put that ball out wide and let it do the work".
That Team USA coach Janneke Schopman had her troops out training in the morning of match day spoke volumes as the Reds came precariously close to scoring once again minutes before the end of the second 15-minute quarter with a cross that exposed a porous defence which was symptomatic of a tentative Green-and-Gold backline.
Whatever Goudoin said in his pep talk at the halftime break must have resonated with his women because they drew first blood, equalising from a Madeliene Ratcliffe field goal within 30 seconds of play resuming.
Australian Stephanie Kershaw had a chance as well but ran out of legs in surging into the D although American Jill Witmer did too but couldn't turn it into a goal in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Jocelyn Batram.
If the first two spells had Team USA stamped all over it, the third definitely belonged to the Aussies.
The cohesiveness that proved elusive suddenly became apparent. The tentativeness in anticipation of moves and the hesitancy that prevailed when bracing for tackles after arriving late in 50-50 ball situations were markedly conclusive.
USA striker Michelle Vittese had a chance, with three minutes to go, in the final quarter but took one touch too many as the cavalry arrived to thwart her attempt.
The final quarter was equal, although the Americans' fitness was tested in the heat and the Aussies seemed to have been conserving their energy a little for the second-half onslaught.
Overall, it's a four-team competition so everyone are semifinal contenders, so they won't lose sleep over it just yet.
