Australia's Tom Sermanni has been fired as coach of the US women's soccer team, after a rare dip in form this year.

Sermanni took over the women's team in January 2013. He previously spent eight years coaching Australia's women's team.

Tom Sermanni. Credit:Orlando Chidoo

The US squad was unbeaten last year under Sermanni, winning 13 matches and drawing three. However, the Americans struggled at the Algarve Cup in Portugal last month, dropping two matches and finishing an uncharacteristic seventh.

Sermanni's sacking was announced a few hours after Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe scored in the Americans' 2-0 victory over China in Colorado.