Above: Millwall’s Shay Bennettin action. Photo: Tom West Photography.
by Myles Thornton at St. Paul’s Sports Ground for Impetus(26/02/24)
Saltdean United beat Millwall Lionesses 2-1 in the London & South East Regional Women’s League on Sunday.
Co-Managers Alex Russell and Adam Rowland made two changes to the side that were narrowly defeated by FA Women’s National League side AFC Wimbledon in the County Cup.
Shannan Drewe and Maizi Garwood dropped out and Shay Bennett and Chloe Francis came in, the latter making her Millwall debut following signing from league rivals Sutton United.
Millwall Lionesses started the game well with some great football being played, and on 16 minutes, the home side took the lead. Chloe Francis played through a throw-in by Melissa Jones, onto Madison Grandys who found the back of the net.
The Lionesses’ tempo dropped and a very quick three minutes turned the game right on its head. On 23 minutes, Saltdean captain Georgia Bridges found Khyri McKenzie in space who shot beyond Chrissie Wiggins.
Then, Paula Howells played the ball to Saltdean’s second top goalscorer Molly Hill who scored her 11th goal of the season and gave Saltdean a lead going into the final 20 minutes of the first half.
Despite a double change at half time, Millwall just couldn’t get anything back from the game and Saltdean playing well to defend their lead but were unable to extend it. The game eventually ended as a 2-1 Saltdean United win and they moved from sixth to fifth place in the London & South East Regional League table.
Millwall Lionesses next face Enfield away from home next Sunday, and Saltdean United face Callum Best’s Dorking Wanderers in the league.
Ahead of the sold out match in Melbourne, Nike’s iconic goalkeeper jersey will be available for fans. It will be the first time that any Australian goalkeeper kit has been released to the public.
By Kieran Yap26/2/24
Above: Mackenzie Arnold. Photo: Cat Bryant.
Matildas fans can throw their hands up in triumph as though they’ve just saved a crucial penalty (or several), Nike and Football Australia have announced that the iconic purple goalkeeper jersey made famous by Mackenzie Arnold will be available for purchase.
Supporters have long lamented that goalkeeper kits have been hard to come by, and following Arnold’s heroics at the Women’s World Cup, demand immediately surged.
The jerseys will first go on sale via Football Australia Online Store from 12:00pm AEDT tomorrow. Rebel Sport and Ultra Football will have stock available from Wednesday, 28 February.
The jerseys will also be available to purchase at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Wednesday from merchandise outlets both inside and outside the venue. The match against Uzbekistan is expected to be at full capacity, making it the 12th sold out home game for the national team.
This marks the first time that Australian goalkeeper jerseys have become officially available, and with replica kits outselling the 2019 version by more than 13-1 they are expected to sell fast.
“In the past two decades we’ve seen football in Australia grow to incredible heights thanks to the power of and pride of our National teams, like the Matildas,” said Nike Pacific Vice President and General Manager, Ashley Reade.
“Last year’s tournament saw fandom for our goalkeepers take on a new energy which we loved to see. We are so proud of Mackenzie Arnold’s performances on and off the pitch. We also continue to be inspired by the broader goalkeeper squad, including Teagan Micah, Lydia Williams and Jada Whyman.”
Mackenzie Arnold echoed the excitement and this has added to a 12 month stretch that had eclipsed her wildest dreams as a goalkeeper.
“When I was a young athlete, the idea that I could make a living as a goalkeeper never really crossed my mind,” she said through Football Australia.
“It’s a testament to how far our game has come that the next generation of keepers will now see fans wearing our jerseys in the stands.”
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Above: Sasha Grove celebrating a goal against China with the Young Matildas. Image: Football Australia.
Left back. Right back. Left wing. Right wing. Centre mid? Sasha Grove does it all, and she does it all with courage and tenacity. The 19-year old Canberra United and Young Matildas star has been tearing it up in the A-League Women, starting every match and making her presence known. From holding off the best attackers to terrorising the best defenders, Grove has been a bright spark even in darker times for Canberra.
Primarily a fullback for Canberra, Grove has started every match of the 2023-34 A-League Womens season. Although utilised most commonly at right or left back, she rotates expertly with those around her to bring the most she can to all aspects of the game. Always in the mix for Player of the Match and Team of the Week, Grove deserves every bit of praise she receives.
From the definition of a football family, Grove and her sisters grew up in the Canberra United Academy, honing their skills in the capital while pushing each other to be better. Her competitive spirit brought about by this upbringing is evident on the pitch, throwing herself into the game with full intention to come away with the ball in every situation. Whilst growing up immersed in high-level football, Grove was also an excellent runner, but was ultimately inspired by her brother to pursue football more seriously.
Grove started playing for Canberra’s academy at the ripe old age of 10, building her skillset and maturing in her understanding, leading to an NPL debut at just 13. She showed brilliant promise in her attacking prowess, using her speed and hunger to establish a reputation as one of the best of her age. After a few years in the academy, she began to appear for the senior side in the 2020-2021 season, quickly announcing herself as an indispensable asset. For the past two seasons, she’s started every game. Her youthful energy in a side full of experience has become a real staple of Canberra’s style.
The story of Grove’s transition from attacker to fullback is an interesting one. In the 2022 NPL NSW season, Grove was thrown into the defence for North West Sydney Spirit. She had to adapt on the run to a new role, only filling a vacancy. Strangely enough, it was Sydney FC stars Nat Tobin and Kirsty Fenton who ultimately helped her find her feet and learn to be a great defender. When unable to train with Spirit due to the lengthy trek, Grove trained with boys and learned about the importance of smarts–not just skill and speed.
Above: Sasha Grove playing for Canberra. Image: Canberra United.
In 2022, Grove also got her first call-up to the Young Matildas. Since then, Grove has performed well with the Under-20 side, frequently scoring and creating chances. Her tireless efforts off the ball are less appreciated by the unseeing fan, but her pressure and runs are praised by all teammates and coaches. Although Grove is accustomed to competing against all ages, the Under-20 stage really allows her to shine amongst her peers. Grove will be leaving Canberra to face Uzbekistan with the Young Matildas in March, and while that is to her and Australia’s advantage, it could leave Canberra United in the lurch. They may struggle without one of their most valued and reliable players as they fight to rise off the bottom of the table.
For such a versatile player, Grove plays the fullback role with a mature awareness of her defensive responsibilities. While she is willing and able to rotate and make runs up the pitch, she rarely lets an attacker slip by her. Her interceptions and tackles per game– 2.5 each, paint the picture of her staunch abilities. She struggles with the lack of creativity and flair defensive positions allow, but is happy to pull off fancy feet further up the field. She ranks highly in progressive play, both passes and carries, and adds dimension to the attack when appropriate. But, these are just her skills as a fullback. As an attacker in the Canberra United Academy, she scored 21 goals in 47 appearances. The only struggle regarding Grove is figuring out where her qualities can shine the most.
Grove’s contract with Canberra United only runs through the current season, so she could be off to pursue bigger challenges soon. A goal of hers as a Manchester City supporter is to play for them in the Women’s Super League. She is certainly capable. Sasha Grove is one of Australia’s brightest prospects and will only improve as she ages and gets more opportunities. Determined to break into the national team sooner or later, it would be wise to watch this space.
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Above: Impetus 71 sponsored Karly Smith – player head coach of Andoversford. Photo supplied to Impetus 71 by: Karly Smith.
Andoversford player-head coach Karly Smith, sponsored by Impetus 71, is delighted by the progress of the village team still in their embryonic days, playing in the tier ten, in the Gloucestershire League Division Three.
“This is our second season together as a team. The development as both individuals and as a team has been incredible. We currently sit mid-table and are extremely pleased with the progress the team has made in just under two years.
“Personally, this season has been a tough one for me, suffering a ligament injury which has seen me miss a couple of months of games. It has also meant I have had to leave my favoured position of goalkeeper and moving into the centre-back position so I’ve had to adapt to playing outfield again, which I have really enjoyed!”
Like all clubs, Andoversford has had its ups and downs across the campaign with a real high coming against Cheltenham Town Development from the league above in the Gordon Perrett League Cup.
Above: Karly Smith (yellow kit) gets a move underway for Andoversford. Photosupplied to Impetus 71 by: Karly Smith.
“Not only was this a superb team performance, but on a personal note, I had a really strong performance in goal. Overall though, the most pleasing aspect of this season is seeing the huge improvement we have made as a team and how far we have come.
“We have recruited lots of new and fantastic players, which is always brilliant and demonstrates how well the women’s game is progressing. Embedding new players into the team and settling them into the squad is a great challenge to have, which we have embraced wholeheartedly this season as we look to continue to do our part in growing women’s football.”
Smith views the new players coming into Andoversford, and indeed their status as a new club only in their second year of existence as an example of the continued growth of the women’s game.
“The league appears to be improving each season, with more clubs entering the league as women’s football has taken off. There seem to be more teams starting up and therefore, more women, both young and mature like myself looking for a team to be a part of, which is amazing to see.
“Women’s football is now easily accessible for people to watch and listen to, which I have no doubt has helped to inspire the next generation of girls and young women to get involved in this game that we all love.”
Above: Karly Smith and Andoversford – supporters of Her Game Too. Photo supplied to Impetus 71 by: Karly Smith.
This growth in players can often cause challenges for grassroots clubs as funding below the top tiers of the women’s game is still a major problem. However, Andoversford can point to a positive ‘can-do’ attitude in their Cotswold village, which has a population of just over 900.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a very supportive community around us at Andoversford FC, helping to provide us with fantastic facilities and visibility. Funds are available for teams to apply for, and thanks to a very proactive and supportive Chairman, we secured some funding this season to aid us with our equipment. It can be difficult for clubs without the community and internal support we have to stay afloat when the cost of facilities, equipment, and upkeep continue to rise.”
As the club’s second season in tier ten reaches the home straight, the head coach outlined her expectations for the final months of the 2023/24 season.
“A great second half of the season would look like getting a further 10 points, our aim at the beginning of the season was to finish in the top half of the table. 10 points would put us in an excellent position for this, but it will be no easy task with two local derby games and games against the top teams in the league.
“Personally, I’d like to continue my recovery from injury and keep fit for the rest of the season to get as much time on the pitch, helping out the team as possible. Sundays are not Sundays without playing football!”
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Above: The Matildas celebrating after a 3-0 victory against Uzbekistan in the first-leg of the Olympic qualifiers. Photo: Matilda’s Instagram.
By Freya Hiscott (29/02/24)
A reflection on the Matilda’s World Cup and Olympic qualifier success as Paris 2024 is in sight.
During July and August of last year the Matildas co-hosted the Women’s World Cup alongside New Zealand, where 32 nations fought for the ultimate winning title in Women’s football. Now the Matildas are back and battling it out for Olympic gold.
The impact the Matildas had on the Australian nation was inspiring. A record number of shirts were sold, with the home and away kits completely selling out before the Semi-Finals, surpassing the Socceroos (the mens Australian National team) in the area of overall merchandise sales before the tournament even began.
The Matildas played with pride throughout the competition and exhibited incredible competence and skill. The teams collective ability and passion led them all the way to the semi-final of the World Cup where they competed against England.
During the World Cup the Matildas secured record-breaking attendances, performed in the longest penalty shootout in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and managed to outnumber Cathy Freeman’s gold medal run with a record-breaking TV audience in the semi-final. The viewers for the Matildas v England World Cup semi-final peaked at an astonishing 11.15 million.
Although the Matildas journey in the World Cup came to an end in the semi-finals, their impact on the Australian nation was visibly noticeable and continues on. Every step they took on the pitch was proof that women’s football deserves a lot more recognition for the skill, dedication and the innumerable hours of hard work that was evidently displayed during the tournament, combatting outdated misconceptions of women’s sport.
Throughout the Matildas journey they taught the nation the importance of teamwork and spirit, influencing many young girls especially, to work hard for what they’re passionate for. The Matildas are deemed as role models for many young children across Australia and worldwide and continue to help shift the negative attitudes towards women’s football.
Above: The Matildas after suffering a defeat to England in the semi-final of the Women’s World Cup. Photo: Matildas Instagram.
So, what’s next for the Matildas?
In the recent international window the Matildas returned for the 2024 Olympic qualifiers. A tournament that means a lot to the team. Head coach Tony Gustavsson recalls the 2020 Olympics being the first tournament he experienced as coach leading the Matildas to fourth place, the best the Matilda’s have ever achieved in the Olympics.
However, Australia’s captain and star player Sam Kerr is unfortunately out of the running. Kerr has achieved over 100 caps for Australia and scored over 60 goals, but has recently ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) whilst training overseas with Chelsea.
This injury means Kerr is unable to complete the second half of the Barclays Women’s Super League season with her four-time title winning team and was unable to portray her skill and leadership in the round three series of the Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan.
Gustavsson recently revealed that Arsenal left back and Matilda’s former vice-captain, Steph Catley will captain Australia’s national team in the absence of Kerr.
The Matildas successfully eased to a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan on Saturday and were only 90 minutes away from Paris 2024. With a promising start to the playoffs the Matildas were back home on Wednesday evening for the second-leg of the playoffs in Melbourne.
Victoriously, the Matildas completed their second victory over Uzbekistan winning an astonishing 10-0 (13-0 on aggregate) in the sold-out Marvel Stadium and have now secured their ticket to the Olympics and one step closer to gold.
On Saturday’s match against Uzbekistan, we saw the return of Michelle Heyman. In my opinion a crucial addition to the Matildas team, who despite not making an international appearance since 2018, managed to mark her return with the first goal of the match. Heyman expertly headed the ball into the net after Uzbekistan failed to clear Catley’s corner.
Above: Michelle Heyman after scoring the first goal for Australia against Uzbekistan on her international return. Photo: Michelle Heyman on Instagram.
From a supporter’s perspective, I really enjoyed watching Heyman play some international minutes and being given the opportunity to prove herself in the Olympic qualifiers. It’s exciting to see how impactful she has been in the recent matches, scoring five incredible goals in only two games; including a first-half hat-trick on Wednesday. Her performance serves as a positive insight into the Matildas potential success.
Next up for the Matildas are the Olympics, but what national teams will be their toughest competitors?
The Olympics will serve as a huge tournament for Gustavsson’s side as the core of the Matildas have been together a decade. With this it means that the Olympics may be the last time we see the current team play together especially competing in a major tournament.
In 2020 the Tokyo Olympics commenced where the Matilda’s fell just short of a medal. The Australian national team were defeated 1-0 by Sweden in the semi-final, and then later beaten 4-3 by USA in the bronze medal match. This left the Matilda’s in fourth place, which is their current best Olympic finish .
The Matildas also fell short of a medal in last years World Cup where they were beaten 2-0 by Sweden. However, Sweden’s national team will not compete in the summer Olympics for the first time ever, after losing to Switzerland 1-0 in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
In this years Olympics I believe that the Spanish national team and the USA will be the most challenging teams to compete against for the chance of winning a medal. However, the Matildas are currently in excellent form and Heyman has cemented her way back into the squad which gave them the goals that they need.
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Above: Republic of Ireland pose for a team photo before their match against Italy at the Stadio Curva Fiesole (Viola Park Stadium) belonging to club ACF Fiorentina. Photo: Ireland Football
by Morganna King (25/02/24)
The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team will face the Cymru Women’s National Team at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday 27th February. Over 8000 tickets have already been sold; it’s set to be a record crowd.
With a record-breaking summer now in the rear-view mirror for Ireland, they aim to continue to build up their experience on the international stage. Looking forward to the summer after next, they are aiming to qualify for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
Cymru set out to do the same, except they have never qualified for a major tournament in the history of their women’s national team. With their ex-manager Gemma Grainger moving on to manage Norway, Jon Grey fills in as interim manager.
It’s no secret that Cymru’s results in the UEFA Women’s Nations League haven’t lived up to their potential, considering they haven’t managed to win a single one of their games in the campaign so far, and averaged at less than 0.7 goals per game. This could prove to be an issue against an opponent like Ireland, who are known for their defensive capabilities.
Luckily for both teams, the upcoming match is a friendly and will provide valuable insights for both countries, as well as building on the growing success of the women’s game. In addition to this, it will prepare them further for a tough set of upcoming international fixtures.
Above: (from left to right) Cymru players Lois Joel, Sophie Ingle, Olivia Clark, Elise Hughes, Ffion Morgan and Rhiannon Roberts pose after winning a small-sided tournament in training. Photo: FA Wales
Cymru Players To Look Out For
London City Lionesses captain Lois Joel recently switched her allegiance to Cymru. An all-rounder, Joel can play midfield as well as defence, and regularly does so for her club in the Barclay’s Women’s Championship. She has experience playing for West Ham in the Women’s Super League, as well as playing her college football at the University of North Carolina. Listed as a midfielder in the recent squad announcement, Joel could be set to make her debut against Ireland.
Versatile midfielder Angharad James announced her move stateside from Tottenham Hotspur to Seattle Reign FC at the end of the January transfer window. Here she will join fellow Cymru teammates Jess Fishlock and Lily Woodham. In her last season at the club, James took on the challenge of playing in the right-back position. This added experience will certainly pay off against a team like Ireland, who have become increasingly disciplined in holding their shape over the past year.
Elise Hughes, the Barclay’s Women’s Championship top goalscorer so far this season, with 14 goals to her name, currently plays up front at her club Crystal Palace whom she joined from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2022. She recently scored her debut goal for Cymru on December 1st 2023 at the Cardiff City Stadium in their 2-1 defeat to Iceland. Expect nothing less than for Hughes to add to her senior goals tally over the next few upcoming international fixtures.
Republic of Ireland players to look out for
36-year-old Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey has plenty of international and club experience under her belt, amassing over 100 caps for club and country. Although a versatile player, as a centre-back she is calm, composed and contributes to a solid last line of defence for Ireland and Liverpool. She deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award in Ireland’s previous match against Italy and will be crucial to Ireland’s defence if they want to keep a clean sheet against Cymru.
After narrowly missing out on World Cup squad selection, Liverpool forward Leanne Kiernan has returned to the permanent squad after her most recent injury. Her speed on and off the ball allows her to outpace defenders and quickly find herself in important spaces to receive the ball. She almost bagged her first goal of 2024 in Ireland’s last match against Italy, but it was unfortunately ruled offside.
Above: (left) Amber Barrett and (right) fellow Republic of Ireland international Claire O’Riordan at their club Standard Liège in Belgium. Photo: Fred Moisse
Amber Barrett missed out on squad selection for the last international camp, but since then she has really shown Ireland what they are missing. For her club Standard Liège in the Belgian Women’s Super League, she has amassed 11 goals in 13 appearances as well as winning the November Player of the Month award. You may know her from scoring the game-winning goal against Scotland that sent Ireland to the World Cup in the summer. Despite this, she didn’t receive as much game-time as she would have liked under Ireland’s ex-manager Vera Pauw. However, this could be set to change under newly appointed manager Eileen Gleeson.
Above: Michelle Heyman speaking yesterday. Image: Football Australia.
It was a moment in Australian football history that will be remembered and talked about for years to come. Seven minutes after stepping onto the field for her first Matildas cap in six years, Michelle Heyman put her country into the lead in Tashkent.
It was a goal that brought the Australian women’s football family to its feet yelling that bit louder than normal. An iconic moment for a legend of the game. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world to be back playing for Oz, back playing with the girls. Scoring is something I love to do, and to be able to get one in was a dream come true!” Heyman beamed.
“I’ve worked so hard over the last four years to get back on the field with these girls. It’s hard to put it into words. I couldn’t stop smiling out there. It was like being a kid again. I really felt so happy.”
Michelle Heyman.
Prior to making her return to the international fold, the Canberra United striker revealed the advice that head coach Tony Gustavsson gave her: “He literally just said get in the box, do what you do, and score a goal, and the only thing I wanted to do was just that – get out there have some fun, smile, and do what I do best.”
Heyman did just that, scoring her first goal for Australia for just under eight years. “I just remember that was my position in the set up was to get in front of the defender, and I was taller than her, so I felt, ‘OK!’ and I was pretty confident with myself. As soon as I saw the ball come in, I knew I could get my head to it and just feeling it clip-on was an incredible feeling! To score the goal that opened it all up for the rest of the team is just an incredible feeling and I feel so proud to be given a second chance.”
It’s now a rapid turnaround for Heyman and the Matildas ahead of Wednesday’s second leg which involves two flights, totalling almost 18 hours from Tashkent to Melbourne via Dubai with very little time to prepare for the game itself.
Above: Michelle Heyman “couldn’t stop smiling” on the pitch yesterday. Image: Football Australia.
In terms of the priorities for getting in the best possible shape, the striker said: “Number one thing is to eat really well, have some rest, and look after my body. I know we will have ice baths when we get back to Australia, and I can’t wait to be there.”
If gaining a first international cap in six years, and a first international goal in almost eight years wasn’t enough, Heyman now has the prospect of playing for her country in front of a pumped sell-out crowd of 50,000 fans in Melbourne on Wednesday. A state of affairs that is something that the Canberra United star is still trying to get her head around.
“I had tears in the stands watching the girls in the World Cup. To have the chance to get out on the field in front of my friends and family. It’s going to be a surreal moment, and I’ve never had that – have all my friends and family come watch me, so it will be really special – all my friends from school, and my mum!
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Above: Poppy Payne in possession for Millwall Lionesses against Ashford United. Photo supplied by: Poppy Payne.
Impetus ’71 sponsored Millwall Lionesses defender Poppy Paynehas hailed her team’s recovery from a challenging start to the season as the South London side look to push towards a place in the top four in the London and South-East Premier (tier five).
A run of four defeats in their opening six league games left the Lionesses in a tough place a quarter of the way through the tier-five season, but some changes behind the scenes plus a determination from the playing squad to put things right led to Millwall showing the club’s traditional fighting spirit to come good.
“I think despite a few huge changes this season with managers coming and going we have stuck together as a team. We have also had a good run in a lot of the cups, which have included a place in the Third Round of the FA Cup and a semi-final tie in the Capital Cup awaits too, so that’s kept team morale high.”
“The start of the season was definitely the most challenging with so many changes from the previous season. We had a new manager as well as a whole new team joining us, along with some of our senior long-serving players being out with injuries, and as a team, we seemed to find it difficult to adapt.
“At first, we were all gutted and felt like we had been given up on following the tough start to the season. However, Adam Rowland and Alex Russell, our current managers, stuck by us and stepped into that role with some much positivity and a great relationship with every player that our mindsets quickly changed. After just one game of them in charge we were on a winning streak.”
Above: Poppy Payne in action against Dorking Wanderers. Photo supplied by: Poppy Payne.
That winning streak saw Millwall win seven successive matches, scoring 47 goals, and conceding just four in the process. Whilst the South Londoners are, realistically too far behind to mount a promotion push, a top-four place is more than within their reach. Payne is clear what her team need to do to meet that target.
“Consistency is a big one for us, we need to be consistent in our commitment to the team as well as trying to push ourselves week in, week out, to compete as best as we can against the other teams in our league. It is a very competitive league, with not much in it ability-wise between the top and bottom of the league.”
The coming weeks see the team’s push for silverware continue with a Capital Cup tie against a very strong AFC Wimbledon side who are looking to gain promotion to tier three. The Impetus 71 sponsored defender though believes her side are more than capable of challenging the Dons.
“As a team, we have definitely thrived when faced with a cup game this season. We are coming up against a very good and well-experienced side, so it will definitely be a challenge, but one we are looking forward to.”
With seven league games to go in the league, Payne believes there’s still plenty to aim for.
“Hopefully it will consist of winning more league games than we did in the first half. Finishing the league within the top four and getting to the final of the League Cup. All of these are achievable if we work hard together.
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Above:Sophia Demetriou (19) with her Corinthian-Casuals teammates. Photo: Jay Batey.
Impetus 71 sponsored Sophia Demetriou sees a mixture of pride and opportunities as tier nine Corinthian-Casuals move towards the final stages of their first season since reforming.
The South-West London-based side, who represent one of the most famous football clubs in English football history are comfortably placed in midtable in Division Two of the Greater London Women’s League with five wins from their 12 matches – a good return for a team who are still gelling and finding their feet in their inaugural campaign.
Reflecting on the season to date, Demetriou said: “Going into 2024 we had experienced a lot of change within the club with personnel, structure within the team, and style of play. We were, and still are, building the foundation of a strong and successful team with committed, talented, and able players.
“I think, for any new club, things will take time, and, using this time properly, we can create something that will last and help us progress. We have had some good wins and some unlucky losses but, whatever the result, we have come back each week fighting.”
However, the successes of this season are more than about victories on the pitch. “The best part of the season for me is to watch a group of young women become a tight-knit team with a great bond,” the club captain smiled.
“We have grown in spirits and we all understand each other to an extent now we can use this on the pitch to our benefit. This includes our manager Paul Taylor who is an integral part of our team and has helped foster these relationships on and off the pitch so a big thank you to him.”
Above: Sophia Demetriou in possession for Corinthian-Casuals. Photo: Finlay Batey.
With the Tolworth-based side one of the new kids on the block in their tier nine division, it adds just another layer of challenge to compete as they come up against teams who have known each other for an awful lot longer.
“That’s been the most challenging part of the campaign so far,” recognised Demetriou, “Established teams have been together for years and understand each other and the way they play to a different level. Something that would never be achievable in a short time with a brand-new team such as ours. There have been times when we have been beaten on experience, not ability, and that can be disheartening. As I mentioned before, our spirit is fantastic so this has been a challenge but not one that has stopped us.
“We have consistent numbers at training and to our matches which has helped this social cohesion. We even went to the most recent Corinthian-Casuals quiz night as a team. Social events such as these, in addition to the activities on the pitch, give me reassurance it won’t take us longer to establish this bond like other teams in our league.
Corinthian-Casuals status as a club of world renown sees interest in the women’s team come from far and wide. The club has a long-established relationship with Brazilian giants Corinthians with the men’s side of the club making journeys to South America, with the men’s national side icon Socrates playing both for and against the South-West Londoners in the past. This season has seen social media connections between the Brazilian club’s women’s team and Demetriou’s fledgling Casuals. So, how would she feel about the women’s team heading to Brazil next time a tour is arranged?
“It would be amazing to be able to go to our sister club in Brazil! I know personally, and as a club, we would love that! In the early half of the season we were sent messages from our sisters abroad wishing us luck for the season. Our photographer Fin had the idea to send one back so, as captain, I sent over a short message which was kindly received by the Corinthians. We created a great following from that interaction which we are very grateful for. I am honoured to be captain of a club with such a prestigious history and roots in English football.”
With the eight league games to go in Corinthian-Casuals’ campaign, Demetriou outlined her expectations. “I think a good second half of the season for us would mean a good bond within the team, consistent personal and numbers at events, on and off the pitch, and results that are convincingly in our favour. Beyond this, as captain, for me if we could carry on building the foundations in a positive way, we can attract players to join us and create a team full of experience and, hopefully, success.”
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Above: Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson makes a point to his team today. Photo: Football Australia.
In a fairytale return to the international scene after six years away, Michelle Heyman took no more than 10 minutes to score the opening goal that set The Matildas on the way to a 3-0 win in chilly Tashkent.
Up until her arrival on the pitch just after the hour mark, Australia were paying the price for failing to field a recognised striker as whilst the work rate, approach play, and game management were fine, the finishing was not.
Heyman gave The Matildas the penalty box know-how and consummate skill that they needed to get over the line. Clever runs to the near post at set-pieces to beat defenders – those elements in the end were the difference. It was what was needed to break down the stubborn resistance of Uzbekistan.
In his media conference the day before this game, Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson raised the point that, whilst many were expecting an ultra-defensive display, it was perfectly possible that their hosts would be looking to make home advantage pay and try to get a first leg lead.
However, in reality, Uzbekistan’s tactics and formation were virtually identical to that which they displayed in the previous round of the Olympic qualification tournament. They were happy to let Australia have possession in their own half, sitting off until they broke into the attacking half of the pitch. This was particularly advantageous for Kyra Cooney-Cross, who had time and space to attempt to launch attacking moves.
The beneficiaries of that freedom were Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso. The Olympique Lyonnais star was able to penetrate along the right flank with pace and poise to link up with Raso inside her – but whilst the build-up play was full of the patience and tempo that Gustavsson called for, the finishing was never quite up to par.
Uzbekistan were defending in two main banks with a central line of four that was protected by a further line of three immediately in front. Australia were able to pull that line out to the left in order to then free up further space for the marauding runners along the right. In the face of tight defenders in front of them, The Matildas were working hard as a team to always have an outlet nearby to link with to maintain possession and work the ball at pace to find the breakthrough opportunity.
A key component of the Matildas’ attacking play in the opening half was debutant Kaitlyn Torpey. Despite speaking earlier in the camp about feeling “overwhelmed” at times by the call-up, San Diego Wave’s new signing looked at home in international football. She was full of intelligent running and subtle changes of position in a bid to link up with Carpenter and Raso as well as more centrally on occasion.
With the match moving towards the interval, a curling Steph Catley free kick from 30 yards right of centre caused momentary chaos in the Uzbekistan box as Feruza Bobokhujaeva’s back header needed rapid action from goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova.
Above: The Australia team that started today’s game in Uzbekistan. Photo: Football Australia.
Deep into stoppage time, Mary Fowler showed another potentially fruitful outlet for the Matildas as she used her pace to drive forward through the centre, sucking in four defenders as she did so, earning a set-piece parallel to the penalty area. If Fowler could get this sort of momentum more frequently in the second half and link up with those dropping across to support, then there could be better times in front of goal ahead for Australia – but the issue remained a lack of a finisher in the box.
Raso and Carpenter resumed their creativity within moments of the second-half opening as they combined to create a chance that eventually found Cooney-Cross picked up to fire a shot goalwards that Jonimqulova had to push over. Shortly afterwards, their combination play resulted in Caitlin Foord, on as a replacement for Torpey, directing a mishit effort over the top.
Fowler was involved two minutes later with a peach of a cross for van Egmond who put her effort over the bar. Patience, tempo, and support play were all there, but once more the absence of a player to turn the ball home was the missing link.
In a bid to try and remedy that situation just after the hour mark, Michelle Heyman was brought back for her first international cap in six years. Within moments of stepping onto the field, the striker got up at the near post from Cooney-Cross’ corner to flick a fiendishly tough header that went narrowly over the top.
However, just eight minutes later, Heyman showed her timeless striker’s instinct to put the Matildas ahead. Catley’s corner on the left was flicked goalwards by the returning star onto the bar and bounced back towards the Canberra star to head home.
Another burst from Fowler in the final eight minutes brought a sizzling cross into the box which took out the whole of the Uzbekistan defence and found Carpenter at the back post who headed over. There would be better luck shortly afterwards.
Jonimqulova’s goal kick could only find Fowler around 30 yards out. The Manchester City attacker showed a combination of speed and close control to dance her way through and beat two defenders to let fly with a low shot on the edge of the box that beat Jonimqulova’s despairing dive to double Australia’s advantage.
It would get better still just two minutes later when a move that went from flank to flank resulted in Catley providing a pinpoint curler of a cross for an unmarked Foord to head home.
Australia showed the patience, tempo, and belief that was called for. Their “game changers” provided the necessary spark to do what was necessary. The presence of Heyman and Foord provided the momentum to provide clinical ability in front of goal that was missing for the opening hour to put the Matildas three-quarters of the way towards the Olympic Games.
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