Perth take the Glory after fine win over Adelaide

Perth Glory 3-1 Adelaide United

Report by Ben Gilby with EXCLUSIVE photography from Rob Lizzi at the Sam Kerr Football Centre (15/12/24)

Above: Perth Glory’s Naomi Chinnama gets up highest to head home her side’s first goal in today’s game. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.

Perth Glory claimed their second win of the A-League Women season as they produced their best 90-minute display of the campaign to defeat an Adelaide United side who went into the game in fourth place.

The home side were extremely well organised at the back and largely nullified the considerable threat of Fiona Worts, Chelsie Dawber, and Emily Condon. Offensively, they were able to make the most of chances when they came – factors that ensured that the points would stay in Western Australia.

Glory boss Stephen Peters handed an A-League debut for locally produced midfielder Charli Wainwright. This was a landmark day for the youngster who has both outstanding vision and passing range. It meant that the regular midfield starting line-up for NPLW WA side Perth SC were all playing together in an A-League Women game, with Wainwright joining Georgia Cassidy, Tijan McKenna, and Grace Johnston in a purple shirt.

With co-captain Izzy Dalton missing, Glory brought back another hugely talented local youngster, Mischa Anderson on the bench. The defender has been a star for both the NTC and Perth RedStar in recent NPLW WA seasons. Miku Sunaga also returned as a substitute after missing last week’s home game with Melbourne Victory.

Above: Charli Wainwright (purple shirt on right) puts in a tackle on Adriana Leon during her Perth Glory debut. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.

For the visitors, all eyes were drawn to their bench. The listing of Emily Condon and Chelsie Dawber as substitutes showed the potential and power of the South Australians. Any team who has two such talented players as replacements is capable of serious damage. Condon would be thrown into the fray after just 10 minutes after an injury to Erin Healy.

Perth started positively. Gabby Hollar, returning to the starting line up after being on the bench last week, released Megan Wynne who danced up the right flank and played in a teasing ball that Claudia Jenkins punched away. In these early exchanges, Tathem was linking up well with the Welsh international on that flank as the Glory gave the Adelaide defence plenty to think about.

It’s taken a few weeks for Wynne to find her feet in the A-League Women, but she was a player possessed from the start of this encounter. Taking possession, turning, and driving into space between the Adelaide defence, she caused problems that Adrian Stenta needed to solve quickly.

The South Australians were looking to find Fiona Worts offensively at every opportunity, but the English striker was well marshalled by two Glory defenders at all times, with Tathem guiding the younger heads around her superbly. This was a well-organized and confident start by Perth. They just needed to find a goal to show for their efforts, as visiting keeper Jenkins had only rarely been forced into the action.

The reward finally came with 23 minutes of the clock. With the Glory awarded a free kick on the right, Georgia Cassidy curled the ball in viciously towards the back post where Naomi Chinnama rose highest to score her first-ever A-League Women goal in her 49th appearance.

Above: Perth Glory celebrate Naomi Chinnama’s goal. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.

Adelaide worked hard to respond, but the Perth defence screened off their attackers, which forced the South Australians to play across rather than through. It could have been better still for the home side with four minutes of regulation time to go before the break. Tathem honed in on goal but looked to square a pass to Kelli Brown rather than going for power, allowing Jenkins to gather.

The visitors had the better opportunities in the second period, and Casey Dumont was called upon to make two superb saves back to back just after the hour mark to deny Condon. Moments later, Tathem blocked Maleri Mullan’s effort on the left-hand side of the box.

Perth went straight down the other end and were denied by a sensational piece of goalkeeping by Jenkins. She first saved Hollar’s shot with a dive before getting a hand to Johnston’s follow-up which was cleared at the expense of a corner that saw Hollar head wide of the left-hand post.

The home side were left to rue those misses as, with 20 minutes remaining, Adeleide levelled. Chelsie Dawber received the ball, drove forward to be one-on-one with Dumont, and fired a powerful shot into the net.

Yet, parity only lasted four minutes as Wynne was brought down as she entered the area by Mullan and Hollar confidently sent the penalty into the right hand corner of the net.

Above: Gabby Hollar (purple shirt) gets up high to make a header today. The American scored Perth’s second and third goals. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.

Things got even worse for the visitors when Matilda McNamara was shown a red card for pulling back Kelli Brown as the last defender. Despite the newly called-up Matilda’s protestations and those of teammate Ella Tonkin, there was no changing referee Mikayla Ryan’s mind. The resulting freekick brought about a goalmouth scramble of schoolyard proportions before the visitors finally cleared.

In stoppage time, Perth sealed the win in style as Hollar sent a powerful header in at the back post from Brown’s corner on the left.

Perth now have a huge encounter on Friday night when they travel to take on a Western Sydney Wanderers side, fresh from securing their first win of the campaign in some style against Western United. Both teams will see it as a real chance to kick-start their seasons and push towards mid-table.

Check out our Instagram page @ImpetusFootball for more of Rob Lizzi’s EXCLUSIVE images from the game for us.

Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-3-3): Dumont, Tathem, Zogg, Chinnama, Johnston, McKenna, Cassidy, Wainwright, Wynne, Brown, Hollar. Substitutes: Abdul-Massih, Anderson, Foletta, Sunaga, Templeman (GK).

Scorers: Chinnama 23′, Hollar (pen) 74′, 90+1′.

ADELAIDE UNITED (4-3-3): Jenkins, Tolland, Tonkin, McNamara, Hodgson, Morgan, Bowler, Dewey, Worts, Healy, Leon. Substitutes: Condon, Dawber, Grove (GK), Karambasis, Mullan.

Scorers: Dawber 70′,

Referee: Mikayla Ryan.

Attendance: 968.

Follow Impetus on social media:

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball

10 player Jets strike late to sink Sydney FC

Sydney FC 1-2 Newcastle Jets

by Kieran Yap (14/12/24).

Above: Indiana dos Santos shields the ball. Photo: Sydney FC

Newcastle Jets have recorded a remarkable win over Sydney FC despite being a player and a goal down for most of the game.

Indiana Dos Santos’s first-half strike was cancelled out by two late goals by Deven Jackson and Lauren Allan after Sydney FC were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

A draw would have been bad enough for the reigning champions, but a defeat leaves almost too many questions to answer. On the day when Princess Ibini celebrated a games record for the club and Millie Farrow was brought into the starting XI, there should probably have been more to celebrate.

Things looked positive for the hosts when Newcastle were down to 10 players in the 12th minute. Danielle Krzyzaniak charged off her line to preemptively snuff out an opportunity in needless and reckless fashion and was shown her second immediate red card of the season for the same error.

Sydney FC took the lead through Indiana Dos Santos in the 22nd minute. The Young Matildas playmaker received the ball after a Jets turnover and lashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Mille Farrow looked dangerous when in space. The former Perth Glory striker was able to run at the Jets defence through the middle and fizzed an effort over the bar from range. Mackenzie Hawkesby and Ibini also attempted to test Tiahna Robertson who had taken over in the Jets goal.

Sydney FC perhaps inspired by Robertson’s relatively undersized stature continued long range attempts, which was curious given the enjoyed the majority of possession. Although it must be tempting to assume Robertson can be easily beaten from distance, she surely has learned how to deal with those types of efforts to get this far in her career.

As the game wore on, both sides emptied their benches. Sydney FC were in search of a sealer, and Newcastle Jets were surging for an equaliser. Despite the fresh legs for the home side, they were still unable to kill the game off. Ibini came closest with a diving header that flashed over an open goal. When The Jets brought Lauren Allan into the contest, it changed the momentum for good.

Allan was tricky, aggressive, and creative on both wings for Newcastle. Her experience and mobility would be the difference between a draw and defeat, and between a draw and a win.

Tash Prior almost equalised when her header bounced off the crossbar. The recently capped Matilda kept the chance alive, but her cross floated harmlessly across goal.  

Allan kept the ball in play, created some space after a stepover, and whipped the ball in off her trusty right foot. The inswinger was met by the lunging and somehow unmarked Deven Jackson and the Jets were 1-1 in the 86th minute.

Sydney struggled to wrestle control back in the remaining minutes and looked the more panicky of the sides, despite both being urgent in their play. Allan scored the winner in the 95th minute to send to visiting bench into raptures.

Although Newcastle deserve all the plaudits, much of the discussion will be around Sydney FC after this loss. They have scored just five goals in six matches, but with the exception of a winner against Western Sydney, their goals come from opposition errors rather than the smooth buildups fans have become accustomed to.

In defence, they also have issues. How Jackson was allowed to be unmarked six yards from goal despite the Jets being a player down is likely down to individual errors, but small errors have added up this season to four points in total so far this season.

Sydney are hesitant in attack and disorganized in defence. They are reliant on moments of individual quality. Some magic from Dos Santos or a tackle from Tumeth does not make a championship team.

There is still time to turn it around and the quality in the squad to do it, but this is more than a slump. The gap between their best and worst football is very small and not in a good way.

This win was a showcase for Newcastle’s team spirit and a surprising level of depth in Ryan Campbell’s squad. Allan is a club legend but could be brought off the bench, Libby Copus-Brown and Gia Vicari could also add spark and experience late in the game.

As always, the Jets’ best qualities are out wide, but they have genuine game-changers in the team, who delivered when called upon.

The only real question Campbell has to deal with right now is should Robertson be the first-choice keeper?

Both of Krzyzaniak’s red cards this season were very avoidable. The types of incidences where it would have been easier to do nothing instead of a diving handball 30 yards from goal, or a needless challenge when the defender was still in position to deal with it.

Robertson is small for a goalkeeper but did not put a foot wrong today, and although teams seem to think they can beat her with long, high shots, she seems able to position herself well enough to deal with them.

By virtue of her suspension, that will be a question Campbell will not have to answer immediately, and for now, the Jets can rightfully celebrate a remarkable and deserved win.

To view Ryan Miller-Woods’ photo gallery from the game for Impetus, check out our Instagram page @ImpetusFootball

Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Franco, Tumeth, Thompson, Tobin, Lemon, Caspers, Hollman, Hawkesby, dos Santos, Farrow, Ibini. Substitutes: Chauvet, Bryson, Connors, Luchtmeijer, Edwards.

Scorers: dos Santos 22’.

NEWCASTLE JETS (4-3-3): Krzyzaniak, Cicco, Prior, Davis, Baumann, Hoban, Dundas, Jackson, Allan, Gallagher, Breier. Substitutes: Rolley, Copus-Brown, Allan, Vicari, Robertson.

Scorers: Jackson 86’, Allan 90+5’.

Referee: Caitlin Williams.

Attendance: 3,533.

Follow Impetus on social media:

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball

Saveska hat-trick propels Wanderers to first win in style

Western Sydney Wanderers 5-1 Western United

by Joe Rosedon (14/12/24)

Above: Sienna Saveska (left) celebrates for Western Sydney Wanderers today. Photo: A-Leagues.

Sienna Saveska’s first-half hattrick helped to earn Western Sydney Wanderers first win of the season, dismantling Western United 5-1 at CommBank Stadium.

The first goal of Saveska’s hat trick and the Wanderers’ first goal in four games came in notable fashion. Directly from the corner, she somehow squeezed the ball between Sasha Grove at the near post and Chloe Lincoln in goal. It seemed fitting that Western Sydney’s goal drought would end spectacularly, and more would soon follow.

With a one-touch pass, Sophie Harding set Cushla Rue away on the right side. The winger looked up and picked out Saveska’s darting run in the box. With a delicate finish, Saveska angled the ball past Lincoln to double her personal tally and the home side’s lead.

Two was to become three for Saveska and Western Sydney. This was the pick of the crop. Saveska unleashed a thunderous strike on the edge of the box into the top left corner that gave Lincoln no chance of saving. For a team that has struggled to find the back of the net all season, they were making goalscoring look second nature.

Western Sydney’s first-half scoring had not concluded just yet. Amy Harrison’s direct pass from deep caused all sorts of issues for Western United’s defence. The ball landed at the feet of Rue who was bearing down on goal. She held off Grace Maher and poked the ball through Lincoln to remarkably give Wanderers a four-goal lead at halftime.

Western United did have chances to make the score line more respectable before the break, with Kahli Johnson unable to get enough on Aimee Medwin’s deflected cross to direct into the goal but could not cope with the attacking onslaught.

Harrison had a golden opportunity to add to her assist in the opening stages of the second half. Rue was brought down in the box by Grove, and the referee Casey Reibelt showed no hesitation when pointing to the spot. However, Harrison could not score, missing the target comfortably.

Incidentally, Western United were soon to gain some form of consolation from the penalty spot. A somewhat dubious handball from Ella Buchanan was enough for Reibelt to award a penalty once again. This time, Matilda Chloe Logarzo converted to reduce the deficit and give the visitors a faint glimmer of hope.

The visitors were starting to show more attacking intent following the goal. Johnson had her close-range flick cleared off the line by Amy Chessari following Logarzo’s dangerous corner and Emily Roach’s downward header. Johnson again could have scored, her curling effort from just inside the box forced Sham Khamis into a good save.

Yet Western Sydney had not finished scoring just yet and Harrison’s passing proved influential once again and this time Matos was the target. The pass first reached Lincoln who spilled the ball into the path of Matos. Her persistence was rewarded, taking the ball past both Lincoln and Alana Cerne to score her first A-League Woen goal and round off a tremendous performance from the Wanderers.

Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-2-3-1): Khamis, Matos, Harrison, Ferris, Buchanan, Chessari, Harada, Rue, Saveska, Younis, Harding. Substitutes: Segavcic, Bennett, Price, Trew, Kapetanellis.

Scorers:  Saveska 10’, 24’, 27’. Rue 38’, Matos 82’.

WESTERN UNITED (3-5-2): Lincoln, Sardo, Cerne, Maher, Medwin, Eggesvik, Taranto, Hieda, Grove, Logazo, Johnson. Substitutes: Dall’Oste, Roach, Prakash, Cortellino, Dehakiz.

Scorer: Logarzo 64’ (pen).

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Attendance: 2,225.

Follow Impetus on social media:

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Nat Tathem: “We’re focusing on clean sheets”

by Ben Gilby (13/12/24)

Above: Nat Tathem talking to the media ahead of Sunday’s game with Adelaide United. Image: Perth Glory.

Perth Glory defender Nat Tathem believes that the heartbreaking way that her team fell to Melbourne Victory last Sunday can spur them on to success this coming weekend when they host Adelaide United at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game against the high-flying South Australian side, the 28-year-old reflected on head coach Stephen Peters’ message to his team his week to ensure that a similar outcome doesn’t happen again.

“It was hard to take…Stephen’s main message is ‘What can we learn from this? How can we be better?’ From the start of the season, our team has been getting better and you can see that out on the pitch. We need to control the controllables, and learn from that moment in the game.

“From the stats, that was, like the only shot on target (that Melbourne Victory had), so I think Casey (Dumont, Perth goalkeeper) was frustrated as she didn’t have much to do, and that’s always a keeper’s worst nightmare.

“I think defensively we have been copping a few goals, a few long-range shots in the last few matches, so that’s definitely been something we’ve been concentrating on – keeping a clean sheet. We were three minutes away from our first clean sheet, so it was really deflating for us.”

Whilst the loss to Melbourne Victory, which saw the Glory drop to one off the bottom of the ladder, was hard to take, there are signs of improvements in the team’s season defensively. The Western Australian side conceded 10 goals in their first three games, but have only let in two subsequently. Tathem puts this down to the squad gelling and being able to field their best players in the right positions.

“In pre-season, we had a lot of injuries, a lot of changes to our back line, so the first few games was trying to get used to that mix. We brought a lot of new players in our squad this season, compared to other teams in the league, so we’ve had to figure out the play. A few of those games were a bit of blow outs – decision-making in the last 20, 30 minutes because of our fitness. After the first few games, we’ve been able to get our fitness up and mould together as a team and that’s why you can see we are conceding less goals now.

“I was playing centre back at the start (of the season), just filling spaces for some girls we had coming back (from injury), but I’ve been around long enough and I know most positions on the pitch. I just want to be on the pitch, I don’t care what position that’s in…I think the fact that he (Stephen Peters, head coach) has me as a versatile player helps the team and helps me as he knows that if something has to change, it doesn’t have to come from the bench.”

Over the same time that Perth’s defensive record improved, their goalscoring stats have taken a turn in the other direction. Five goals were scored in the first two games, but only one has been netted since then. It’s something that needs to be put right quickly. Tathem believes that the fighting spirit is there in the squad to ensure it happens.

“Coming originally from Brisbane, it’s a state where we only have one team, so I think I really understand that mentality. We fight not just for Perth, but for the whole of Western Australia, there’s no other (pro) team here, so I really like that environment.”

Above: Nat Tatham (purple kit) celebrates with Casey Dumont after the Perth Glory goalkeeper saved Rachel Lowe’s penalty against Melbourne Victory last Sunday. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.

Tathem’s influence has been rewarded this week as the Queenslander was named in the squad list for Australia’s national female Futsal team for their training camp between 16th and 20th December to prepare for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 Qualifiers.

The defender was named alongside former Perth Glory players Demi Koulizakis and Mariana Tabain, plus Western Australian Zoee Spadano. It’s a particular thrill for Tathem as it was the avenue of the sport that first grabbed hold of her.

“I started playing Futsal first. I didn’t start playing football until I was 12…It’s something I’ve always enjoyed, I think it’s made me a better player because it’s (a) smaller (pitch), quicker decisions (are needed), more pressure, and less time on the ball, so I think that really translates for me into football. It’s been my building block, it’s the reason I play football.

“I used to play in the F-League – which was similar to the A-League in the day, we would fly around the country playing against other cities, unfortunately that was stopped, the funding got cut from it, so to see now we now have an Australian women’s team, going to a World Cup next year, that’s definitely exciting.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s home game with a fourth placed Adelaide United side with three wins from their opening five games, Tathem knows that the Glory face a tough battle.

Their improved defensive record will come under real threat from Reds stars Fiona Worts and Emily Condon, who have netted a total of eight goals so far. The 28-year-old defender admitted: “Worts made a big name for herself a few years ago, she’s always a player to watch. She’s hard to defend, she’s agile, she wants to score goals.

“I love to play against the best players, it really tests me. We’re focusing every week on keeping those clean sheets. That’s what we want. Across our back line, we have enough experience to deal with them.”

Indeed it is – Perth now need to find their mark in front of goal – if those two things can combine then the home side could be about to move up the ladder.

Follow Impetus on social media:

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Elliot strikes saves the Phoenix

Melbourne Victory 1-1 Wellington Phoenix

By Alyce Collett (13/12/24)

Above: Manaia Elliot scored the late equaliser for Wellington. Photo: Wellington Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix achieved an almighty escape against Melbourne Victory, pulling out a one all draw from the clutches of defeat.

After Alana Jancevski slotted a penalty home early in the second half, Manaia Elliott pinched one back for the Phoenix in the dying seconds of regulation time to earn the draw. 

Victory did much of the attacking early, more often choosing to go the aerial route instead of weaving their way past the Phoenix defence. 

The likes of Nikki Flannery and Jancevski were looking dangerous early, but thanks to some stellar keeping from Carolina Vilao, the Victory attackers were unable to put one in the back of the net. 

The Victory were a lot calmer with the ball in possession – whether in attack or defence – and the Phoenix did not really look threatening at all early. Wellington did have two decent chances in the first half, but they well dealt with by Victory keeper Courtney Newbon and the rest of her defence. 

Despite there being an obvious difference in amount of time on the ball it was a really free flowing first half, with not too many stoppages to note. 

As the half progressed the Phoenix defensive unit – lead by Mackenzie Barry – became more cohesive and connected, proving harder for Victory to navigate and therefore making their attacking plays less and less threatening, despite not really dropping in frequency. 

However, up the other end, Grace Jale and Olivia Fergusson were being too well marked by Claudia Bunge and Kayla Morrison to pose any threat for the Nix.

As halftime drew closer, the path to the deadlock breaking goal was no clearer than it had been 45 minutes prior. 

The half time stats told an interesting tale. Victory dominated possession, leading 70.8% to just 29.2%. However, the shots were a lot more even, with Victory only leading that three to one. Despite this, Victory’s attacking play looked more dangerous and likely to get a shot than the Phoenix’s had. 

The second half began as free-flowing as the first had been, but a mere five minutes in Victory finally found some reward for their possession dominance. After Flannery was brought down in the box, Jancesvski slotted the subsequent penalty into the bottom corner to hand the hosts the lead. 

This goal seemed to give the home side a spring in their step, with Gielnik having the confidence to shoot from outside the 18-yard box. The goal also saw the Phoenix lift their physicality, much to the displeasure at times of Victory players and fans alike. 

Lara Wall almost found the equaliser for the Phoenix in the 63rd minute, but her shot went just narrowly wide of the goal. Moments later Victory got within inches of a second goal but some made scrambling defensive work right on the line kept the ball from going through. Second half substitute Emma Main also had a chance just as good as Wall’s later in the half, but unfortunately for the Phoenix it ultimately had the same result. 

As the second half drew to a close, Victory kept peppering the Phoenix goal but as hard as they tried, they could not quite sneak it past Vilao and the Phoenix defence for a second goal.

Just as it looked like Victory would run out winners, Elliott popped out of nowhere and headed the ball into the back of the net with some pace to equal up proceedings with only about half a minute left in regulation time. 

Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-1-2): Newbon, Wilson, Bunge, Morrison, Goad, Murphy, Flannery, Lowe, Chidiac, Jancevski, Gielnik. Substitutes: O’Grady, D’Appolonia, Briedis, Candy, Pickett.

Scorer: Jancevski 51’.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-2-3-1): Vilao, Jaber, Barry, Kelly, McCutcheon, Jale, Ferguson, Whinham, Brazendale, Longo, Wall. Substitutes: Neary, McMeeken, Elliott, Tanaka, Main.

Scorer: Elliott 90′.

Referee: Molly Godsell.

Attendance: 725.

Follow Impetus on social media –

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Kelly Stirton: The ParaMatildas journey has just begun

by Ben Gilby (12/12/24)

Above: ParaMatildas’ head coach Kelly Stirton addresses the media. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

Kelly Stirton has just made history. The first person to coach an Australian football team to victory in a World Cup Final. Her team did it the hard way, coming back from 2-0 down to the USA after six minutes, which just goes to prove the spirit and belief she has instilled in her players.

“The first six minutes were not what we expected,” Stirton admitted. “We went in with a game plan, the first ten minutes we were a bit slower. However, after the first goal, we saw a spark in the girls and the game plan started to come into action. Combinations were connecting and defensively we stayed strong.”

Those connections and defensive organisation ensured that the team hit back to win 6-2 against the nation that defeated them in the previous World Cup Final.

The ParaMatildas went into their second World Cup on the back of an Asia-Oceania Cup in November 2023. The head coach recognised how important this achievement was both in terms of adjusting style, and gaining further confidence and belief.

“We changed our tactics to suit a more futsal style of play, the ParaMatildas boss said. “It has taken 10 months to get it to where we knew other teams would struggle to defend and break us down.”

Above: ParaMatildas head coach Kelly Stirton (right) in training with player Eloise Northam. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

The team went into the previous World Cup in 2022 as a new entity. It was an experience that Stirton learned a lot from, and it provided the initial building blocks for their success this time round.

“We only had six weeks to prepare (last time) where as leading into this World Cup, we had two years to rebuild and structure our environment into more high performance to allow our athletes to grow and build into world champions,” Stirton said.

Talking to any member of the ParaMatildas set-up, one of the things that strike you instantly is the sheer belief and determination among everyone to go the extra kilometre in order to reach their aims. That and the fact that they know each other so well that individual skill sets come together perfectly to create a hugely powerful squad. It’s something that Stirton is immensely proud of.

“Each member of the squad brings different strengths on and off the field,” she said. “They bond well together and know how each other adapts in different environments. They all have different playing styles which complement each other.”

Stirton has hit the heights of being a World Cup-winning coach after just six years in the role of a head coach. It’s something that she still finds difficult to compute.

“It has been amazing. It has always been a dream to coach at such a high level and to be able to do this is something special. To now say we have done all we can with winning both the Asia Cup and World Cup is something unimaginable and I pinch myself every day.”

Above: Kelly Stirton (right) with her coaching staff during the ParaMatildas’ group stage game against the USA in the IFCP World Cup. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

Stirton is an inspirational leader – all the ParaMatildas players have made no secret of that. She is successful in multiple different roles, and that makes her more than just a regular international head coach.

“I have two beautiful kids who keep me busy, I own my own coaching business (the inclusive football coach) and work as the CEO of Basketball ACT. I also coach at the South Canberra Football Club in the Division One women’s competition. We’re one of the best clubs around.”

Stirton’s status now gives her an important place in setting standards for the future of the women’s Para Football program in Australia. In terms of what needs to happen to ensure that the ParaMatildas remain at the top of the global game, the head coach is clear. “We need to create pathways for our youth.”

“We can’t grow without a youth development program. This comes down to funding and the backing of Football Australia…I really want to see the sport grow and I want to be able to help Australia do it. It’s a passion and I love it. My athletes and staff are my family and our journey has just begun.”

Stirton ended with a message for everyone who her team of champions have inspired over the past two years. No matter who you are, and whatever challenges you face, it’s a powerful statement.

“Don’t give up on your dreams, no matter what disability you have. The world is your oyster, and we are here to help you through that journey.”

This is the third in Impetus‘ four-part series of exclusive interviews with the ParaMatildas’ World Cup winners. Read all of them via the links below:

PART ONE: KAITLYN SMITH: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/12/10/katelyn-smith-we-bloody-did-it-but-man-it-was-a-rollercoaster-to-get-there/

PART TWO: TAHLIA BLANSHARD: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/12/11/tahlia-blanshard-this-is-only-the-beginning/

Follow Impetus on social media –

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Tahlia Blanshard: “This is only the beginning”

by Genevieve Henry (11/12/24).

Above: Tahlia Blanshard (3) surges forward for the ParaMatildas in their World Cup group game with the Republic of Ireland. Photo: Mark Avellino, supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

A part of the groundbreaking ParaMatildas side that became the first Australian team to win a football World Cup, Tahlia Blanshard has emerged as an incredibly impactful figure in Australian football.

Blanshard, who only started playing in 2018, has become one of the most important figures in this team, bringing skill and passion from the defence.

In the IFCPF World Cup final that would see the ParaMatildas make history, the team faced the USA, the very side that they fell to in the final two years previously. Australia was determined to get redemption, and they got it. Blanshard commented on how this rivalry and high-level opponent brought out the best in the side.

“The final was definitely one of the toughest games I’ve ever played, but it was also one of the most fun and rewarding games too. We knew the US was an incredibly strong team and we knew that we had to give 110% effort if we wanted to come out on top.

“The US came out super strong from the whistle, but I believe the early goals from the US played a big role in us finding that next level within ourselves and fuelling our determination to win. I always say to myself that even if my legs get tired, I play with my heart, and that’s what I feel we all did in that final.”

Blanshard reflects with pride how both she and the team have grown in their two-and-a-half-year history.

“The greatest feeling for me is looking back on 2022 when I was midway through transitioning from my previous sport of swimming, and at the time still unsure which path I would take, to now, just two and a half years later, having a World Cup silver, an Asian Cup gold – with my first individual achievement of getting MVP of the final, and, officially, also now a World Cup gold. It’s wild to think back on how much has been achieved by the ParaMatildas in such a short amount of time, it all honestly makes me extremely emotional!

Above: Tahlia Blanchard in action for the ParaMatildas in their IFCP World Cup group game with the USA. Photo: Mark Avellino, supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

“The ParaMatildas are my family. I love getting to be with all of the girls. It’s just so great to be surrounded by so many similar people who all share the same dream. Each of the athletes have different strengths, and I feel we are really getting to the point where each person has a special strength that they bring to the group. The word “united” is very special to us, and I feel that is the best way to summarise our squad.”

Although the ParaMatildas have not been around for long, they have already become the very best in the world, and Blanshard is thrilled at having seen the growth from the very beginning.

“I love how being involved from the beginning of our sport means that I get the privilege of watching it grow in Australia and across the world. I’ve seen the number of athletes in Aus go from maybe five at most, to having full training camps and knowing there’s now players from all across the country.”

Blanshard has battled with her mental health throughout her life, but through her own strength and the support received, she has proven that nothing can stop her.

“Being an athlete who has also struggled with their mental health for the majority of their life, a lot of my biggest trials in my football have actually come from within, and were ones that were hard to see from the outside, but that’s where I feel very privileged to now be surrounded by such an amazing support system, and such incredible teammates.”

Aside from football, Blanshard keeps herself busy with her other passions: music and dancing, saying, “I have a massive love for music! I listen to music every day and love going to concerts. I especially love supporting smaller Aussie musicians and find it really exciting to find new songs. I also have a massive love for my childhood hobby of dancing, so for a fun way to socialise and switch off from football I still go to Physical Culture classes at my local childhood club.”

Blanshard recently graduated with a degree in health science which she has already put into use. “My degree has helped me a lot both in starting up and coaching my CP football clinic on the Central Coast and also with my work with disability and youth advocacy, especially when those issues fit with the health banner. I have dreams to go on and do further studies in the next year or two.”

With her clinic and outreach, Blanshard is doing her part to make football a more accessible place. “I am so passionate about watching this sport thrive, and each time we find a new player, it continues to drive me to be the best athlete I can be.

Above: Tahlia Blanshard in possession for the ParaMatildas in their IFCP World Cup group game with the USA. Photo: Mark Avellino, supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

“I hope to see a day where all kids with CP know football is an option for them, and when kids and adults can all have access to opportunities to play no matter where they live. I believe it is important to do whatever we can to grow CP football, as those younger developing athletes are our next generation of ParaMatildas’ stars.”

“CP football, especially five-a-side, is both fun and challenging. It’s extremely fast-paced, and each game is so different from the next. Also, the close off-pitch connections we build with the other teams we play against is something that you don’t see in many other sports, and is a big reason why I love this sport so much.”

As well as her community work, Blanshard uses her position and social media to advocate for all the causes she is passionate about, ensuring she does her part to make the world a more inclusive space. She shared her advice on the best way to be an advocate for change and be a kinder person.

“The most important thing is to listen to and amplify the voices and stories of those with lived experience – whether that be me or any others of the thousands of incredible advocates in your community.

“One of the best things someone can do is keep holding room to continually learn, and know that every little action makes a difference – from calling out a mate using hurtful language, all the way to sharing stories, attending events, or signing petitions. It all matters to create a more accessible and inclusive world.

The status that the ParaMatildas are now building in Australia as the country’s very first world champion football team continues to blow Blanchard away.

“Thank you so much for supporting us. I cannot even put into words what it means to know we have people who, not only know who we are, but actually follow and support us. This is only the beginning of our story, and I’m so grateful we have you all on this journey with us!”

This is the second in Impetus‘ four-part series of exclusive interviews with the ParaMatildas’ World Cup winners. Read all of them via the links below:

PART ONE: KAITLYN SMITH: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/12/10/katelyn-smith-we-bloody-did-it-but-man-it-was-a-rollercoaster-to-get-there/

Follow Impetus on social media:

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Katelyn Smith: “We bloody did it, but man, it was a rollercoaster to get there”

by Ben Gilby (10/12/24)

Above: ParaMatildas goalkeeper Katelyn Smith (violet coloured shirt) shows off her IFCP World Cup winning medal. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

Katelyn Smith had the ultimate World Cup Final experience for the ParaMatildas. Her team went 2-0 down to the USA within six minutes, but the goalkeeper grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring a hat-trick as the team came back to win 6-2. An experience she describes as “exhilarating.”

“I definitely had a lot of thoughts and emotions during the final,” she told me.

“There’s no one real thought that comes to mind except that it was exhilarating. It was a crazy final. There were so many ups and downs, there were so many twists and turns. There was 2-0 losing in six minutes to coming back and winning 6-2, scoring a hat-trick, so my thoughts on the final are ‘We bloody did it!’ but, man it was a rollercoaster to get there!”

Smith felt confident in her side’s ability to gain victory in that Final. Not only were they spurred on by the achievement of winning the Asia-Oceania Cup Final in November 2023, but there was the determination to erase memories of their 2022 World Cup Final defeat to the same side.

“We start games very fast, nervous, and intense. We’d been at a (World Cup) Final before and lost, so for us it was about relaxing into the game, getting the flow of the game going, and once we got that, there was nothing stopping us. We dug deep and no matter what happened in the final, we were making history, we were super proud to be there. Once we got relaxed into the game, we got the flow going, we got passes going, and we did really well.”

Above: Katelyn Smith controls the ball in the ParaMatildas’ 6-0 win over Japan in the group stages of the IFCP World Cup. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

Whilst the fact that the Western Australia-based goalkeeper scored the three goals that put the team 3-2 up is staggering to some, those who are regular ParaMatildas watchers knew that this was just the player doing what she does, and the team showing the belief that courses through their veins.

“I don’t think I’m a hero. Anyone would have done what I did in the situation to help the team out. Yes, I scored three goals to put us 3-2 in front, but I really do believe that anyone in this team would have done the same in the situation.

“Everyone knows I can do a long-range shot, I’ve done it plenty of times before. In the previous World Cup, I think I scored three goals from long-range. I think for me now, I’ve learned to be more unpredictable.

“I’ve learned to not show so much in body shape and body positioning what I’m going to do, so whether that’s changing up my game -randomly going long, playing it short, doing a throw, or quick one-twos with the defenders and then going long. I’ve worked really hard on my footwork and my skill to be able to do a long ball with accuracy now.

“I love that part of the game. I was a striker before I turned goalkeeper, so me shooting and aiming is not something I’m not used to. It is something I’ve worked really hard on over the last 12 months to get back into and find that goalscoring knack again, I suppose.”

Above: Katelyn Smith in possession against the USA in the group stage of the IFCP World Cup. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

Smith’s hat-trick consisted of that long-range strike and two penalties. She has plenty of experience in converting from the spot, which set her up to succeed in the World Cup Final.

“With dot shots (penalties), Kelly (Stirton, head coach) has said I’ve got them. I think I have the power and the placement for over 20 years now, so with dot shots, it’s nothing that I’m not used to. Obviously, it’s a smaller goal, but I like dot shots, I like scoring!”

The ParaMatildas have now been in existence for two and a half years, and Smith has been part of the ride from from the start. It’s been a story of growth, both collectively and individually. A growth that has been thrilling for the goalkeeper to be part of.

“It’s been a crazy two and a half years. We’ve progressed so much. We started off with 13 players for selection for the first World Cup in 2022 to now with 20-odd players that we can pick from. So there’s definitely been more depth to the squad, and most of the girls have been together in camp over the last 12 months.

“We’ve really bonded. I’ve found my best friends in the team. We connect really, really well. I think the relationships that we’ve built off the field in strong friendships have really portrayed on to the field, and you can really see that where we’re really in sync now. We really know what needs to be done.

Above: Katelyn Smith captured during a break in training. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

“We’ve also become a lot more hungrier for wins and I think, for us, we all love football so we’re all very driven in the sport we’re in, and we’re work very hard. We hold ourselves to higher standards. We have a never give up attitude, and we always want to better ourselves to be the best possible people we can be on and off the field, and I think that really helps.”

As well as being a successful footballer, the goalkeeper has significant experience in Athletics – a field that she believes has played a major part in making her the ParaMatildas star she now is.

“I did do Athletics in the middle of my football career. I started football when I was five-years-old and due to medical reasons, couldn’t keep up with the demand of football. I was an outfield player until I got medically sick and found it very hard to play outfield, so I diverted to playing as a goalkeeper.

“I did Athletics in those years that I couldn’t be as active on the (football) field, and I think that really helped me along – being in a high-pressure environment, being around a lot of noisy people when competing…so I’ve learned how to keep calm and deal with one thing at a time and process one thing in my brain.

“With Athletics, I am a thrower, so you have six opportunities to do your best, so you have to make the most of them. In football, you only need one opportunity – you only need one goal to win a game.

Above: Katelyn Smith in possession against Japan in the group stages. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

“I referee soccer during the winter season. I’ve just picked up Futsul during the summer season. I do national Futsul and Athletics during the summer. Athletics is more of a fun sport for me where I can go out in the summer and chillax – not worry about results and just go there where I can see friends I only see once a year.

Whilst the ParaMatildas players have a close bond that has gone a long way to assist their incredible achievements in such a short period of time, Smith outlines the huge influence that head coach Kelly Stirton has had on the squad.

“Kelly – what can I say about her? I think she’s great. She’s the best coach I’ve ever had. She has a great personality. She’s funny, she gives a good laugh, she knows how to be serious. It’s great to see both sides of a coach like that.

“She definitely wants the best out of all the girls on the team. Not just those on the team – every girl in the program. She thinks we deserve everything and more. To have a great coach like that advocate for us and really push us to our potential is a great thing to have.”

Smith also recognises the huge importance of giving back to the game now that she is a both a World champion and an Asia-Oceania champion. She does so with an outstanding organisation based in Western Australia – Football Futures (www.footballfutures.org.au).

Above: Katelyn Smith (violet kit) in the huddle ahead of the IFCP World Cup Final. Photo: Mark Avellino. Supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.

“Our program is about promoting adult and youth disability football as well as and refugees, people immigrating to Australia leaving war-torn countries. It’s for anyone who wants to give sport a go.

“We do before-school activities, after-school activities, and support unit education programs. It’s about getting them involved and getting them doing things that normally they wouldn’t do in a mainstream environment where they feel comfortable doing it. We’re very inclusive. We have people who are vision impaired, deaf, intellectually delayed, autism, people in wheelchairs. We help anyone. It’s a great job to be part of.

“It’s very rewarding seeing kids who would normally disassociate group settings being very involved and joining our I-League (inclusive football league in WA) at the weekend.”

The achievements of Smith and her teammates mean that they are inspiring the next generation of girls – allowing them to see that anything is possible. It’s a status that she is very aware of, and puts huge importance on it.

“For us as ParaMatildas, I think what we need to do on the achievements we have is to build. Go back home and get more girls involved. Get them asking questions of their clubs and hopefully getting more development camps happening within Australia – getting the young girls coming through and knowing it’s alright to play football.

“Winning isn’t everything – for us it’s to keep the legacy going. Getting more and more girls involved, and younger girls – lead the next generation of seven and eight-year-olds in five or six years’ time – being able to go to a World Cup and get Australia’s support behind them.

“Any girls out there with cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury, just get out there. You never know if you’re going to like something until you try it. We’ve built the foundations for you guys to come and explore our world and what we do. Continue it on for us.

“If you’re wanting to try soccer, just come down. New South Wales has training days, Western Australia have training days. When you register for football, tick that you have disability because then each state knows and we can reach out to you. Go to the ParaMatildas website (www.paramatildas.com.au) and fling them an email. Just inquire, just get out there, give it a go, you’ll love it. We’re a very welcoming family.”

This is the first in Impetus‘ four-part series of exclusive interviews with the ParaMatildas’ World Cup winners. Keep an eye out on the site in the coming days to catch all of these special features.

Follow Impetus on social media –

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Arsenal hit third after dominating Villa 

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa

By Rachel Gore for Impetus with EXCLUSIVE photography by Lauren Kelly at The Emirates Stadium (8/12/24).

Above: Arsenal celebrate one of their four goals. Photo: Lauren Kelly for Impetus

Arsenal made a statement at The Emirates as they secured a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa to claim a top-three spot in the WSL table. 

What were the keys to their success?

For the full 90 minutes, Renee Slegers’ Arsenal dominated Aston Villa as they proved their drive to secure victory and gain three points in the WSL. 

At 10 minutes a set of clean passes between Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord led to a save from Sabrina D’Angelo. Arsenal immediately fought back from this with Beth Mead making a run that was declared offside to the dismay of the Gunners in the stands. This initial attack set a precedent for the remainder of the match in which Arsenal continued to press. 

Undeterred by this early offside call, Alessia Russo opening up the scoring at 17 minutes. This set the tone for the remainder of the game and highlighted Arsenal’s attacking intent.

The second goal of the match was a tap-in from Mead following a shot from Frida L. Maanum which had hit the crossbar. This goal was evidence of the resilience seen by Arsenal throughout the match; on numerous occasions, the Arsenal players continued to take shots on goal until the ball had been cleared out of the box or made it into the goal.

Russo shone as she played confidently on the ball. One particularly strong drive forward saw her win a one v one against D’Angelo and place the ball comfortably in the net, however this goal was declared offside.

Despite this, Russo still managed to score a brace; her second goal was a shot from the right-hand side which hit the top corner. This consolidated a solid performance for the striker and showed why Slegers kept her on the pitch for the full ninety minutes. Prior to this, Katie McCabe provided an assist for substitute Stina Blackstenius.

Arsenal’s squad depth and versatility was shown by their bench. In total the side made five substitutions which Slegers labelled “energy injections” in the post-match media conference. These changes not only freshened up the team but also allowed Arsenal to change their strategy as players moved into different positions.

At half time, Lotte Wubben-Moy took the position of left back with Steph Catley moving towards the centre of the pitch and McCabe playing as right back. At 75 minutes, Laura Wienroither was bought on and she took over as right back causing McCabe to move over to the left-hand side. These tactical shifts increased the pressure on Villa as they had to readjust multiple times to their opposition’s formation.

Whilst Arsenal’s performance was strong overall, there was potential for the score line to be even larger; the home team took 17 shots, nine of which were on target, and only four of which hit the back of the net.

Above: Alessia Russo ready to attack against Aston Villa. Photo: Lauren Kelly for Impetus.

What went wrong for Aston Villa?

Arsenal dominated Aston Villa for the full 90 minutes as the away team failed to gain control of the match. 

While possession was evenly split, Villa made rushed decisions. This lack of composure nearly caused the away team to score an own goal as an aim to head the ball away from the goal resulted in it flying just over the crossbar.

Throughout both halves, Villa’s keeper D’Angelo made numerous saves which minimised the damage. She was also well utilised by outfielders who passed backward to her to retain possession and eventually bring the ball forward into their attacking half.

One player who made these passes to D’Angelo was Jordan Nobbs, who made a return to The Emirates to face her old club on her birthday. During the match, Nobbs strived to gain possession in the midfield and made some strong defensive efforts, however, like many of her teammates, she failed to make a significant impact on the game. 

Arsenal managed to nullify Rachel Daly, Villa’s captain. Speaking about her performance, Robert de Pauw said that“sometimes she drops too far.” He added that “she should not drop further than our defensive midfielders.” Perhaps keeping Daly further up the pitch would have allowed for a stronger attack from Villa and potentially goals.

Speaking on the performance as a whole de Pauw described it as showing “where we are at the moment,” saying that the team “have to be honest and critical” with themselves.

Above: Lucy Staniforth on the ball for Aston Villa. Photo: Lauren Kelly for Impetus

Arsenal’s Australians step up to the plate

Three of the players in Arsenal’s starting eleven were Australian internationals Catley, Foord, and Cooney-Cross.

Cooney-Cross’ start, which had been highly requested by fans, was her ninth WSL start, and seventh this season. She proved that she had earned her place with what Slegers described as a “world class” performance. 

The young midfielder was heavily involved in Arsenal’s set pieces; it was the Matildas star’s gorgeous shot from a set piece that acted as an assist for Russo’s goal. This set-piece shot also showcased her growing influence at the club.

Cooney-Cross was not the only Australian international who made an impact. Catley played a large role in defence and made key blocks that ensured a clean sheet was kept by Arsenal. Additionally, Foord has had a brilliant start to the season and made a couple of attempts on goal in this fixture. She played strongly down the wing, making clever passes and delivering the ball into the box.

Above: Caitlin Foord on the ball for Arsenal at The Emirates. Photo: Lauren Kelly for Impetus.

What does this result mean for the WSL?

Prior to kick off, Arsenal and Villa sat in fifth and eighth place in the WSL table respectively.

The result led Arsenal to advance into third place but caused Villa to drop down to ninth.

Arsenal’s move into the top three is the result of a series of undefeated games. When asked post-match whether Arsenal can take on City and Chelsea for the title, Slegers said: “I think so, we have to believe that.”

For Villa, the fall in position is threatening; the team are now three points ahead of Crystal Palace who are at the bottom of the table. In order to stay out of the relegation battle and hold onto their spot in the WSL, de Pauw will be pushing for wins from his side. This idea was emphasised by the Villa boss in the post-match media conference when he said that “every game is a big game”. He added to this saying that “everything is close in the league”.

Teams: ARSENAL: Van Domselaar, Fox, Williamson, Catley, Caldentey, Mead, McCabe, L. Maanum, Foord, Russo, Cooney-Cross. Substitutes: Wubben-Moy (for Fox 46’), Blackstenius (for Maanum 60’), Wienroither (for Catley 75’), Hurtig (for Foord 75’), Kuhl (for Cooney-Cross 83’).

Scorers: Russo 17’, Mead 38’, Blackstenius 70’, Russo 90+4’.

ASTON VILLA: D’Angelo, Mayling, Tomas, Patten, Staniforth, Nobbs, Daly, Turner, Salmon, Hanson, Grant. Substitutes: Nunes (for Salmon 62’), Maritz (for Mayling 62’), Dali (for Hanson 62’), Robinson (for Grant 79’), Taylor (for Nobbs 79’).

Referee: Abi Byrne.

Attendance: 29,515.

Follow Impetus on social media –

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball 

Teagan Micah: She’s Been Here the Whole Time

Above: Teagan Micah warming up pre-match against Iran. Photo: Cat Bryant for Impetus.

by Genevieve Henry (6/12/24).

After an impressive performance by Teagan Micah between the sticks for the Matildas in the latest international window, many new fans are shocked at the competence of the current second-choice goalie.

And it’s easy to see why—she’s been absent from the starting eleven pretty much the entire time the Matildas have had an exponentially growing fanbase. She hadn’t started in almost 12 months previous to her start against Brazil. But, no, she didn’t just appear out of nowhere. This wasn’t a fluke. Teagan Micah has been here. 

In fact, the 27-year old has been in and around senior Matildas camps since 2017. She was even included in the 2019 Women’s World Cup squad. After five years in the squad, Micah finally debuted in June 2021 against Sweden, right before the Olympics. The match ended in an impressive 0-0 tie with the team that would just weeks later prove to be one of their toughest opponents. This score was largely due to Micah’s commanding performance. 

In the lead-up to the 2021 Olympics, and many many years prior, Australia’s number one goalkeeper was Lydia Williams. The goalie most beloved by new Matildas fans, Mackenzie Arnold, wasn’t even included in the initial 18-player squad for the Olympics. In the first group stage match against New Zealand, Williams put in a sub-par performance, opening the door for Micah. She took the opportunity and ran.

Micah had a breakout tournament in Toyko. Making only her second appearance for her country, coincidentally against the same opponent as her debut, she stood tall and proved her worth in a chaotic 4-2 loss against Sweden. Micah was even more instrumental in the deciding group game against the USA. In a 0-0 draw that really could have been a win, Micah kept a clean sheet against the toughest opponents in the world. She tended the net with confidence and brilliance, sending her team to the quarterfinals.

Australia v Great Britain would go down in Matildas history as one of the most exciting wins of all time. And really, we have Micah to thank. From going up in the 35th minute thanks to Alanna Kennedy to nearly falling to a brace – that would later turn into a hattrick – by Ellen White, the famous 4-3 win was a goal fest. As a goalie, that generally doesn’t indicate a positive performance.

But, anyone who saw this match would know just how instrumental Micah was. Possibly her best moment in green and gold, she stood up confidently against Caroline Weir, known to be one of the best penalty-takers in the world, and defiantly shut her out, keeping the score at 2-2 in extra time. The team used this rush of adrenaline, Mary Fowler scoring a wonder goal to put the team ahead the next minute. But, it wasn’t only the penalty save. Micah faced 10 shots on goal, making an incredible seven saves, almost all of which defied gravity and logic. 

Above: Micah celebrates during the game v Great Britain. Image: Player Instagram

Micah put in similarly impressive performances in tough losses to Sweden and the USA in the semi-final and third-place match at the Olympics. Although the fourth-place finish was heartbreaking, Australia and Micah especially had a lot to be proud of.

Unfortunately for Micah, her time as Australia’s number-one goalie would be short-lived. Over the past few years, her career has been stunted by a myriad of injuries; concussions that lasted months, ankle tears, and ligament injuries. These sidelined her for both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, allowing Arnold to come up from third choice to first. But, could Teagan Micah be number one again?

“One thing I’ve learned over the course of my years in the Matildas is that the number one is never really set,” she said in the post-Brazil match press conference. “It’s always in and out. It’s always about your most recent performance. So for me, it’s just one game at a time.”

One factor to consider is playing time at club level. If Micah continues her trend of starting for Liverpool as she did over the weekend against Manchester United, the story could change massively. Frankly, Micah doesn’t get enough minutes at Liverpool, at least for now. But, neither does Arnold at Portland Thorns.

The Matildas keepers actually playing for their clubs are the uncapped ones: Chloe Lincoln, Morgan Aquino, and Jada Whyman. Micah is in a high-achieving, competitive environment that pits her against some of the best forwards in the world when she dons the gloves for Liverpool. Although she is second choice to Rachel Laws, she is still improving and gaining experience. If Micah eventually steps up to be starting for the Reds, it’s hard to see a world where she shouldn’t start for the Matildas, as well. 

Micah has some differences and some similarities to Arnold. While both can pull off amazing saves, Micah is a more typical shot-stopper. She is always on the stretch, doing everything within her ability to keep the ball out of the back of the net. She is, like Arnold, a great penalty stopper. Their distribution is remarkably similar, with close average length of pass and goal kick, as well as their successful passing rate.

Above: Micah distributing against Brazil. Image: Player Instagram.

In comparison to Arnold, Micah has conceded only 29 goals in 67 games spanning her entire career, where Arnold has let in 183 in 116. Although Arnold has played almost twice as many games as Micah, she only kept one more clean sheet, with 20 to 19. 28.4 of the games Micah has played have been clean sheets, where 17.2 of Arnold’s matches were kept goalless.

In terms of more advanced stats, Micah’s Post-Shot Expected Goals minus Goals Allowed per 90 is +.23 while Arnolds is -.16. This metric quantifies expected goals based on the likelihood of the keeper saving it, with higher numbers indicating a more positive performance. Ultimately, Micah has still played far fewer games than Arnold, so their statistics are vastly different and hard to accurately compare. 

One unique aspect about Micah’s career is her time in the US College system with the UCLA Bruins. She was on a full scholarship. She had one of the most incredible college careers, getting awards and setting records almost constantly. In her freshman year in 2016, she became the first freshman to start in goal on opening day since 2004.

She continued to prove herself, making 5 or more saves in over half of the games she played, making 93 total, the second-most in UCLA history. She recorded 9 clean sheets throughout the 22-game season, a feat that earned her a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer Best Freshman XI.

Micah continued this form into her sophomore year, playing all 25 games and leading the entire nation in goalkeeper minutes. She equaled nine clean sheets and made an average of five saves per game. Her junior year was similarly excellent, racking up 45 saves. Senior year, Micah set a PAC-12 record for most career honors, with multiple Goalkeeper of the Week and Academic Honor Roll awards. She ended her college career with 248 saves, second of all time at UCLA. All this just shows how truly skilled a keeper Micah is, thriving in a system that only the very best can hack.

Micah has played for four clubs in the A-League Women, Brisbane Roar before her time at UCLA, Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne Victory, and Melbourne City after. But, these weren’t the clubs that really formed her, making few appearances at each before making an impact in Norway at Arna-Bjørnar in between playing for the Melbourne clubs. She played for another Norwegian club, Sandviken before signing for Rosengård, where she played an important role in two successful seasons with the Swedish stalwart club. 

Her impressive performances throughout her career for club and country earned her a contract at Liverpool, in the English Women’s Super League. Although she hasn’t featured regularly as of yet, she is gaining valuable experience in a system and league that greatly benefits her. 

If Micah actually gets the opportunity to start for club and country, she could easily be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Follow Impetus on social media –

Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball 
Instagram: @impetusfootball : @impetusfootball