Matildas v Brazil: Teen Bryleeh Henry makes debut in 3-1 win, how to follow

UPDATED: She honed her skills in western Sydney. Now this teen has made her debut for Australia alongside the biggest names in world football after a dream call-up to the Matildas.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

3 min read

October 24, 2021 - 12:35PM

NewsLocal

What a night for teenager Bryleeh Henry, here with teammate Steph Catley.

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It was an unexpected call-up to the Matildas followed by an unexpected debut for the Australian women’s football team.

Sydney teenager Bryleeh Henry can now officially call herself a Matildas after making her debut for the top Australian team against Brazil on Saturday night.

90' - SUB AUSTRALIA
Yallop & Fowler OFF
Siemsen & Henry ON

Congratulations Bryleeh Henry on becoming Matilda #216! ðŸ¥³ðŸŽ‰ #AUSvBRA
— Beyond 90 (@Beyond90AU) October 23, 2021

The youngster, who plays for the Western Sydney Wanderers, was part of the Matildas 3-1 win over Brazil after being sent into the fray late in the match.

It was a night Henry will never forget with the match played in front of more than 15,000 fans as sport returned to Sydney after a long Covid-19 lockdown.

We welcomed two debutants into the CommBank Matildas family last night ðŸ’šðŸ’›@remyysiemsen and @BryleehH make their debut in front of a hometown crowd!

Congratulations Remy and Bryleeh ðŸ‘#WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/Gfxr2UsNac
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 23, 2021

Penrith FC player Henry, who lived at Werrington Downs, was one of two debutants on the night.

Also making her debut was Sydney FC and Manly United player Remy Siemsen who also came on late in the game in the win.

The next match betwene the two old foes is on Tuesday.

Back home, with a big crowd behind them. This raises our 2023 excitement levels a notch or two! ðŸŸï¸ðŸ™ŒðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡º pic.twitter.com/cxzbzc3C51
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) October 23, 2021

WHO IS TEENAGER BRYLEEH HENRY

SEPTEMBER 17: In football circles she is well known as a rising star of the game.

Outside her sport, few have heard of the 18-year-old from Penrith - but that could be about to change.

Bryleeh Henry has been named in the Matildas squad for two big games celebrating Sydney’s return as a sporting centre after a long Covid-19 lockdown.

Bryleeh Henry and Steph Catley after her debut.

Australia will take on old rivals Brazil Australian soil for the first time in almost 600 days in Sydney this coming Saturday. The second match between the two teams will be played the following Tuesday on October 26.

The Matildas celebrating Emily van Egmond’s goal during the Olympic Football Tournament Qualifier between Australia and China PR at Bankwest Stadium in February 2020.

Henry is the only newcomer to the squad but part of a push to expose young talent to a higher level of training and playing.

“We need to be patient,” said Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson.

“We can’t expect a debutant to come into the camp to be ready the first time they’re coming.

“But we need to expose them to the Matildas environment to get them ready for 23 (2023 World Cup) and to scout them in our environment, to see who bounds and thrives under that high international tempo that we have in the Matildas.

“We are going to keep looking for new players, and either invite them to the training environment to see them there, or for some players that make a good impression in the training environment, also make sure they get some game time.”

Bryleeh Henry made her debut with the Western Sydney Wanderers last season.

The Penrith FC 18-year-old from Werrington Downs made her W-League debut last season with the Western Sydney Wanderers after starring with Football NSW Institute in the NPL.

She is one of three young player of the future in the Matildas squad yet to make their debut for Australia.

Remy Siemsen from Sydney FC and Manly United is another, along with Jamila ranking from Brisbane roar and the Eureka FC club in northern NSW.

The venue capacity of CommBank Stadium - formerly known as Bankwest, has been increased to 22,500 for the Matildas two-match series against Brazil.

This could see the Matildas break their current home record of 20,029 fans which was recorded on November 9, 2019, against Chile.

MATILDAS SQUAD 2021 TO PLAY BRAZIL AT COMMBANK STADIUM

NAME, POSITION, TEAM, GAMES, GOALS

Mackenzie Arnold, Goalkeeper, West Ham United, 27 (0).

Angela Beard, Back, Fortuna Hjørring, 1 (0).

Ellie Carpenter, Back, Lyon, 50 (1).

Steph Catley, Back, Arsenal WFC, 92 (3).

Emma Checker, Back, Melbourne City, 8 (0).

Kyra Cooney-Cross, Midfielder, Melbourne Victory, 10 (0).

Caitlin Foord, Forward, Arsenal WFC, 92 (21)

Mary Fowler, Forward, Montpellier, 16 (4).

Charlotte Grant, Back, FC Rosengård, 1 (0).

Bryleeh Henry, Forward, Western Sydney Wanderers, 0 (0).

Alanna Kennedy, Back, Manchester City, 99 (8).

Sam Kerr, Forward, Chelsea, 100 (48).

Teagan Micah, Goalkeeper, FC Rosengård, 7 (0)

Courtney Nevin, Back, Melbourne Victory, 4 (0).

Clare Polkinghorne, Back, Vittsjö GIK, 136 (11).

Jamilla Rankin, Back, Brisbane Roar, 0 (0).

Karly Roestbakken, Back, LSK Kvinner, 7 (0).

Remy Siemsen, Forward, Sydney FC, 0 (0).

Kyah Simon, Forward, Tottenham Hotspur, 101 (26).

Emily van Egmond, Midfielder, Orlando Pride, 108 (23).

Clare Wheeler, Midfielder, Fortuna Hjørring, 1 (0).

Lydia Williams, Goalkeeper, Arsenal WFC, 92 (0).

Tameka Yallop, Midfielder, West Ham United, 97 (11).

Samantha Kerr celebrates after scoring Australia's second goal during the women's international match between the Matildas and Brazil at Pepper Stadium in 2017.