Ellie Carpenter makes debut for Matildas at just 15

WESTERN Sydney teenager Ellie Carpenter made her Matildas debut overnight becoming the first player born this millennium to play international football for Australia.

PEMULWUY teenager Ellie Carpenter became the first player born this millennium to play international football for Australia when she made her Matildas debut overnight.

The Western Sydney Wanderers defender made her debut at just 15 in the Matildas’ 9-0 thumping of Vietnam at the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Japan.

Born in 2000, the debutante became the first-capped Matilda born in this millenium when she took the field.

With no millennial Socceroos yet, Carpenter was also the first to play senior international football for Australia, regardless of gender.

A 14-year-old Sharon Wass has the record for the youngest Matlidas player, earning her first cap against New Zealand in 1981.

Carpenter replaced Aivi Luik who was ruled out due to a quad injury.

Matildas head coach Alen Stajcic said while he was disappointed to lose a player with such experience, he was confident adding Carpenter to the squad.

Carpenter made her international debut at just 15.

“Ellie is a youngster who is inexperienced at this level but she brings in so much enthusiasm, she can play in variety of roles for us,” he said.

Carpenter was very excited to have been selected in the team.

“It’s definitely exciting and nerve racking but it’s just an amazing opportunity to be in a tournament like this,” she said.

The Matildas opened the Asian qualifying tournament on Monday with a crucial 3-1 win over Women’s World Cup runners-up Japan.

Australia now face South Korea on Friday, ahead of matches again North Korea and China next week.

A top two finish in the group will see the Westfield Matildas qualify for August’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

If they qualify, it will be the first Olympics for the Matildas since 2004.

The record caps off an extraordinary four months for the teenager who was also named as The Women’s Game’s Best Newcomer of the Year and the Parramatta Junior Sports Star of the Year.