In pictures Matildas v Brazil: Alanna Kennedy 100th, Remy Siemsen, Bryleeh Henry debut in 3–1 win
Two local young guns were blooded as a legend hit a milestone and sport returned with a bang in Sydney. The Matildas v Brazil spectacular in pictures.
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Two local youngsters made their debuts as a Sydney sensation recorded a milestone and sport returned with a bang in the Harbour City when more than 15,000 double vaccinated spectators made their way to Parramatta for the match between the two old rivals of football.
And the fans were rewarded in spades with an entertaining game which the Matildas won 3-1.
Both northern beaches player Remy Siemsen from Sydney FC and western Sydney teenager Bryleeh Henry from the Wanderers came on late in the game to earn their first caps.
Campbelltown born and bred gun Alanna Kennedy also played in her 100th game for the Matildas who will be back on the pitch on Tuesday for round two.
Good morning, Australia! 🇦🇺
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) October 23, 2021
Missed that win last night? Watch all the highlights from our return to home soil against Brazil!
#AUSvBRA#WeAreMatildas
LOCAL PLAYERS TO CHEER FOR AS MATILDAS TACKLE BRAZIL
They are one of Australia’s top female teams and on Saturday then Matildas kick off the two game series against old foes Brazil at Parramatta.
There are numerous players in the 23-strong squad who grew up and honed their skills within kilometres of the stadium.
In all there are 10 players who hail from NSW in the current Australian squad.
Sydney player Alanna Kennedy is one veteran who could achieve a special milestone in the match not far from where she grew up at Campbelltown.
The star back, who plays for Manchester City in the UK, is just one game away from her 100th appearance for the Matildas.
Kennedy, who has scored eight goals for her country, started her football career at the Campbelltown Cobras.
Newcastle’s Emily van Egmond is the most experienced NSW players in the Matildas with 108 caps.
Van Egmond, who has been in the Matildas for more than a decade, has scored 23 goals for her country and started her career with the Dudley – Redhead club.
She now plays for Orlando Pride in the US.
Forward Kyah Simon is well known in the state and plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the UK.
She has played 101 games for Australia and scored 26 goals. Her junior club clubs were Quakers Hill and Hills Brumbies.
Caitlin Foord is well known to football fans with the former Sydney FC forward now playing with Arsenal WFC.
Hailing from Shellharbour, she has represented her country on 92 occasions and scored 21 goals. Her junior clubs included the Warilla Wanderers, Illawarra Stingrays and the Sutherland Sharks.
Ellie Carpenter is also well known to Sydney football fans and the international community after making her Olympic debut when just 15.
Based in Sydney for a number of years playing with the Western Sydney Wanderers, the back started her career with Cowra and District.
She now plays for Lyon and has 50 caps and one goal to her name.
Mary Fowler is one of the newest members of the Matildas but still boasts 16 cups and four goals.
The teenager scored two of those in a recent match against Ireland in the UK.
The young forward plays for Montpelier and started her football journey with clubs including Leichhardt and the Bankstown City Lions.
Courtney Nevin is another newcomer to the Matildas with four games to her name.
The former Western Sydney Wanderer back, now with Melbourne Victory, played junior football with the Oakville Ravens.
Newcastle’s Claire Wheeler is the most recent debutant in the team.
The midfielder, who plays with Fortuna Hjorring, has one cap her name and hails from Adamstown Rosebud.
Popular Sydney FC gun Remy Siemsen is yet to make her debut.
She travelled with the team to the UK for training and the match against Ireland and hails from the Manly United club on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Jamilla Rankin, who plays for Brisbane Roar, grew up in Lismore.
The teenage back played with Eureka FC as a junior.
Bryleeh Henry is from Werrington Downs.
She is the third player from NSW waiting to make her international debut in the 23-strong squad.
The 19-year-old forward from the Western Sydney Wanderers calls Penrith FC one of her junior clubs.
MATILDAS BESTIES IN BACKYARD BLITZ FOR BRAZIL CLASH
She was born in Blacktown, grew up near Windsor and now football young gun Courtney Nevin has the chance to represent her country at Parramatta this weekend.
The football rising star, who made her Matildas debut against Denmark earlier this year before playing at the Tokyo Olympics, is part of the Australian squad preparing for a two-match series against Brazil kicking off at CommBank Stadium on Saturday.
But like many Australian athletes caught up by Covid lockdowns, her lead-in to the Matildas overseas training camp and upcoming games has been unusual.
Nevin, 19, spent time at her family home in Mulgrave with fellow Matilda and friend Kyra Cooney-Cross, who lives with her family, during the most recent lockdown in Sydney.
“Mum’s got seven acres and Kyra and I did drills every day, just trained and created a football bubble,” said the former Western Sydney Wanderers player before linking up with the Matildas in Europe in preparation for the Sydney games.
Nevin, who has signed with Melbourne Victory for the upcoming women’s A-League season with Cooney-Cross, also played in the Matildas 2-3 loss to the Republic of Ireland last month.
But she has never played for her country at the elite level at home with the Brazil series on Saturday and the following Tuesday offering this opportunity to the youngster.
If given the chance to take the pitch it could well match a very special moment she achieved in Tokyo where she was the youngest member of the Matildas.
“I came off the bench in the bronze medal match and played 20 minutes,“ she said.
“It was a crazy experience.
“For me, going onto the pitch in that bronze medal match was the biggest highlight.’’
Nevin said she has loved football from the moment she started playing as a four-year-old.
“I just played with the ball so they signed me up for Oakville Ravens,’’ said Nevin, whose father built her a practice goal at home in the backyard when she was 14.
Nevin then played with Parklea and the Blacktown Spartans in the NPL before joining the Wanderers and making her national league debut in 2018 when just 16.
Football superstar Sam Kerr will lead the Matildas in their home soil battle against Brazil.
The Matildas go into the match looking for success after an unexpected loss to the Republic of Ireland last month.
NSW players dominate the Matildas squad named for the series with Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Bryleeh Henry, Alanna Kennedy, Jamila Rankin, Remy Siemsen, Kyah Simon and Emily van Egmond all hailing from the state.
MATILDAS V BRAZIL START TIME, VENUE, TV
GAME ONE: Saturday, October 23
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Kick Off: 7.50pm (AEST)
TV: Live and free on Channel 10
Tickets available at Ticketek
GAME TWO: Tuesday, October 26
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Kick Off: 8.05pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live and free on Channel 10.
Tickets available at Ticketek
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