Matildas youngsters Amy Sayer and Princess Ibini on their rapid rise

AMY Sayer and Princess Ibini thought they were in for a scolding when Matildas coach Alen Stajcic pulled them aside to deliver the good news last month.

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AMY Sayer and Princess Ibini thought they were in for a scolding when Matildas coach Alen Stajcic pulled them aside to deliver the good news last month.

At 16 and 18 years old, the Sydney FC pair were about to win their first senior starts for Australia.

Just to make the moment more surreal, they would run out against world No.3 England at Craven Cottage.

“It was the day of the game Staj pulled us both aside after breakfast,” Sayer recalled.

“I thought I was in trouble, I thought he was going to tell us off.

“He sat us down and told us we were going to start - in like, six hours.

“It was a bit of shock, then panic, but it was good to get on the field. I found as the game went on I was just trying to play my own game.”

A fortnight later, when Sayer and Ibini were in Lebanon with the Young Matildas, Stajcic gave his new starters a detailed appraisal of their performance in the 1-1 friendly draw.

Matildas players Amy Sayer (left) and Princess Ibini ahead of matches against Chile. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“He went through the whole first half of the England game with Amy and I, just going through what we did well and what we didn’t do so well,” Ibini said.

“It was really good because we were just focused on ourselves and our movement on and off the ball.”

The experience - it was Sayer’s third cap and Ibini’s fourth - reflect the whirlwind nature of the duo’s development.

Take Sayer’s past three months, for example.

In July the midfielder and year 11 student made her Matildas debut at the Tournament of Nations.

Then she went to Beirut for the Young Matildas’ first phase of 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship qualifying, where she scored in an 18-0 win over Mongolia - Ibini banged in five.

A brief return to Sydney for the start of the W-League season followed and they are now back in Matildas camp.

Elise Kellond-Knight shares a laugh with teammates at Matildas training in Sydney ahead of two matches against Chile. Picture: Getty Images

This time they’re taking on Chile this Saturday in Penrith and next Tuesday in Newcastle, both must-win games if they’re to earn a top-six World Cup seeding and avoid big nations such as the USA, England and France in the group stage.

“We’ve just started year 12 this term,” said Sayer, who completes much of her schoolwork remotely.

“And with Lebanon and coming straight into Matildas camp I’ve been to school for one day so far in term four.

“By the time I get back to school I think we’ll have maybe two weeks left of term.”

Ibini, meanwhile, sat her HSC while away on international duty in China last year.

It’s a worthy sacrifice, and both believe the senior experience has improved their game dramatically.

“It makes you think quicker during games and the intensity is a lot higher,” Ibini said.

“It gives you an advantage.”

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