Teens Amy Sayer and Mary Fowler named in Matildas Tournament of Nations squad
UPDATE: Veteran defender Laura Alleway is a late call-up to the Matildas squad as a replacement for Steph Catley for Australia’s defence of the Tournament of Nations.
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UPDATE: Veteran defender Laura Alleway is a late call-up to the Matildas squad as a replacement for Steph Catley for Australia’s defence of the Tournament of Nations.
Catley, who plays in the national women’s soccer league in the US, has withdrawn from the squad to play in the tournament in the US for family reasons.
Alleway this morning joined the Matildas squad in Kansas City to prepare for the series which kicks off Friday AEST.
The 15-year-old Bankstown City Lyons player was put in the squad a day after 20 athletes were named to contest the crucial tournament.
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Fowler made the cut after scoring 10 goals in the recent 2018 AFF Women’s Championship in Indonesia.
“Mary (Fowler) has been brought in because Caitlin (Foord) won’t be able to contribute in terms of game time,” said Matildas coach Alen Stajcic said.
“With Caitlin (recovering from an injury sustained in the Westfield W-League 2018 Finals Series), it will be a great to reintegrate her into the squad, but there’s also an opportunity to give another player an opportunity to come in.”
“Over the last six or seven months we’ve been tracking Mary and she’s shown the ability to find the back of the net.
“Both with her left and right foot, in and around the penalty box, Mary’s ability to find space in tight areas is the best I’ve seen for a young player her age.”
Stajcic is continuing his policy of “drip-feeding’’ teen talent into his squad with Fowler and 16-year-old Amy Sayer included in the Matildas named on Tuesday to defend Australia’s crown at the prestige Tournament of Nations event in the US this month.
Stajcic named a 20-player squad with the immediate goal of winning the Tournament of Nations and the longer-term aim of making a mark at next year’s World Cup in France.
A year ago the Matildas garnered world praise for winning the tournament in the US.
Stajcic says Sayer all the “tools for success’’ in the future.
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The teenager has been already been tested in W-League competition with Canberra United and has been a regular member of Australian youth teams over the years.
“She is a young player with all the tools, a good left foot, right foot, knowing how to score
“She could be a real weapon for us in the future,’’ said Stajcic who picked Ellie Carpenter, now 18, to play for the Matildas when just 15 and at the Rio Olympics when 16.
The Matildas coach said his side is focused on winning the Tournament of Nations against Brazil, Japan and the US for a second time with the international matches invaluable for his team on the road to next years World Cup.
“We go into every game to win world cup but just 11 months out from the World Cup we want as many high quality matches as we can,’’ he said.
“To play three teams in the top seven is invaluable for us.’’
“Brazil, Japan, and the USA will provide tough opposition for us over the comings weeks, however over the past year we have shown on multiple occasions that we cannot only match, but beat, the very best.’’
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All three of the Matildas’ matches at the Tournament of Nations will be broadcast live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS in Australia.
Matildas squad for the Tournament of Nations: Mackenzie Arnold (Gk), Tameka Butt, Ellie Carpenter, Laura Alleway, Alex Chidiac, Larissa Crummer, Lisa De Vanna, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Emily Gielnik, Katrina Gorry, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, Samantha Kerr, Chloe Logarzo, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Amy Sayer, Kyah Simon, Emily van Egmond, Lydia Williams (Gk).
Tournament of Nations Schedule
Brazil v Matildas
Date: Thursday, 26 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
Kick-off: 3.15pm (local) (6.15am AEST — Friday, 27 July 2018)
USA v Matildas
Date: Sunday, 29 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, Connecticut
Kick-off: 7pm (local) (9am AEST — Monday, 30 July 2018)
Matildas v Japan
Date: Thursday, 2 August 2018 (local)
Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
Kick-off: 4.45pm (local) (7.45am AEST — Friday, 3 August 2018)