Lisa De Vanna back on Matildas’ scoresheet after tough dry spell

For a striker, 25 games without a goal is a long time. For Lisa De Vanna, it’s an eternity.

Australia’s Lisa De Vanna fires in a shot against South Korea in Brisbane on Sunday. Picture: AFP

For a striker, 25 games without a goal is a long time. For Lisa De Vanna, it’s an eternity.

The all-time record scorer for the Matildas had endured one of the leanest streaks of her career until Australia’s 4-1 win over South Korea in Brisbane. De Vanna broke through for her first goal at club or national team level since last March, tapping in at the back post after Tameka Butt’s blazing run and shot wriggled free.

It might have been one of the easiest finishes of De Vanna’s career but it was also one of the most important.

“It’s good for the confidence. It’s been a while since I scored a goal, even the simplest one, a tap in,” she said.

De Vanna, 34, went goalless through the latest W-League campaign with champions Sydney FC, struggling for game time due to injury and the strength in depth in the Sky Blues squad.

She was lucky to feature in the grand final win after a nasty injury in a last-round clash with Melbourne City.

“I didn’t touch a ball for two weeks,” she said. “Then I had to play the New Zealand game (for) 30 minutes and I was lacking a bit of confidence. I didn’t really want to get on the ball.

“When you haven’t scored a goal, or you’re not confident in front of goal, it makes it harder to do everything else.

“When Ante came up to me and was like ‘you just be you’, I thought ‘OK the pressure is off’.”

De Vanna responded with a power of work in the Cup of Nations victory.

The Western Australian resembled a steam train on Australia’s left flank, working up and down the line and making one memorable sprint back to make a last-ditch tackle on a South Korean winger.

She also needed to make a huge run forward to arrive for her goal.

More than the physical battle, De Vanna said she’s been struggling mentally in recent weeks.

The mercurial talent showed her emotions to former coach Alen Stajcic’s sacking, posting a note to social media that read “lies lies lies”.

De Vanna was close to Stajcic but said she’d been renewed by Milicic’s leadership and the battle to make sure she gets a seat on the plane for June’s World Cup in France.

“A new coach coming in … being injured and then you doubt yourself,” she said. “You think, ‘I’m at a certain age, can I push, can I push?’

“That’s been more of a mental battle.”

The Matildas wrap up their Cup of Nations program against Argentina on Wednesday at AAMI Park. Argentina have lost both of their games so far and have yet to score, while conceding seven goals. A point will guarantee the Matildas finish top of the four-team tournament regardless of the result between South Korea and New Zealand.

AAP