WAIS-AIS football scholarship holders Lisa De Vanna, Collette McCallum and Sam Kerr have completed a successful series against New Zealand, with De Vanna finding the net for a second match in a row – in Australia’s 3-0 win at Bill McKinlay Park.
Matildas Head coach Tom Sermanni made three changes to the starting eleven, whilst the Football Ferns welcomed the return of US based professional Ali Riley, in for the suspended captain Hayley Moorwood.
The Matildas opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Heather Garriock collected the rebound off the cross bar from a Collette McCallum free-kick and blasted a half volley past New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon.
Australia continued their dominance in the second half with an early goal to Lisa De Vanna in the 48th minute.
De Vanna collected a ball over the top of the Football Ferns defence from Clare Polkinghorne. After defending off the Football Ferns Abby Erceg, De Vanna composed herself to chip the advancing Bindon to make it 2 – 0.
New Zealand then looked to push numbers forward late in the game only to be caught out in their defensive third when Leena Khamis found herself unmarked in the box to head home a Garriock cross.
The Westfield Matildas will now head to the Gold Coast for a week training camp as they prepare for their DPR Korea matches on the 3rd and 6th of March at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane.
Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni said he is very pleased with how his whole squad is performing.
“Part of the reason for these games was to give game time to all the players.”
“Kim Carroll played for the first time since her knee reconstruction in 2008 and played a solid 45 minutes,” said Sermanni.
“I also think it’s a real testament to the success of the Westfield W-League that we have such a strong pool of players to choose from – the league’s been a huge asset in many ways.”
“I think this year especially we’re seeing the result of the Westfield W-League coming through as it allows for excellent preparation for the national team.”
“We’ve got a bigger pool of players to choose from and from that we’ve seen the inclusion of players like Kylie Ledbrook, Aivi Luik and Servet Uzunlar who have all benefited greatly from their involvement in the Westfield W-League, who have all performed well and got themselves in the national team,” Sermanni finished.
In other Football news:
Perth Glory Women’s player and WAIS athlete Collette McCallum has been named Vice-Captain of the Westfield Matildas in the lead up to the Asian Cup in May.
McCallum, who has played for the Perth Glory Women for the past two seasons, was named Vice Captain before Wednesday night’s match against the New Zealand national team, which the Westfield Matildas won 3-0.
The talented young player is no stranger to the big leagues, playing over 50 games for the national team, as well as playing for the Sky Blues in the inaugural season of the US Women’s Professional Soccer league.
– Football Australia
