Australian Squad named for Ferns visit in Auckland

SYDNEY - Thursday, 11 February 2010

Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni has selected a squad of 20 players for the upcoming tour of New Zealand with matches in Auckland on the 17th and 20th of February against the New Zealand Women's national team, Football Ferns.

Included in the squad is Perth Glory attacker Samantha Kerr who won her first Westfield Matildas cap against Italy in 2009. Kerr, the sister of West Coast Eagles midfielder Daniel Kerr, will be the youngest member of this Westfield Matildas squad at 16 but brings with her an explosive talent that won her the Player's Player award for the Westfield W-League 2009 season

Selected in the Westfield Matildas squad for the first time is Brisbane Roar's Aivi Luik who, following footballing success in the US and the Ukraine, returned to Queensland in 2009 to continue her playing career and impressed enough during Westfield W-League season 2 to gain selection in the squad of 20 to tour New Zealand.

Sally Shipard and Kylie Ledbrook also make their Westfield Matildas return following extended absences of two and four years respectively.

Head Coach Tom Sermanni is confident his squad is developing on track in what is essentially a World Cup qualification year,

"The squad that will travel to New Zealand has a great depth of talent," said Sermanni.

"Since 2008 we have been in a rebuilding phase for the Westfield Matildas following the retirement of some key players."

"We've got a great mix of experience and youth in this group of players and this blend is sure to serve us well as we continue our progress towards a fifth successive World Cup appearance," finished Sermanni.

Westfield Matildas are currently in preparation for their 2010 Asia Cup campaign in Chengdu, China in May which counts as the qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 in Germany.

Australian women's (Matildas ) - 2010

Player Club Caps Goals
Melissa Barbieri Melbourne Victory 67
Tameka Butt Brisbane Roar 11 1
Kim Carroll Brisbane Roar 27 1
Lauren Colthorpe Brisbane Roar 37 6
Lisa De Vanna Perth Glory 59 20
Heather Garriock Sydney FC 113 19
Kathryn Gill Perth Glory 54 26
Elise Kellond-Knight Brisbane Roar 1
Samantha Kerr Perth Glory 7
Leena Khamis Sydney FC 6 1
Kylie Ledbrook Sydney FC 12
Aivi Luik Brisbane Roar 0 0
Collette McCallum Perth Glory 49 7
Clare Polkinghorne Brisbane Roar 30 2
Sally Shipard Canberra United 39 2
Kyah Simon Sydney FC 12 1
Thea Slatye Canberra United 39 2
Servet Uzunlar Sydney FC 7 1
Sarah Walsh Sydney FC 57 26
Lydia Williams Canberra United 18

Upcoming Match Details - A-International friendlies

  • New Zealand v Australia on Wednesday, 17 February, 2010; 7.00pm local (5.00pm AEDT) at North Harbour Stadium, Albany
  • New Zealand v Australia on Saturday, 20 February, 2010; 3.00pm local (1.00pm AEDT) at Bill McKinlay Park, Mt Wellington

    Last Match Details - Saturday, 12 July 2008

    Australia (Westfield Matildas) 1 (Leena Khamis 35') defeated New Zealand 0 played at North Sydney Oval, North Sydney

    Australia: Melissa Barbieri (GK) (Lydia Williams 46'); Kate McShea, Dianne Alagich (Kim Carroll 85'), Cheryl Salisbury (Brooke Spence 88'), Heather Garriock, Caitlin Munoz, Clare Polkinghorne, Kyah Simon (Leena Khamis 22'), Lauren Colthorpe, Danielle Small (Servet Uzunlar 59'), Joanne Burgess (Ellyse Perry 59')

    Subs not used: Karla Reuter, Amber Neilson, Victoria Balomenos, Jenna Tristram, Amy Chapman, Ellen Beaumont, Renee Rollason
    Yellow cards: Kim Carroll 87'

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