Sayer and Logarzo selected in Westfield Matildas squad
In a huge boost of the NPL NSW Women’s competition, Blacktown Spartans’ Chloe Logarzo and North Shore Mariners’ Amy Sayer were both selected in Alen Stajic’s 20-player squad selected to defend Australia’s Tournament of Nations (ToN) crown in the United States of America kicking off later this month.
It will be a big moment for 16-year-old Sayer who will don the Green and Gold jersey of the Matildas for the first time while Logarzo has already won 30 caps for her nation.
Last year the Westfield Matildas gained international recognition by lifting the inaugural ToN trophy in Los Angeles, winning all three of their fixtures against hosts USA, Brazil, and Japan.
The Westfield Matildas will face the same three nations in the second edition of the ToN, and can be buoyed by the fact that 17 of the 20 players that featured in last year’s successful campaign will return to defend the title.
Stajcic said that the fact that he has been able to name a largely settled squad, and one that also includes the bulk of his 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup roster, is positive leading into a crucial 12 months for the Westfield Matildas.
“The forthcoming Tournament of Nations kicks off a massive 12 months for women’s football in Australia,” said Stajcic.
“While we will naturally be aiming to defend our Tournament of Nations title, we will also be focussed on continuing to develop as a unit while we are in the USA as we look ahead to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
“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 can not only match, but beat, the very best.
“The 2018 Tournament of Nations offers us an opportunity to show that we can continue to perform at the highest level against three of the top ranked nations in world football,” he said.
The Westfield Matildas will assemble in Kansas on Monday, 23 July 2018 and will open their campaign against Brazil on Thursday, 26 July (local time) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
The team will then travel to East Hartford, Connecticut to tackle the United States at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sunday, 29 July (local time), before rounding out their campaign against Japan at Toyota Park in Illinois on Thursday, 2 August (local time).
All three of the Westfield Matildas’ matches at the 2018 Tournament of Nations will be broadcast LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS in Australia.
U.S. Soccer plans to host the Tournament of Nations every summer during years that do not feature a FIFA Women’s World Cup or Olympic Games, meaning the next edition would be staged in 2021.
The draw for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held on Saturday, 8 December 2018 (local time) at Boulogne-Billancourt in France.
Westfield Matildas 20-player squad for the 2018 Tournament of Nations
| Name | Current Club, Country | A-International Caps (Goals) |
| Mackenzie ARNOLD (Gk) | Arna-Bjørnar Fotball, Norway | 19 (0) |
| Tameka BUTT | Klepp IL, Norway | 68 (9) |
| Ellie CARPENTER | Portland Thorns, USA | 21 (1) |
| Steph CATLEY | Seattle Reign, USA | 67 (2) |
| Alex CHIDIAC | Atletico Madrid, Spain | 10 (1) |
| Larissa CRUMMER | Unattached | 20 (4) |
| Lisa DE VANNA | South Melbourne FC, Australia | 137 (45) |
| Caitlin FOORD | Portland Thorns, USA | 60 (11) |
| Emily GIELNIK | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | 18 (4) |
| Katrina GORRY | Utah Royals, USA | 68 (14) |
| Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT | Hammarby IF, Sweden | 95 (1) |
| Alanna KENNEDY | Orlando Pride, USA | 69 (5) |
| Samantha KERR | Chicago Red Stars, USA | 67 (24) |
| Chloe LOGARZO | Blacktown Spartans FC, Australia | 30 (4) |
| Clare POLKINGHORNE | Houston Dash, USA | 105 (8) |
| Hayley RASO | Portland Thorns, USA | 25 (2) |
| Amy SAYER | North Shore Mariners FC, Australia | 0 (0) |
| Kyah SIMON | Houston Dash FC, USA | 83 (22) |
| Emily VAN EGMOND | Orlando Pride, USA | 75 (15) |
| Lydia WILLIAMS (Gk) | Seattle Reign FC, USA | 69 (0) |
2018 Tournament of Nations – Westfield Matildas Match Schedule
Brazil v Westfield 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)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
USA v Westfield Matildas
Date: Sunday, 29 July 2018 (local)
Venue: Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, Connecticut
Kick-off: 7pm (local) (9am AEST – Monday, 30 July 2018)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
Westfield 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)
Broadcast: LIVE in Australia on FOX SPORTS
