NSW stars shine in Matildas victories over Argentina

Amy Sayer’s brace highlighted another brilliant window for the New South Wales-raised Matildas stars, with 12 of the 23 in the squad playing their junior football at Football NSW clubs. 

Sayer marked a sensational return from an ACL injury in Canberra by netting two goals in the first half, as the Matildas went on to win 4-1 against Argentina.

Playing her junior football at Northbridge FC, Sayer joined Illawarra Stingrays junior Michelle Heyman as the New South Wales stars on the scoresheet for the Monday night fixture.

In the Matildas’ first match against Argentina, another NSW player scored the opener, with Kahli Johnson earning a dream debut with a pinpoint header from the six-yard box.

Johnson featured for her junior club Manly United as recently as 2023 in the NPL Women’s NSW competition, and isn’t the only Matilda to have recent experience in the league.

A-League Women’s Champion and Central Coast Mariners star Isabel Gomez – who made her debut in the 4-1 victory – played for Northern Tigers just last year, winning the Sapphire Cup final with an outstanding all-round performance. Gomez will once again don the green and white of the Northern Tigers for the remainder of the 2025 NPL Women’s NSW season.

Elsewhere, established Matildas including Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt and Courtney Nevin have all played their junior football in New South Wales, with the latter starting alongside fellow New South Wales player Natasha Prior, who has signed on again with APIA Leichhardt FC, in defence on Monday night.

Exciting talents Holly McNamara, Bryleeh Henry and Jada Mathyssen-Whyman also featured in the most recent squad, and look to be key players for the future.

View all New South Wales stars in the latest Matildas squad, and their junior Football NSW club, below: