The Matildas and Socceroos have conquered Asia before, but for the first time three Australian footballers are enjoying being called world champions.
Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross, Arsenal’s fantastic trio from Down Under, tasted success in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup final on Sunday and it was a match-winning goal from Foord that clinched the title.
The 31-year-old from Shellharbour on the NSW south coast, who has been with the north London giants since 2020, scored the Gunners’ third in a dramatic 3-2 win at their own Emirates Stadium over Brazil’s Corinthians.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet (being world champions) but when you say it like that it is really cool,” said Foord when informed by AAP on Sunday night.
Ahead of next month’s Asian Cup on home soil, where Joe Montemurro’s Matildas will be among the favourites, Foord said the winning feeling was “something I’ll hopefully get used to”.
“I’ve had a taste of lifting trophies, today and the Champions League, and that is something I’d love to do on an international level as well,” she added.
Caitlin Foord (pictured) is scored the match winning goal in the final of Arsenal’s Women’s Champions Cup triumph
Steph Catley (pictured) right) was a mainstay in Arsenal’s triumph
Young gun Kyra Cooney-Cross (pictured) is primed to star in the upcoming Asian Cup campaign
The Matildas won the Asian Cup in 2010 and the Socceroos saluted in the men’s continental tournament in 2015.
Foord starred off the bench on Sunday, while defender Catley played the full 120 minutes of a gripping decider in which the South American champions twice levelled, with the second equaliser coming from a last-gasp penalty to force extra time.
Cooney-Cross, still returning to full fitness after a period of compassionate leave in Australia to be with her cancer-stricken mother, was an unused substitute.
She did play in Arsenal’s successful UEFA Champions League campaign, which earned them their place in this competition.
The Gunners beat African champions AS FAR, the team of the Moroccan military, 6-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final, while Corinthians, who were roared on by a large contingent of fans who brought the passion of Sao Paulo to the rain-drenched English capital, defeated US champs FC Gotham in their semi.
Arsenal opened the scoring after 14 minutes through Canadian striker Olivia Smith, who followed up after Lele had saved a Stina Blackstenius shot.
Seven minutes later Corinthians stunned their hosts. After Duda Sampaio had a drive tipped over the bar 40-year-old veteran Gabi Zanotti headed in from the resultant corner, skimming in off an unfortunate Catley.
Lele made a string of saves but was finally beaten by Lotte Wubben-Moy’s 59th-minute header and Foord thought she had settled it in the 75th, but a defender’s desperate lunge turned her shot against the bar.
Instead Vic Albuquerque scored a last-gasp penalty, awarded on a VAR review, to force extra time.
But Foord would not be denied her moment.
Late in the first period of extra time Frida Maanum stole midfield possession and Arsenal broke. Foord stayed onside, received the Norwegian’s pass, and drove her shot inside Lele’s near post.
“Frida did really well to drive up the line then slip me in,” said Foord.
“It felt like forever waiting for (the pass) but she picked the perfect time to play me in. The keeper was off her line a bit so I took a chance and it went in.”
The only previous Australian to attain soccer world champion status is Mark Bosnich, who kept goal for Manchester United when they won the Intercontinental Cup, the then annual competition between European and South American champions, in 1999.
However, that event was not recognised by FIFA at the time and only featured clubs from two continents. In 2016 the world governing body retrospectively designated the winners as world champions.
The new competition features the six continental champions and will run annually, except in years involving the quadrennial 16-club Women’s Club World Cup, which is due to launch in 2028.
Australian champions Melbourne City, who were a penalty shootout loss from qualifying for this event via last year’s Asian Champions League, are at the quarter-final stage of this season’s ACL.
