Opposite goals for this star couple
THEY might not be able to catch up off the pitch but star football couple Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis will be reunited on the field when the Matildas take on the USA in a friendly this weekend.
It is the first time since they won silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics that the two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner has been in Australia.
The USA women’s football team will play two friendlies against the Matildas, the first on Saturday.
Kerr, who plays for Chelsea in the Women’s Super League in England, and Mewis, a Houston Dash star, announced their relationship in August after the Olympics.
The Matildas look set to field an experienced line up as they chase the side’s second ever victory against the USA in 31 years, including captain Kerr, Emily van Egmond, Ellie Carpenter, Tameka Yallop and Steph Catley.
Hayley Russo and Emily Gielnik have been recalled after recent injuries.
The USA’s 22-player roster has 10 from its Olympic bronze medal-winning team as well as 12 players with fewer than 10 caps to their name, including five debutants.
Fan favourites Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Crystal Dunn, Megan Rapinoe and Kelly O’Hara missed out on boarding passes.
Kerr’s girlfriend and USA midfielder Mewis has been named in the squad, along with 36-year-old veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper and Emily Sonnett. Sauerbrunn is the most experienced player to make the trip with 197 caps.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski said leaving some of “the bigger” names behind had nothing to do with Covid-19 restrictions and everything to do with the World Cup.
“We still have a few players out with injuries, so this roster is a mixture of players with a lot of experience in World Cups and Olympics, some who have been a part of the program for a while but who are looking to make their mark in international soccer and a few who are getting a first chance with the national Team in an event like this,” Andonovski said.
The two matches will be Matildas’ coach Tony Gustavsson’s last before he must select a squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The first match is on Saturday at Stadium Australia, kicking off at 3pm (AEDT).