Latest news with #MichelleHeyman
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Interim coach says Montemurro will take Matildas to new heights
Tom Sermanni thought that he was bequeathing Joe Montemurro a squad of players that, when fully fit, would be competitive with any side in the world. (EPA Images pic) SYDNEY : Caretaker coach Tom Sermanni, who signed off his third spell in charge of the Matildas with a 4-1 win over Argentina yesterday, is convinced his replacement Joe Montemurro will take the team to new heights. The 70-year-old Scot, who first took charge of the Australia women's national team in 1994 before they had the nickname by which they are now known around the world, guided the side for the 151st time hours after Montemurro's appointment. 'His coaching record is second to none, he is a proud Australian, I think he will take this team to a new level,' Sermanni told broadcaster Paramount before the match in Canberra. Two goals from Amy Sayer and later strikes from Emily Van Egmond and substitute Michelle Heyman gave Australia a second win over Argentina in the space of four days to send Sermanni off in style. The Matildas were roared on by a sellout crowd of 25,125 at Canberra Stadium, a familiar sight over the last few years as the team has grown hugely in popularity. 'The thing that stood out to me is every time we've played a game at home, and I've walked out onto the field and just looked at the crowd, it's just been phenomenal experience,' the former coach of the US women's team told reporters. 'I've never witnessed a crowd that such as the Matildas crowd. With the Matildas, it's just unique. And I kind of pinch myself when I go out and stand in front of it before the game starts,' he said. Sermanni thought that he was bequeathing Montemurro a squad of players that, when fully fit, would be competitive with any side in the world. 'People forget we were (very) close to getting the silver at the last World Cup and the Olympics before the last one,' he said. 'So the team is close. The experienced players are still very influential … and we've got some good young players coming through,' he added. Chief among the injury concerns is Sam Kerr, who has not played for her country or club Chelsea since she suffered an ACL injury in January 2024. Montemurro told local media earlier yesterday that he had been informed on taking the job that Kerr had needed another medical 'intervention' for an issue not related to her knee injury, but was now back up and running.
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Interim coach says Montemurro will take Matildas to new heights
SYDNEY, June 3 (Reuters) - Caretaker coach Tom Sermanni, who signed off his third spell in charge of the Matildas with a 4-1 win over Argentina on Monday, is convinced his replacement Joe Montemurro will take the team to new heights. The 70-year-old Scot, who first took charge of the Australia women's national team in 1994 before they had the nickname by which they are now known around the world, guided the side for the 151st time hours after Montemurro's appointment. "His coaching record is second to none, he is a proud Australian, I think he will take this team to a new level," Sermanni told broadcaster Paramount before the match in Canberra. Two goals from Amy Sayer and later strikes from Emily Van Egmond and substitute Michelle Heyman gave Australia a second win over Argentina in the space of four days to send Sermanni off in style. The Matildas were roared on by a sellout crowd of 25,125 at Canberra Stadium, a familiar sight over the last few years as the team has grown hugely in popularity. "The thing that stood out to me is every time we've played a game at home, and I've walked out onto the field and just looked at the crowd, it's just been phenomenal experience," the former coach of the United States women's team told reporters. "I've never witnessed a crowd that such as the Matildas crowd. With the Matildas, it's just unique. And I kind of pinch myself when I go out and stand in front of it before the game starts." Sermanni thought that he was bequeathing Montemurro a squad of players that, when fully fit, would be competitive with any side in the world. "People forget we were (very) close to getting the silver at the last World Cup and the Olympics before the last one," he said. "So the team is close. The experienced players are still very influential ... and we've got some good young players coming through." Chief among the injury concerns is Sam Kerr, who has not played for her country or club Chelsea since she suffered an ACL injury in January 2024. Montemurro told local media earlier on Monday that he had been informed on taking the job that Kerr had needed another medical "intervention" for an issue not related to her knee injury, but was now back up and running.
CNA
3 days ago
- General
- CNA
Interim coach says Montemurro will take Matildas to new heights
SYDNEY :Caretaker coach Tom Sermanni, who signed off his third spell in charge of the Matildas with a 4-1 win over Argentina on Monday, is convinced his replacement Joe Montemurro will take the team to new heights. The 70-year-old Scot, who first took charge of the Australia women's national team in 1994 before they had the nickname by which they are now known around the world, guided the side for the 151st time hours after Montemurro's appointment. "His coaching record is second to none, he is a proud Australian, I think he will take this team to a new level," Sermanni told broadcaster Paramount before the match in Canberra. Two goals from Amy Sayer and later strikes from Emily Van Egmond and substitute Michelle Heyman gave Australia a second win over Argentina in the space of four days to send Sermanni off in style. The Matildas were roared on by a sellout crowd of 25,125 at Canberra Stadium, a familiar sight over the last few years as the team has grown hugely in popularity. "The thing that stood out to me is every time we've played a game at home, and I've walked out onto the field and just looked at the crowd, it's just been phenomenal experience," the former coach of the United States women's team told reporters. "I've never witnessed a crowd that such as the Matildas crowd. With the Matildas, it's just unique. And I kind of pinch myself when I go out and stand in front of it before the game starts." Sermanni thought that he was bequeathing Montemurro a squad of players that, when fully fit, would be competitive with any side in the world. "People forget we were (very) close to getting the silver at the last World Cup and the Olympics before the last one," he said. "So the team is close. The experienced players are still very influential ... and we've got some good young players coming through." Chief among the injury concerns is Sam Kerr, who has not played for her country or club Chelsea since she suffered an ACL injury in January 2024. Montemurro told local media earlier on Monday that he had been informed on taking the job that Kerr had needed another medical "intervention" for an issue not related to her knee injury, but was now back up and running.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Amy Sayer double ensures Matildas celebrate Tom Sermanni's farewell in style
The first time Tom Sermanni coached the Matildas in Canberra, three decades ago, the match took place not at GIO Stadium but at an unassuming training field next door. A warm-up encounter ahead of the 1995 Women's World Cup, the Matildas put four unanswered goals past New Zealand in front of a handful of spectators. It warranted three paragraphs deep in the sports section of the local newspaper; the report described the win as a 'great result' for Sermanni. Thirty years later, in his 151st and final game as Matildas boss, at the end of his third stint at the helm of the national team, it was another great result: a 4-1 friendly victory over Argentina on a chilly Monday night. A brace by Amy Sayer and second-half strikes from Emily van Egmond and local hero Michelle Heyman were enough to see off a valiant Argentine effort. But it was also an encounter that underscored the remarkable rise of the women's game since Sermanni first led the Matildas in the nation's capital. A capacity 25,125 crowd broke the record for the best attended women's sporting event in Canberra. Local newspaper the Canberra Times heralded the game on its front page: 'Tillies Time!' News of the appointment of Sermanni's successor, Joe Montemurro, had dominated national media all day. 70-year-old Sermanni has been a loyal servant for the Matildas, playing an important role in the team's progression across more than a decade in charge – including leading the Matildas to their most significant silverware yet, the 2010 Women's Asian Cup. It was a fitting send-off as the Matildas now prepare for a critical lead-up to a home Asian Cup next year, and then a period of generational transition ahead. After seeing off La Albiceleste with two unanswered goals in Melbourne on Friday, the Matildas started strongly – notching their first attempt within minutes. The one-way traffic soon proved decisive, as Matildas midfield maestro Sayer connected with a ball from Kahli Johnson to coolly open the scoring after 14 minutes. Sayer's gloves hinted at the arctic Canberra temperatures, but her opener gave the crowd a reason to keep warm. Sermanni's send-off was not going to be a procession, though. Argentina hit back less than 10 minutes later; 19-year-old Kishi Núñez – a stand-out for the South Americans at last year's U20 World Cup – made a decisive break down the left flank before blazing the ball past a diving Teagan Micah. The Argentinian goal left the Matildas unsettled; a feeling compounded when Johnson was forced off with an injury, replaced by Melbourne City rising star Holly McNamara. A more evenly-matched period of play followed, as the Matildas rallied to regain the momentum. Then, suddenly, Caitlin Foord pounced. The Arsenal star, fresh off winning the Women's Champions League, collected the ball in the middle of the park and went on a marauding run forward. Foord sliced through the heart of the Argentine defence before offloading to Sayer, who only had to beat custodian Solana Pereyra to double her tally. Both teams had chances early in the second half, the Matildas with the better of the opportunities but Argentina continuing to threaten. The biggest roar of the night was reserved for the addition of Canberra United legend Heyman, brought on after 60 minutes for Sayer. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion The veteran striker was immediately in the thick of the action, and her darting run into the Argentine box created the Matildas' third goal – poked home by van Egmond after Heyman and Pereyra had collided. Heyman then sealed the dominant victory with a goal in the dying minutes, attacking a loose ball before outwitting Pereyra. The win caps an improved run of friendlies for the Matildas – successive wins over Argentina and South Korea – after three consecutive losses at the SheBelieves Cup in February. Montemurro will begin his national team tenure with two friendlies against Slovenia at the end of June. When Sermanni first directed the Matildas in Canberra, the team's very name had only just begun to find widespread use – it was chosen by a fan poll in the lead up to the 1995 Women's World Cup. Indeed the match report from that first Canberra outing used the team's prior name, the Female Socceroos. How things have changed.
The Advertiser
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Pennock's brace wins Mariners ALW eliminator
A double to English forward Jade Pennock has helped the Central Coast Mariners overcome an historic goal from Canberra's Michelle Heyman for a 2-1 home win in the A League Women second elimInation final.
