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Matildas trio hit milestones at World Cup

3 minute read

Lisa De Vanna, Karly Roestbakken and Aivi Luik all had moments in the sun in the Matildas' 4-1 defeat of Jamaica for different reasons.

LISA DE VANNA of Australia in action during the Women's Algarve Cup Tournament match between Australia and China at Estadio Municipal de Albufeira in Albufeira, Portugal.
LISA DE VANNA of Australia in action during the Women's Algarve Cup Tournament match between Australia and China at Estadio Municipal de Albufeira in Albufeira, Portugal. Picture: Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Sam Kerr re-wrote the record books, but Australia's stunning 4-1 defeat of Jamaica was significant for a batch of other Matildas.

Karly Roestbakken, a 19-year-old full back who didn't even make the original squad, made her first international start.

Aivi Luik, overlooked for the tournament three times before 2019, made a World Cup debut at the age of 34.

And evergreen talent Lisa De Vanna became just the second Matilda to reach 150 international outings.

De Vanna was handed a start at Grenoble's Stade des Alpes and showed glimpses of her greatness even as her heir apparent, Kerr, stole the show.

The 34-year-old has scored seven goals at three previous tournaments to be Australia's highest World Cup scorer.

On her next appearance, De Vanna will tie her mentor Cheryl Salisbury on 151 caps to become Australia's most capped footballer.

"It's a fantastic achievement and I'm sure it's not gonna stop at 150," coach Ante Milicic said.

"I've only been in the job five months and she's been fantastic to work with.

"The season she was coming back off, I don't think she scored in the W-League, and we got her up to speed.

"She's really special one v one and she needs to back herself a lot more in the front third, because I don't think there's a better player of running at defences when she goes at 'em."

Luik, who came on for the final five minutes, was overcome at her ability to achieve something she previously thought was out of her grasp.

"100 per cent I am emotional," she said.

"When you love something and you're passionate about it and you've wanted it for so long, you can't not be emotional."

In Grenoble, Roestbakken earned her second cap after a last-minute debut last week against Brazil.

The teenager is only in France after answering an 11th hour call to replace injured defender Laura Alleway, but has jumped above others in the pecking order to get on the park.

Defensive partner Alanna Kennedy praised her

"I said to her and I don't mind saying it on tape, there was a couple of times where they got in behind but her reaction and her recovery was unreal," she said.

"That's the type of player that we want on our team. So yeah really proud of her and I think she's done a great job."

Milicic hailed them both.

"We gave a debut to Karly which is magnificent for the young girls. That's part of our role as well to bring through that new generation and I thought she handled herself really well in difficult situations," he said.

"And Aivi Luik as well, what she's been through at her age to get an opportunity, well she's now a World Cup player."

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