Sydney FC Westfield W-League Champion Caitlin Foord revealed the secret behind her ‘special’ first FIFA Women’s World Cup™ goal was a quick chat with Matildas skipper Sam Kerr.
Moments before Foord pounced in the penalty area to begin Australia’s thrilling fightback against Brazil, an on-field exchange between the forward pair led to the breakthrough.
Portland Thorns and Sydney FC forward Foord had been lining up on the left of Australia’s attack, with captain Kerr operating through the middle.
The decision to switch positions paid dividends when Tameka Yallop’s cross was flicked on by the head of Chloe Logarzo and Foord fired the Matildas’ opener from close range.
That moment was the beginning of a sensational 3-2 comeback win and Foord revealed coach Ante Milicic allows the Matildas the freedom to make those in-game adjustments if they feel it will benefit the team.
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“Before we switched, Sam just looked at me and said ‘wanna swap for a bit’ and I was like ‘sure’,” Foord said.
“We have been given the role that, if we don’t feel like we’re getting on the ball, we can rotate and she was feeling like that at the time, and it happened to work.
“Any goal is special but to score one at the World Cup makes it that bit more special. That goal was very important to us as well, I guess that made it even more special.”
Despite facing a two-goal deficit in Montpellier, Foord insists the Matildas belief never wavered.
“I don’t think we stopped believing the whole time,” she said.
“Going in at the half and getting a goal, the momentum was with us, but we never felt like we lost the momentum at all.
“We were creating and we were just unfortunate that they scored two goals.
“We felt that we had the better of the chances and more possession and it was just a matter of time before the goals are going to come.
“We still have the potential to top the group”
Foord’s effort, Logarzo’s equaliser and an own goal from Monica sealed a famous 3-2 triumph and put the Matildas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup™ bid back on track.
Next up is Jamaica at 5am on Wednesday morning AEST, and Foord insists that Australia are not going to take the foot off the gas despite the Reggae Girlz being the lowest ranked team in France.
“I don’t think complacency comes in at all. We know we still have to win,” added Foord.
“Three points, you can probably get through but we’re not willing to take the risk.
“We still have potential to top the group and we’re just going to go out there and try to do our job and win the game.”
Upcoming Match | FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ – Group C
Jamaica v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2019 (AEST)
Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Kick-off: 5.00am AEST (9.00pm local time, Tuesday 18 June)
