The eagerly anticipated return of the National Para Football Championships began today on the Gold Coast, a handful of our CommBank ParaMatildas were in action for Capital Football.
Read the full wrap of day one action!
With CommBank ParaMatildas Assistant Coach, Mel Andreatta, watching on, the first-ever all-female Capital Football side took on host Football Queensland in an exciting opening match.
Six capped CommBank ParaMatildas in the side, the Capital Football squad began their tournament with a strong showing against the Queenslanders, who are making their return to the tournament after an eight-year hiatus.
Football Queensland took a 2-0 lead going into the break, however, some positives for the side from the nation's capital with 14-year-old Annmarie DeUriarte, making some impressive runs and shots on goal.
Keeper Katelyn Smith proved again why she is one of the world’s best goalkeepers, after being named goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2022 IFCPF Women’s World Cup earlier this year, saving multiple shots from a determined Queensland side, and holding onto a clean sheet in the second half.
Despite defeat in the opening game, Carly Salmon played her first game of competitive football with the side.
The second match of the day against Football New South Wales Navy proved to be a tougher encounter with the final score 12-0. Despite the score line, the players continued to show their undefeated spirit in their attacking style and determination to make their mark on the tournament.
Karina Gregorian made her Para Football National Championships debut and played alongside the CommBank ParaMatildas for the first time.
CommBank ParaMatildas Head Coach, and Capital Football Head Coach, Kelly Stirton, spoke after the opening day of competition about her side's results “This was a fantastic opportunity for the CommBank ParaMatildas players to come together and for us to see some emerging talent, in Annmarie and Carly."
"While the results didn’t go our way, we are here to develop this fantastic team and make sure that other talented female footballers around the country can be empowered by our efforts.”
The Capital Football side play Western Australia tomorrow at 10:30am at the Gold Coast Performance Centre, with their opposition jam-packed with CommBank Pararoos.
