Erin debuts for Junior Matildas in Indonesia
“IT was the most indescribable feeling,” Erin Gordon recalls of the moment she received an email from Football Australia that confirmed her place in the Junior Matildas’ 28-player squad that entered, and went on to win, the inaugural AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) U18 Women’s Football Championships in Indonesia, from July 22 to August 5.
“Me and my mum started crying when I found out … it meant so much because I’d only just fully recovered from a torn ligament, which had ruled me out of the third Junior Matildas’ training camp, so I wasn’t 100 per cent sure I’d be picked,” the 17-year-old Moriah College student said on Monday.
“Looking back now and reflecting on the team winning the trophy, it was such a great achievement, knowing we’d been working on this for the last 10 months, and it coming to fruition.”
The talented central defender – who has played 17 matches this year for Football NSW Institute in the women’s NPL NSW competition, including last Sunday as co-captain – earned her first minutes playing for Australia in two of their three group stage wins over the Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar.
The Aussies then edged Thailand 1-0 in extra-time in the semis, and got to take home the trophy after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Vietnam in the final, having only conceded one goal in the tournament.
“I got a lot out of this experience – on and off the field – and it’s inspired me to be better,” Gordon said.
Proud coach Rae Dower praised her squad as being, “the best group of young players I have seen in my 45 years in the game”.
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