Emerging Melbourne City FC midfielder Sofia Sakalis has been included in the Westfield Young Matildas 23-player squad to travel to Lebanon this month for the opening qualifying phase of the 2019 AFC U/19 Women’s Championship.
Widely considered to be one of the most exciting young midfielders in the country, Sakalis will carry her Championship winning experience with City into the international arena as the Young Matildas aim to advance to the second round of the qualification process.
The 16-year-old became the eighth youngest player in the history of the W-League to make her senior debut last season when she replaced Amy Jackson in the final minutes of City’s 5-2 win over Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.
The Westfield Young Matildas will compete in Group A of qualifying in Beirut against hosts Lebanon, as well as Hong Kong and Mongolia.
Gary Van Egmond’s side will depart Australia on Friday, 19 October 2018 and play their first qualification match against Mongolia on Wednesday, 24 October 2018.
Australia will need to top their group or finish as one of the two best runners-up in the first stage of qualifying, to advance to the second round of the qualification process which will be held in April next year.
Should the Westfield Young Matildas successfully navigate the two qualification tournaments, they will advance to next year’s AFC U19 Women’s Championship in Thailand where a place at the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup will be on the line.
All the Westfield Young Matildas matches this month will be played at the Jounieh Municipal Stadium in Beirut.
Westfield Young Matildas 23-player squad for 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers (Round One)
|
Current Club, Country |
|
|
Amy SAYER |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Annalee GROVE (Gk) |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Aoife COLVILL |
Canberra United, Australia |
|
Charlotte GRANT |
Adelaide United, Australia |
|
Courtney NEVIN |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Emily HODGSON |
Adelaide United, Australia |
|
Indiah-Paige RILEY |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Jacynta GALABADAARACHCHI |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Kaitlyn TORPEY |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Karly ROESTBAKKEN |
Canberra United, Australia |
|
Kyra COONEY-CROSS |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
|
Leticia MCKENNA |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
MelindaJ BARBIERI |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
|
Morgan AQUINO (Gk) |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Princess IBINI-ISEI |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Rachel LOWE |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Sarah MORGAN |
Canberra United Academy, Australia |
|
Sofia SOKALIS |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Susan PHONSONGHAM |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Taylor RAY |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Teresa MORRISSEY (Gk) |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
|
Tori TUMETH |
Sydney University, Australia |
|
Winonah HEATLEY |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
Westfield Young Matildas Match Schedule – 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers (Round One)
Westfield Young Matildas v Mongolia
Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2018
Venue: Jounieh Municipal Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: 11.30am (local); 7.30pm (AEDT)
Lebanon v Westfield Young Matildas
Date: Friday, 26 October 2018
Venue: Jounieh Municipal Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local); 11.30pm (AEDT)
Westfield Young Matildas v Hong Kong
Date: Sunday, 28 October 2018
Venue: Jounieh Municipal Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: 11.30am (local); 7.30pm (AEDT)
