Pride in soccer star as cup campaign ends

TORQUAY soccer product Kyra Cooney-Cross has had her hopes of hoisting a continental cup dashed as Australia suffered a shock quarter-final loss to South Korea.

The former Surf Coast Secondary College (SCSC) student was part of the Matildas squad competing in the women’s Asian Cup in India that was eliminated following the 1-0 defeat at Pune on Sunday night.

Cooney-Cross watched on from the bench as an unused substitute while her side was bundled out of the competition. She had previously played a full 90 minutes in midfield for the Matildas in their final group game against Thailand and helped set up Australia’s first goal in a 2-1 win.

The Melbourne Victory star played a late cameo as an 81st-minute replacement in Australia’s 4-0 over Philippines in the team’s second outing and was an unused sub in the record-breaking 18-0 rout of Indonesia to open the tournament.

Despite this week’s disappointment, the 19-year-old’s stunning progress has thrilled her family and mentors back in Torquay, as she has become a fixture of Australian squads in the past 12 months.

Cooney-Cross made her senior international debut against Denmark in June, after starring for Melbourne in domestic competition including a jaw-dropping winning goal direct from a corner in the last minute of last year’s W-League grand final.

Kyra Cooney-Cross.
W-League Grand Final.
120th minute.

An instant contender for 2020/21 Goal of the Season 🏆 #MVFC #WLeague pic.twitter.com/hgARmTUged

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) June 5, 2021

She also donned the green and gold at the Tokyo Olympics where she appeared in all six matches as the Matildas finished fourth. She played her first home matches in marquee friendlies against Brazil and the USA late last year.

Cooney-Cross’ mum Jessica Cooney and sister Mia remain in Torquay, and the midfielder stays in touch with her former school.

She returned to SCSC late last year to officially present a junior Australia shirt given to the school before she left for a specialist soccer academy in Sydney during Year 10.

“When she came to school she was a rockstar. All the kids found her and all the teachers too to wish her all the best,” SCSC head of student wellbeing Peter Raidme said.

“We’re a very young school, only 10 years old. We have lots of former students doing lots of interesting things, but to have someone of national significance is very special.”

Cooney-Cross will now return to club duties with the Victory in the A-League women’s league.

Australia’s next major international tournament is a landmark home World Cup, which will kick off in July next year.