“Amazing experience”: Cooney-Cross reflects on historic World Cup opener

MATILDAS midfielder and former Torquay student Kyra Cooney-Cross says she and her teammates will never forget the feeling of playing in front of a sellout crowd at a home World Cup in the team’s tournament opener.

Australia got its campaign off to a perfect start last Thursday night, with a Steph Catley penalty securing a 1-0 win over Ireland in their first group game in front of 75,784 fans in Sydney.

Cooney-Cross played a full 90 minutes last week, starting in midfield before shifting across the field later in the match as Australia defended its advantage.

Speaking to reporters at the Matildas’ Brisbane camp this week, the 21-year-old said the win had helped settle the squad’s nerves for the unprecedented occasion.

“There’s a really good vibe in the camp. We’re really happy that we got that game out of the way and we got a win.

“It was an amazing feeling and amazing experience and something that none of us are going to ever forget.

“There was a lot of nerves against Ireland. We’re a bit rusty and we had mixed feelings, mixed emotions.

“But at the end of the day, we got that penalty and it helped us win.”

The crowd was the largest ever for a Matildas game and the ninth-biggest for a women’s football match anywhere in the world.

Australia’s tournament continues against Nigeria in Brisbane tonight before a heavyweight clash with the world’s sixth-ranked team Canada in the final group game in Melbourne on Monday, July 31.

The Matildas will hope to welcome back star striker Sam Kerr for Canada game, following the captain’s shock late omission from the team last week due to injury.

But Cooney-Cross this week remained tight-lipped on Australia’s most talked-about calf muscle.

“Sam’s doing our own thing to get back as quick as possible, and that’s important. But we just need to focus on Nigeria.”