Star Matildas trio Sam Kerr, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord have warmed up for Australia’s clash with Sweden in Melbourne on Saturday with goals for their English Women’s Super League teams.
Arsenal teammates Foord and Catley each found the back of the net as the Gunners maintained their perfect start to the season with a 4-0 away win over Leicester City, with Catley scoring directly from a corner.
Matildas captain Kerr was also on target and picked up an assist on the road for Chelsea in the Blues’ 3-1 success against the previously undefeated Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village.
Arsenal and Chelsea are both on 18 points but the Gunners have played one less match.
Three more Matildas – Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Alanna Kennedy – also tasted weekend success with fourth-placed Manchester City, who beat Reading 3-0. Fowler picked up her first assist of the season for City.
Meanwhile in Sweden, six Matildas – Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry, Charlotte Grant, Elise Kellond-Knight, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin – featured in the match between Vittsjo GIK and Hammarby.
And it was Kellond-Knight, Cooney-Cross and Nevin who emerged with bragging rights after Hammarby fought back from a goal down to win 2-1.
Experienced midfielder Kellond-Knight – who has been recalled to the Matildas squad for the first time since last year’s Olympics for the match against Sweden and Tuesday week’s clash against Thailand in Gosford – has signed with Melbourne Victory for the upcoming women’s A-League season.
“I’m excited to be returning to the A-League with Melbourne Victory and helping the team lift their third consecutive championship,” Kellond-Knight said.