Matildas star's stirring return leaves coach in awe

2 years ago 94

Elise Kellond-Knight has made a stirring instrumentality to the Matildas line-up aft a torturous tally with genu injuries successful a 2-0 triumph implicit Thailand.

The 32-year-old, who has not played since the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers successful March 2020, was brought connected by Matildas manager Tony Gustavsson successful the last 10 minutes and emerged unscathed.

Kellond-Knight's instrumentality came aft a torrid two-and-a-half years connected the sidelines aft she tore her ACL portion playing successful Sweden successful July 2020. She was selected successful the Matildas' squad for Tokyo but did not play a azygous infinitesimal aft suffering from genu pain, which led to much country and an extended rehabilitation process.

AS IT HAPPENED: Kerr, Raso goals pb Matildas to triumph implicit Thailand

Kellond-Knight admitted aft her palmy instrumentality that she thought her vocation might've been ended by her genu troubles.

"It's been a agelong travel but it's been worthy it to beryllium backmost retired determination with the girls," she said.

"It was lone 10 minutes, but it's a large milestone and we're each going to observe that together.

"It was a analyzable injury. There were times wherever I thought I'd ne'er play shot again, truthful to propulsion connected the greenish and golden present is simply a monolithic achievement."

The seasoned was named successful the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad of the tournaments and admits she's eyeing a spot successful Gustavsson's squad for adjacent year's location World Cup.

"I'm open-minded to everything. I'm taking it 1 time astatine a clip and that would decidedly beryllium nice," she said of a imaginable World Cup berth.

Gustavsson was intelligibly moved erstwhile discussing Kellond Knight's comeback aft the match.

"I'm truthful blessed for (Kellond-Knight) and the squad is truthful blessed for her also," helium said.

"What a journey. What she's been going done could've been a career-ending crossroad infinitesimal for her, and present she's backmost with the nationalist squad playing minutes.

"I get affectional conscionable talking astir it."

Kellond-Knight's instrumentality capped what was a palmy outing for the Matildas, who finished the calendar twelvemonth with 4 consecutive victories.

Kerr puts Matildas ahead

Australia was ascendant passim the contest, and missed respective aureate opportunities successful the archetypal half, earlier Sam Kerr nodded successful the opener from a country kick.

Haley Raso added the 2nd hardly a infinitesimal into the 2nd half.

Kerr admitted that she and her teammates needed to beryllium much clinical.

"It's bully to decorativeness connected a precocious for sure, 4 wins successful a enactment aft a pugnacious year. We're feeling good, but acceptable to spell for adjacent year," she said.

"We request to get amended astatine this portion (finishing successful beforehand of goal), truthful it's a bully challenge. We request to beryllium better, but these are the challenges we want."

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