Sydney FC are on the brink of a Premiership three-peat after seeing off Perth Glory on Wednesday night and they may have unearthed a new star in the process.
Indiana Dos Santos. Remember the name.
15 year-old Dos Santos stole the show in the Sky Blues’ all important victory over Glory, putting in an eye-catching performance in the middle of the park – which was headlined by scoring the opening goal.
At 15 years, 170 days old, Dos Santos became the fifth youngest goalscorer in Liberty A-League history – and the youngest in Sydney FC’s history – when she got on the end of some lovely work from Cortnee Vine and Rachel Lowe to slam the ball home.
“What a moment for the 15-year-old,” Network 10 commentator Teo Pellizzeri said on the call.
“And this league that is so full of young, optimistic, bright stars, hopeful prospects announcing themselves to the nation and the footballing world: here’s your latest, here’s Indiana Dos Santos.
“[She] will be telling her mates at school about how she scored in the Liberty A-League last night when she turns up in class tomorrow. What an incredible moment for her.”
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Pellizzeri summed it up beautifully – it was an incredible moment.
However, Dos Santos has had to bide her time for an opportunity this season.
Dos Santos came into the campaign off of an interrupted pre-season as a result of being called up for the Young Matildas U15 side – captaining the team during a two week camp where they played three matches against South Korea.
Her first senior opportunity wouldn’t come until early March when she came from the bench in a 3-0 win against Western United, becoming the club’s youngest ever player – male or female.
From there, Dos Santos has gone from strength to strength, earning her first start last weekend vs Adelaide United as a result of an injury to Shay Hollman – where she impressed enormously – winning the club’s Player of the Match award.
And even with Hollman back in the side, Dos Santos was rewarded with yet another opportunity from the get go on Wednesday evening in a contest with even greater stakes – given Sydney and Perth’s respective finals ambitions.
Not for one second did she look overawed by the occasion, playing with maturity well beyond her years – alongside gun midfield duo Mackenzie Hawkesby and Sarah Hunter.
Her goal means she joins elusive company among the top five youngest Liberty A-League scorers – including Sam Kerr, Emily Condon, Emily Van Egmond and Whitney Knight.
But Indiana isn’t the only Dos Santos on Sydney’s books with an enormous future. Older sister Jynana is also part of the Sky Blues set-up, making a solitary appearance in November during their 1-0 defeat to Adelaide United.
They are in fact the youngest siblings to ever play in the Liberty A-League.
Jynana, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder, was also part of the Young Matildas side that recently progressed to the next round of Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying – scoring in both games against Guam and Kyrgyz Republic.
The future is bright.
What does the win mean for the standings?
Sydney’s win takes them top of the table ahead of Western United by a single point.
The Sky Blues face Newcastle Jets on Saturday evening at Allianz Stadium and just need to better Western United’s result vs Western Sydney (also on Saturday) to secure a third straight Liberty A-League premiership.
Meanwhile, the Glory’s finals hopes have taken an enormous hit.
Alex Epakis’ remain three points outside the four heading into the final round, but their goal difference took an enormous hit – dropping below both Melbourne Victory and Canberra United’s who are the sides three points clear in fourth and fifth respectively.
As a result, Perth need to beat Brisbane Roar on the road and rely on both Melbourne Victory and Canberra United losing against bottom-placed Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City respectively.
Not only that, Glory also need Victory and Canberra’s goal difference to drop below theirs.
