Former Sydney FC and Western United rising star Kahli Johnson scored on her international debut as the CommBank Matildas eased past World No. 33 Argentina in a friendly at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Johnson became the 237th Matilda when interim head coach Tom Sermanni selected the Young Matildas star in his starting line-up for Friday’s friendly, and she made her debut a night to remember, scoring the first of Australia’s two goals in the 2-0 win.
Johnson, who has represented Australia at two FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cups, began her career at Sydney FC before her three-season stint at Western United; Friday’s friendly against Argentina saw the 21-year-old take her flourishing career to new heights with her maiden senior international goal coming in the 38th minute of the 2-0 win.
Now at Calgary Wild FC, Johnson joined the Canadian side in February after 48 appearances for Ninja A-League club Western United across the past three Australian domestic seasons.
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The opening goal at Marvel Stadium came via a combination between A-Leagues alumni, with former Adelaide United full-back Charli Grant setting up Johnson to head home Australia’s first goal of the night with an inviting, floating cross off the right wing.
Post-game, Matildas interim coach Sermanni praised Johnson for her impact on debut.
“It feels great when you see a young player coming into the team and you can get them on the field and start them,” Sermanni said.
“And it makes it even better when you see how well Kahli played tonight.
“She went in there, she fulfilled what I saw of her as a player prior to coming in and she took that out onto the field tonight.”
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Melbourne City star Holly McNamara played from the start for the Matildas; her City teammates Leah Davidson and Bryleeh Henry both received minutes off the bench, as did Newcastle Jets defender Natasha Prior and Canberra United legend Michelle Heyman.
Former Brisbane Roar and City full-back Kaitlyn Torpey iced the contest with a second-half goal converted off the right wing. Torpey’s cross-turned-shot looped over the head of Argentina keeper Abigaíl Chaves and into the back of the net to seal a 2-0 win for the Matildas.
Following the 2-0 win on Friday night, the Matildas and Argentina will travel to Canberra for the second game in a two-game friendly series set to take place at GIO Stadium on Monday night.
