Central Coast Mariners’ rising star Isabel Gomez celebrated her debut with the CommBank Matildas as Canberra United icon Michelle Heyman found the net in Australia’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Argentina during an international friendly on Monday night.
Gomez was brought on in front of a full house in Canberra, where the Matildas showcased their dominance against the South American side, bolstered by Heyman’s goal, along with a brace from Amy Sayer and a strike from Emily van Egmond.
This match capped off a remarkable 2024-25 for Gomez, who delivered a player-of-the-match display, guiding the Mariners to their first Ninja A-League Championship last month.
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For the 22-year-old, the evening symbolised an incredible return from injury. After receiving her first national team call-up in November, she suffered a devastating injury that kept her out of action for three months, returning to the field in February.
“To come back from injury and be called up again is really special. Doing it back home in front of my family makes it even more incredible,” Gomez shared with Paramount+.
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Despite her setbacks last year, Gomez wrapped up her 2024-25 season triumphantly with both a Championship title and an international debut.
“It’s mind-blowing to think about,” Gomez reflected when asked if she believed she could achieve this after her injury.
“Honestly, I never thought I’d make it this far after such a tough injury, so this is just amazing.”
Post-match, debutant Gomez exchanged jerseys with her Argentine counterpart, Virginia Gomez, explaining her rationale behind the swap.
“I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – my first call-up and to swap with another Gomez, how could I pass that up?” she smiled.
As Gomez proudly donned the Green and Gold for the first time at the senior level, all eyes were on Canberra United’s Heyman, while Melbourne City’s Holly McNamara also made an impact off the bench.
The veteran striker was introduced as a second-half substitute, making it a memorable farewell for Tom Sermanni during his last match as interim head coach, with Joe Montemurro officially taking over on Monday.
“We were certain she would make an impact,” Sermanni remarked about Heyman’s return. “It was fantastic to see her score in front of her home crowd.”
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” he added.
Heyman reflected on the experience saying, “It was an incredible sensation. I’ve always wished to play in a packed stadium like this.
“I never imagined this dream would come true, and to play the sport I adore in front of friends, family, and Canberra United supporters fills me with joy to still be part of this game.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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