Poletti 
Rebecca Jones in action during the ParaMatildas group stage game against Japan. Photo: Mark Avellino/Football Australia
The ParaMatildas have opened their IFCPF World Cup with a win, while the Pararoos also secured their first victory at the World Cup, defeating Thailand in their second group stage game.
ParaMatildas
Rebecca Jones, making her international debut, was substituted into the game at half-time, and scored with her first touch, giving Australia a 2-0 lead, following Annmarie De Uriarte’s goal in the 4th minute.
Jones reflected on her international debut, describing it as amazing and talked about what her thought process was as the game started and went on.
“Starting on the bench, I was sitting there waiting to see what would happen, if I’d get any game time, and then when I got called up to start the second half, it was so exciting,” she said.
Jones would go on to score a brace in the 42nd minute, and follow it up with the hat-trick in the 43rd minute to make it 6-0 after goals were also scored by Eloise Northam (27th) and co-captain and goalkeeper Katelyn Smith (33rd), who converted a penalty.
The hat-trick hero said that everything has not set in yet for her, but it will once she gets a chance to go back and re-watch the match.
“Stepping off that field, it was a relief of being like ‘yes, I’ve stepped on the field, I’ve got this green and gold on and I’ve done my best’, and that happened to be a hat-trick today, which was amazing,” Jones said.
“I’m super grateful for that experience and to be able to get into that position and the girls around me to support me to have those last touches in, where it could have been anyone, but it just happened to be from me.”
17-year-old Trinity McPhie also made her ParaMatildas debut, coming on late into the contest, whilst Carly Salmon and De Uriarte made their IFCPF World Cup debuts.
Speaking to Round Ball Australia prior to the tournament beginning, McPhie said that she was feeling very excited and very nervous about her inclusion in the squad, but also very proud to represent her country.
“These girls are all lovely, they’re like a second family to me, so it’s very, very exciting,” she said.
McPhie is also the first Football Queensland player to be part of the ParaMatildas, and said she was not expecting to be the first.
“I don’t have any words for it, that’s how much of an honour it is,” she said.
“When someone told me I was the first Queenslander, I was very shocked and very proud of myself that I’ve come this far.”
The ParaMatildas have Friday (local time) off, before their second group stage game against the USA on Saturday (local time). The match can be viewed on the Football Australia YouTube channel, which kicks off at 12:15am AEDT Sunday, November 17.
Pararoos
The Pararoos were defeated in their opening group stage by the USA 5-0, but bounced back on Thursday (local time) to win their first game of the tournament, defeating Thailand 5-1.
Augustine Murphy led the way for the side, scoring four of the five goals in the match, opening the scoring in the 12th minute, before securing the hat-trick shortly after half-time with goals in the 33rd and 34th minutes, before he added his fourth in the 41st minute.
Murphy described it as his best performance yet in an Australian shirt.
“I was just trying to relax and do what I do in training. I was in the zone and I didn’t think too much. I just played,” he said.
“It just happened. It’s not too complicated. It was just all the training paying off and it just all came together and it was a good game today.”‘
Pararoos coach Kai Lammert said Murphy’s performance was sensational.
“The whole team played really well but obviously [Murphy] had a special day and he deserves it,” Lammert said.
“He works very very hard, so this is just a result of all the hard work he puts in outside of camps and outside of this tournament. He truly deserves it so I’m very happy for him as well.”
The Pararoos have a quick turnaround, facing the Netherlands on Friday (local time), who defeated the USA to go to the top of Group C, which Lammert described as the first real surprise of the tournament.
“They had a tough game today, we had a tough game, but we’re fit enough to back up tomorrow, so there’s no worries there,” he said.
“We’re all looking forward to the game tomorrow. They’re obviously a good side, but this game hopefully gives us a little bit of confidence as well heading into tomorrow.”
The Pararoos round out their group stage with a match against the Netherlands on Friday (local time). The match can be viewed on the Football Australia YouTube channel, which kicks off at 1:30am AEDT Saturday, November 16.