Arsenal goalkeeper Lydia Williams collected her 100th senior international cap for Australia as they drew 1-1 with Portugal last night.
The 34-year-old was denied the opportunity to make her landmark appearance on Saturday as the CommBank Matildas lost 7-0 against Spain in Huelva but she was recalled to the starting line-up last night as Australia bounced back with a 1-1 draw with Portugal in Estoril.
Williams led the team out as captain and featured for the full 90 minutes as she became the first female Australian goalkeeper in history to collect 100 caps for her country.
The two sides were deadlocked for well over an hour at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota until Emily Gielnik’s cross found substitute Princess Ibini who made no mistake in opening the scoring from close range.
Goalkeeper Williams looked set to claim a clean sheet on her milestone international appearance, however, there was to be a twist three minutes from time. A cross found Portuguese forward Telma Encarnação in the box and she produced great composure to control the ball before firing an effort beyond Williams and into the Australian net.
Despite the Australian side being a youthful one, two disappointing results in this international window will be alarming for head coach Tony Gustavsson. Squad depth looks to be a bit of an issue for Australia with their home FIFA Women’s World Cup now just a year away.