Queenslander Bryony Duus can still recall making her international debut for the Commonwealth Bank Matildas in 1996 against the U.S. Women’s National Team.
“It was at Tampa Stadium in Florida, on 4 July – Independence Day,” Duus said.
“I was excited and petrified.”
At the time, the USWNT was one of the strongest teams in the world, having won the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 and finishing third in 1995.
Duus, who grew up in Ipswich, was an 18-year-old rookie still finding her feet at Brewton-Parker College in the U.S. collegiate system.
Called into the squad by then-Matildas coach Tom Sermanni, she started on the bench after her former Ipswich Coalstars teammate Kim Revell succumbed to a back injury before the game.
Duus had never been exposed to an opponent – or a crowd – that big.
But she took comfort from the presence of fellow QAS graduates Revell, Louise McMurtrie, Trena Youngblutt, Tammie Thornton and her best friend, Belinda Kitching.
“It was a beautiful sunny day, and our game was a curtain-raiser to an MLS game. We were the underdogs,” Duus explained.
“I came on in the second half in front of a packed stadium. I had to mark Michelle Akers who was tall, strong and fit; renowned as one of the best players in the world.”
Wearing Revell’s No. 14 kit, Duus was determined to make an impact. Late in the second half, she flew into a tackle on Mia Hamm and stole possession.
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“It’s funny, the other day I was listening to Angie Beard talk about slide-tackling Marta in the Matildas’ recent game against Brazil,” Duus said.
“That’s exactly how I felt tackling Mia Hamm. She was the Marta of my era. There were other great players, but Mia Hamm was a household name in the U.S.”
In the end, the Commonwealth Bank Matildas went down 2-1 to a team preparing for the very first Women’s Olympic football tournament.
Less than a month later, the USWNT would win the Gold Medal match against China, setting the platform for their famous World Cup win on home soil in 1999.
More than two decades on, as the Commonwealth Bank Matildas prepare to play the USWNT in a two-game series, Duus is searching for the only surviving record of her memorable debut.
“There was a photo of me in the local newspaper trying to defend against Michelle Akers,” she explained.
“But the caption has Kim Revell’s name, because I had taken her place on the roster and I was wearing her jersey number!”
Still, Duus has fond memories of her 47-game Commonwealth Bank Matildas career and is keen to share her experiences in her new role as High-Performance Operations Officer for Football Queensland’s QAS women’s football program.
The QAS is particularly special for Duus, who was part of the first intake of footballers to join the program in 1992.
“It’s great to be back in this environment and working in the program that helped me develop my football career,” she said.
“This program does create opportunities, and my goal is to act as a role model for this generation of QAS girls to see that it is actually possible to become a Matilda if you apply yourself.”
Article courtesy of Football Queensland
Match details
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v U.S. Women’s National Team
Saturday, 27 November 2021
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Kick-Off: 3.00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and free on 10 and simulcast on 10 Play
Ticketing: www.ticketek.com.au
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v U.S. Women’s National Team
Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-Off: 8.05pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and free on Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play
Ticketing: www.ticketmaster.com.au