A picture of the Matildas 2013 international friendly calendar is starting to form with news trickling through of the first Matildas matches under new coach Hesterine de Reus.   
Australia and NZ are set to continue their rivalry | (Source: Getty)

Late last year Matildas Assistant Coach Spencer Prior was announced as the new coach of the Young Matildas (Australia's U20 side).  Despite the talent in that age group, recent AFC campaigns have found the U20s struggle to qualify for the major tournament; the U20 FIFA World Cup.  


Prior taking Matildas pre-game warm up | TWG

Not long after her 18th birthday, Caitlin Friend gave herself the best birthday present possible; a W-League hat-trick. The hat-trick hero has now penned her second blog for TWG.   

Hey, Caity here with my second blog. I promise they will get better with practice!


Friend congratulated on the first of her goals | Getty

As a child I always dreamt to be a professional footballer when I grew up and unlike some others I have stuck to my childhood ambitions.

Friend taking on Megan Rapinoe | TWG

The hopes for FIFA U20s Women’s World Cup qualification are over for the young Aussie side, suffering a defeat against a deserving Chinese outfit, going down 3 goals to 1.

Devastated: Young Matildas fail to qualify for U20 World Cup | AFC

Tonight the Westfield Young Matildas FIFA U20 World Cup qualification hopes go on the line as they take on China in the AFC U19 Womens Championship.

Nicola Williams hopes the extra rest will do the squad good | TWG

The Young Matildas have fallen by a solitary goal for the second straight match in the AFC U19 Women's Championships. This time it was Japan's Mai Kyokawa's first half strike that separated the teams and led Japan to a 1 – 0 win at Thong Nhat Stadium.

Disappointment captured | AFC.com

The Westfield Young Matildas suffered a narrow defeat against DPR Korea last, going 1-nil down.  A first half strike from DPR Korea's Kwon Song-Hwa was enough to fell the Young Matildas despite several gilt edge chances. 

Teigen Allen starred for the Young Matildas | TWG

On Thursday night the next generation of Matildas displayed the "never say die" spirit that has become snonymous with our women's national teams when they came from behind to defeat Vietnam 4 - 3.  For Young Matildas coach Jeff Hopkins, it wasn't the calm game he would have hoped for in his first match in charge. 

Nonetheless with three points are on the board, the Young Matildas today look to the next challenge of DPR Korea.  We caught up with Jeff ahead of this afternoon's second match of the AFC U19 Women's Championships.

A nerve racking start for the Young Matildas| TWG

The Westfield Young Matildas are on track with their 2012 FIFA U20 World Cup qualification with a nail biting victory over host nation Vietnam at the Thong Nhat stadium.
The thrilling performance saw the Young Matildas come back from 3 - 1 down early in the second half to claim victory on the back of a hat-trick by debutant Emily Gielnik.  The win importantly places the Australia on top of the goals table in the AFC U19 Women's Championships. 

Van Egmond celebrates with Gielnik | AFC