With the return of the A-League, the Socceroos in action during an international window and the conclusion of the National Women’s Soccer League, we’ve revisited #MilestoneMonday, which celebrates the achievements of Australians plying their trade overseas and domestically.
We start in the United States where Matildas striker Sam Kerr finished her NWSL regular season with Chicago Red Stars as a record-breaker – and not for the first, but the third consecutive season.
With a record tally of 18 goals throughout her seventh season in the NWSL, Kerr broke her and the league’s single-season scoring record to clinch the NWSL Golden Boot for the third year running.
Kerr beat out North Carolina Courage’s Lynn Williams by six goals to be crowned the 2019 NWSL Golden Boot holder. In 2017, Kerr finished the season with a then record-breaking 17 goals with Sky Blue FC, before in her first season with Chicago she finished with 16 goals.
Meanwhile, Kerr’s national team colleagues, Lisa De Vanna and Tameka Yallop scored for their Italian and Norwegian clubs, respectively. De Vanna found the net for Fiorentina in a 2-1 win in the women’s Serie A against Tavagnacco, while Yallop bagged a brace for Klepp IL in a 5-0 win in Norway against Stabaek.
In Thursday night’s 5-0 win over Nepal, Jamie Maclaren scored his first international hat-trick with a treble in the Socceroos’ second FIFA World Cup qualifying match, while Harry Souttar marked his full national team debut with a starting berth and a debut goal.
With the A-League season kicking off on Friday night, Adelaide United’s 19-year-old Al Hassan Toure scored on debut with a tidy finish to level the scores against Sydney FC, before the Sky Blues’ Ryan McGowan also scored on debut – to give Steve Corica’s side a 3-2 win.
The A-League’s all-time top goal scorer, Besart Berisha, added to his tally and career narrative, scoring in his first match for A-League newcomers Western United in their inaugural match against Wellington Phoenix.
In his first start for Brisbane Roar, Roy O’Donovan popped up with a 95th-minute equaliser for Robbie Fowler’s side to share the spoils with reigning Premiers Perth Glory.
Mitch Duke also scored his first brace in the A-League since 2015 as the Wanderers settled into Bankwest Stadium, while Milan Duric returned serve for the Mariners, although his first goal in the yellow and navy was not enough to salvage a point.
In addition to those impactful debut performances and milestone-makers, a number of players either made their debuts or played at their new club for the first time.
