'Absolute banger': Kyra Cooney-Cross' maiden Matildas goal stuns football world
It took Kyra Cooney-Cross until her 50th appearance in Matildas colours to finally score her maiden international goal. It came in spectacular fashion.
With her side 1-0 down to Germany in the 39th minute of their shock 2-1 friendly win in Duisburg on Tuesday morning (AEDT), the Arsenal gun scored an all-time worldie from more than 30 metres out.
Having pounced on a loose pass from a German player, Cooney-Cross looked up and saw 'keeper Stina Johannes off her line. She took the shot, and it lobbed beautifully over Johannes' head and into the back of the net.
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The goal ended a 4,449 minute – not taking injury and additional time into account – duck in Matildas colours.
"From distance, incredible!" Teo Pellizzeri said in commentary for Paramount Plus.
Kyra Cooney-Cross scored an all-time worldie in the Matildas' shock 2-1 friendly victory over Germany. Paramount Plus/Nine
"As a young teenager she used to score week in, week out in NPL Victoria on her way up. But it's taken her 50 caps — it was worth the wait! What an incredible strike."
"That was brilliant, we know she's a player with great talent and vision. What a way to open your account for your country," one-time Matilda Grace Gill added.
"A little glance up, she sees the goalkeeper off her line, and that is some finish."
Having drawn 1-1 with Switzerland on Saturday morning, the win means the Matildas are undefeated under interim coach Tom Sermanni, in his third stint as coach.
It's only the second time the Matildas have ever beaten Germany. Sermanni was also at the helm for that last victory in 2005.
Sermanni said Cooney-Cross' goal was "up there" with the best.
"That just shows how much quality and ability she has, and vision," he said.
"It was a real class goal because she got herself in a position where she could have taken it forward, but she spotted the goalkeeper off her line and finished perfectly.
"It was a very difficult finish... I saw some of the class that Kyra has. One of the great goals."
The Arsenal gun saw the German 'keeper was off her line. Getty
Still only 22, Sermanni said Cooney-Cross is growing into a world-class player with a long career ahead of her.
"She will certainly be a very important player for us in midfield because she's got all the qualities of a midfield player that you want at this level," he said.
"She is comfortable in possession, she can dribble, she can pass with both feet, long passes, short passes, she is comfortable on the ball.
"It's just a question of her continuing to develop, continuing to mature... she's on her way to being a world class player."
Since joining Arsenal last September, Cooney-Cross has made 19 appearances for the Gunners, and scored her maiden goal in a friendly against Southampton in September.
