Greek Australian teenager Alexia Apostolakis made her senior debut for the CommBank Matildas on Saturday, becoming cap #242 in a closely contested 1-0 loss to Panama at Hands Oval in Bunbury, Western Australia.
Apostolakis, just 19 years old, was one of four debutants introduced by Head Coach Joe Montemurro as part of a heavily rotated squad.
The defender entered the match in the final minutes alongside fellow debutant Grace Kuilamu, as the Matildas pushed for an equaliser after Panama took the lead early in the second half.
In a promising moment for the Sydney-born player of Hellenic descent, Apostolakis forced a late save from the Panamanian keeper, nearly setting up a golden opportunity for Michelle Heyman, who was unable to capitalise on the rebound.
Speaking ahead of the series, Montemurro made it clear he was looking to build depth and give emerging players their moment on the international stage. Apostolakis, who has risen steadily through the ranks of Australia’s youth national teams, now joins a growing list of Greek Australian footballers making their mark.
The match saw Western United midfielder Adriana Taranto, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, Grace Kuilamu, and Apostolakis all earn their first senior caps. Despite enjoying 64% possession, the Matildas were unable to convert dominance into goals, with Panama securing the win via a second-half strike from Sherline King.
The Matildas will return to Perth to regroup ahead of their next international fixture, with Apostolakis’ strong debut sure to keep her in contention for more minutes in the green and gold.
