The roar of the crowd at Sydney's Accor Stadium was deafening. Australia was on the brink of history. The Matildas were playing in the crucial qualifying match for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and every pass, tackle, and shot was scrutinized by thousands of fans in the stadium and millions watching from home. For Caitlin Foord, this game was personal. She'd dreamed of representing Australia on home soil, and today was their chance to secure that dream.
As the match edged closer to the 89th minute, the score was tied at 1-1. A corner kick for Australia presented the last real chance for either team to secure a victory. Sam Kerr, Australia's talismanic striker, and Caitlin, the ever-reliable forward, both positioned themselves in the box, ready to pounce. Steph Catley stepped up to take the corner, her eyes scanning the crowd in the box.
The ball soared into the air, perfectly weighted. Caitlin and Sam both leaped for it, bodies colliding with defenders as they fought to make contact. Caitlin felt the ball glance off her boot just before Sam nudged it further. It ricocheted into the back of the net, and the stadium erupted. Australia was ahead, and the World Cup dream was alive.
Sam celebrated wildly, running to the corner flag and pulling off her signature backflip. The announcers and screens credited the goal to her almost instantly, and the crowd roared her name. Caitlin followed behind, clapping and smiling, but inside, she felt a pang of disappointment. She was certain the ball had come off her foot last, not Sam's. She knew it shouldn't matter—the team was winning, and that was what counted—but the lack of recognition stung more than she'd expected.
Steph Catley noticed the subdued look on Caitlin's face as they jogged back to midfield. "Hey, you okay?" Steph asked, her voice low amidst the cacophony.
Caitlin forced a smile. "Yeah, just... tired, I guess."
Steph didn't press further but kept an eye on her for the rest of the game. When the final whistle blew, the Matildas celebrated wildly, hugging, crying, and waving to the ecstatic crowd. But Caitlin quietly slipped away, avoiding the cameras and her teammates. She congratulated Sam with a quick pat on the back, but her heart wasn't in it.
As the team filed into the dressing room, Caitlin sat in the corner, scrolling through her phone to see the goal officially credited to Sam Kerr. Every headline screamed Sam's name as the hero of the match. Caitlin felt her chest tighten. She wasn't jealous—Sam deserved the recognition she got—but she couldn't shake the feeling of being invisible.
She didn't join in the post-match celebrations. She barely touched her food and didn't respond to Kyra Cooney-Cross's jokes or Katrina Gorry's attempts to lift her mood. After the team left the stadium, Caitlin stayed behind, staring out at the now-empty pitch. Steph approached her one last time before heading home.
"You sure you're okay?" Steph asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
"I'm fine, Steph. Go home, celebrate. I'll catch up later," Caitlin replied, her voice distant.
Steph hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright. But call me if you need anything, okay?"
After everyone left, Caitlin drove home alone. The quiet of her apartment felt suffocating. She glanced at the bottle of wine on her counter, the temptation pulling at her. But before she could act, her phone buzzed.
Katie McCabe: "Hey, I saw the game. You were amazing. Are you okay?"
Caitlin stared at the message for a long time before turning her phone face down. She didn't want to talk to anyone, not even Katie, who always seemed to know when she was struggling. The idea of explaining her feelings felt exhausting.
A few hours later, Katie showed up at Caitlin's door. She knocked gently. "Caitlin? It's me. Open up."
Caitlin stayed silent, her back pressed against the door as she fought back tears.
"Caitlin, I know you're in there. Please let me in," Katie pleaded.
"Go away, Katie. I'm fine," Caitlin said, her voice cracking.
Katie sighed but didn't leave. "You're not fine. I know you, Caitlin. You don't have to talk, but at least let me sit with you."
"No," Caitlin snapped. "I don't want to see anyone right now. Just... go home."
Katie hesitated for a long moment, then finally said, "Alright. But I'm here when you're ready, okay?"
As the sound of Katie's footsteps faded, Caitlin buried her face in her hands and let the tears flow. She felt utterly alone, caught between the joy of the team's success and the bitterness of her own inner turmoil.
She glanced at the wine bottle again, then at her phone, and sighed. Maybe tomorrow she'd find the strength to talk. But for now, she just wanted the world to leave her alone.
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WSL Oneshots
FanfictionA story of various one shots from across the WSL with some Lionesses and Matildas ones included too
