It’s not often a player gets to score five goals on their international debut, but that’s exactly what Melbourne-born footballer Sofia Sakalis achieved in her first game for the Junior Matildas in the recent AFC U16 qualifying tournament in Vietnam earlier this month.

Sakalis was an integral part of the Junior Matildas team, which dominated its five matches in the tournament in Hanoi, topping its group and successfully qualifying for the 2017 AFC U16 Womens Championship in China next year.

The Junior Matildas scored a phenomenal 65 goals and conceded just one goal, which came at the end of their final match, such was their dominance over opponents Pakistan, Iraq, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. The greatest test perhaps was playing in the extremely humid conditions, where temperatures ranged from the mid to high 30s.

“The girls have been impeccable on and off the field here in Vietnam, and now also have a good understanding of the importance of a professional culture, which has been instilled in this team and recent junior national teams,” said Junior Matildas coach Ante Juric.

“This team has continued to be disciplined on and off the field, and that has been evident by the way they have performed with a positivity and a willingness to play for each other at every moment.”

The 14-year-old Sakalis had a memorable tournament, finishing the tournament’s top scorer with 11 goals, which included the remarkable five goal haul against Palestine on debut and topped off with a hat-trick in the final match against Uzbekistan.

“Game day was the highlight,” she told Neos Kosmos upon her return to Melbourne earlier this week.

“Before the game, especially when you’re starting, the national anthem and having that feeling of wearing the top and representing your country, I think that was the best highlight I had.”

Sakalis’ versatility, which enables her to play in a number of positions, forward or in the midfield, meant she featured in all five matches, particularly in the conditions where rotating the squad was necessary.

On a personal note, she feels she achieved what she wanted to through the tournament.

“I was pleased with all my efforts. I really wanted to score quite a few goals, especially on my debut. I was very happy after that.”

The Junior Matildas will now take a break until next year, when they’ll regather for monthly camps in preparation for the AFC U16 Cup finals.

The experience of spending two weeks together in the tournament in Vietnam has forged a strong bond among the Junior Matildas.

“We’re pretty much like a family now. We lived with each other for two weeks so we’re all very close. We have each other on social media. That’s how we keep in touch at the moment, but it was sad to leave them at the airport, to be honest, because we got so close over the two weeks,” said Sakalis.

In the meantime, the talented Sakalis is considering offers from both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City to join as a train on for the coming W-League season. Both clubs can offer her a professional elite environment which is sure to help in the 14-year-old’s further development.