CommBank Matildas midfielder Alex Chidiac scored her first national team goal in 1144 days against Malawi on Saturday in the team’s 5-0 victory to kick start the FIFA Series 2026™.
The game was her 38th appearance for Australia over the course of over a decade and the 27-year-old expressed that she never takes it for granted.
“There's no secret that I've been in and out of this team quite a lot over the years,” she said.
“Every time I'm here, I really try to make the most of it, because I genuinely don't know if I'll be back again. I really fight for this shirt every time I put it on, and it's always a very special feeling. I’m very happy to be here at the moment and enjoy it today.”
She debuted back in 2015 and scored her last goal for the national team at the Cup of Nations in 2023.
“Jeez, I'm getting old!” she joked.
“Honestly, it felt so good. Even just to get on the pitch - it's been a while since I've actually been able to step on the field with this team, off the back of a really successful Asian Cup as well. It's always an honour to put on this shirt, and to get a goal today was really special.”
Chidiac was selected in the squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ and given game time in this window, off the back of fantastic form with Como in Italy. She has scored three goals and has one assist this season.
“I'm in a really good place with my football,” she said.
“Como is giving me a bit more freedom now on the field, and I think I've started to understand how to play in the Italian league more and more. So I feel like I'm in a really good place.
“It was nice coming into camp off the back of another solid performance against Roma. I'm feeling good.”
The focus for the midfielder is being able to continually push for selection in squads and into the starting eleven.
“I was just in camp with the girls for the past month and I wasn't really able to show what I could do on the field,” she said.
“So personally, I want to try and make my mark on this team, and build relationships with the players. A lot of these girls have been playing with each other for so many years. They're so talented, they're at the biggest clubs in the world. So I'm just trying to edge my way back into the squad in that sense.
“I am just looking for consistent minutes. That’s the main thing.”
She had praise for debutant and fellow midfielder Leticia McKenna, who she has seen develop at Melbourne City over the past few seasons.
“She's a class player,” Chidiac said.
“Every time I had to play against her, when I was playing at Victory and she was at City, I did not enjoy it," she laughed. "So I'm glad that we're teammates, and I'm super happy to see her come on and score a goal today. She deserves it.”
Chidiac’s celebration after the goal was to make a heart with her hands towards the crowd. She revealed that was in dedication to some friends who travelled to watch the game.
“It was for my ‘Moving The Goalposts’ friends who travelled here from Kilifi – they travelled six hours on train to come watch this game,” she said.
“They're a community organisation that I've been supporting for the past eight years. Through Common Goal, I donate 1% of my wage to help their organisation, and they give young women in coastal Kenya opportunities to be leaders in their community.
“Football is giving them an amazing opportunity. It's giving me an amazing opportunity as well. That connection has been really beautiful over the past eight years.”
The team next takes on Kenya on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEST).
“I think it was good to get out there today and just understand the altitude, get a feel of the stadium, the crowd and the pitch as well,” she said.
“We’ll be more equipped for the next game for sure. It’ll be a tough one playing against African teams - they've got a lot of talented players, so you never know what's going to happen on the field.
“We’ve just got to continue to go through our process and hopefully get a win.”
WOMEN’S FIFA SERIES 2026- KENYA
Match Three:
Malwi v India
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Kick-off: 2.00pm local/9.00pm AEST
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Match Four:
Kenya vs Australia
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026/Thursday 16 April 2026 AEST
Kick-off: 5.30pm local/12.30am AEST
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
TV Broadcast: All CommBank Matildas matches will be broadcast exclusively on Paramount+