Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has been left the toast of West Ham after her penalty save helped them defeat high-flying Aston Villa in the Women's Super League.
Hammers boss Paul Konchesky raved about Arnold's display, capped by her saving Alisha Lehmann's 73rd minute spot kick in the Hammers' 2-1 win on the road at Walsall's Bescot Stadium.
It consigned Villa, who were without their injured Matildas striker Emily Gielnik, to their first defeat of the WSL season and pushed West Ham up alongside them on six points after three games.
Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Honoka Hayashi had put the Hammers two up before Arnold indulged in one of her specialities - saving penalties.
The 28-year-old Queenslander then delivered further heroics after Kenza Dali pulled a goal back for Villa and West Ham's Hawa Cissoko got sent off to set up a frantic finish.
Cissoko got her marching orders for a slap on an opponent in off-the-ball altercation, prompting Konchesky to also get involved in a melee on the sidelines soon after and also get sent off.
But former England fullback Konchesky was thrilled with his goalie's display.
"I thought Mackenzie Arnold was fantastic," he told the club website.
"She was superb from the moment that we kicked off. Her kicking, her decision-making and the way that she controlled the play at the back was fantastic.
"It was a fantastic penalty save from her and it helped us to get the three points."
Villa missed Gielnik, who injured her calf during her spell with the Matildas in the international break and will be out of action for up to a couple of months.
"The good old international break has haunted us again," Ward noted before the match.
"Emily Gielnik has done her calf when playing for Australia and is set to be out probably until Christmas time I'd imagine, which isn't ideal.
"I hate the international break, there's a major tournament in the summer, we've just had a major tournament and player welfare is massive. There's no surprise that everyone picks up injuries."
