Westfield Matildas wow Penrith crowds

Monday, 12 November 2018

Crowds were treated to a nail biting clash between the Westfield Matildas and Chile at Panthers Stadium on Saturday, with fans packing out the stadium to cheer on the home team.

Crowds were treated to a nail biting clash between the Westfield Matildas and Chile at Panthers Stadium on Saturday, with fans packing out the stadium to cheer on the home team.

Despite the final score Chile 3 - Australia 2, the Westfield Matildas showed fans they are a force to be reckoned with ahead of next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said the match provided a great opportunity for local fans of the game to celebrate the nation's best football stars.

"The decision to host the match was an easy one for Council considering the large football fan base in Penrith. It was great to see many of these fans cheering on the team on Saturday."

"This is the second year Penrith has hosted the Westfield Matildas and we look forward to partnering with associations including Football Federation Australia (FFA) to bring more great sporting events to Penrith; boosting our visitor economy and giving locals the opportunity to access major events close to home," said Cr Fowler.

Westfield Matildas fans could have more to cheer about if FFA is successful in its bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Cr Fowler said Penrith will be ready to support the tournament if the event is secured.

"Penrith has proven it has the infrastructure and facilities to accommodate headline sporting events and is ready to offer its support if Australia secures the 2023 Women's World Cup by hosting training sessions or providing practice facilities and game venues."

"It would be incredibly exciting to see the Westfield Matildas return to Penrith for an event like the World Cup and I'm sure our local fans would agree," Cr Fowler said.

The football might be over but there's still plenty to do in Penrith. See www.visitpenrith.com.au for the latest event announcements and newest attractions.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Monday, 12 November 2018.