BREAKING: Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop is devastated after suffering a serious injury that will sideline her for the upcoming 2024 Women’s Asian Cup. Just 40 minutes into Brisbane Roar’s 3-1 victory over Adelaide United, Yallop re-injured her right hamstring, forcing her to seek immediate surgical intervention.
Yallop’s dreams of a fifth appearance in the Asian Cup have crumbled. Following scans on Monday evening, she met with a surgeon this week, leading to the decision that surgery is necessary. Recovery is expected to last until April’s A-League Women finals, effectively ruling her out of the tournament that begins on March 1, 2024, in Perth.
This injury is a significant blow to Matildas coach Joe Montemurro, who valued Yallop as one of his key midfield options. At just 34 years old, Yallop has been a crucial player, demonstrating resilience by returning to the field after a serious hamstring tear last season that kept her out for six months.
Roar coach Alex Smith expressed the team’s heartbreak, stating, “We are all shattered by the news of Tameka’s injury. As a group and wider club, we will rally around ‘Meeks’ and support her through this difficult time.”
Yallop’s aspirations were high; she had hoped to replicate the glory of winning the Asian Cup in 2010 in China, especially with the tournament hosted on home soil. “I would love to lift that trophy again, and to do it on home soil with people actually watching would just be a whole new level,” she shared in an interview earlier this year.
The Matildas are now facing an urgent challenge as Mary Fowler is also recovering from an ACL tear, leaving the team with limited options ahead of their opening match against the Philippines. Fans and teammates alike are rallying in support of Yallop as she begins her recovery journey.
Stay tuned for updates on Yallop’s surgery and the Matildas’ preparations as they strive for success in the Asian Cup without one of their star players.
