Matildas goalscorer Hayley Raso took a trip down memory lane in her return to Canberra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It's the city where she began her professional playing career, and the coach who discovered her was leading the Football Ferns on Tuesday night.
The Manchester City striker scored in the Matildas 3-1 win, donning her signature ribbon. This time it was gold to match the national team's kit, but there was a time it was green for Canberra United.
She ran into the coach who gave her her first A-League Women's opportunity, away from the pitch and in the corridor of Canberra Stadium.
The 27-year-old said it was really nice to see her old coach Jitka Klimkova again.
"I just caught her in the corridor just then and she was just saying, basically my career started from her," she said.
"And I was like, 'it's actually true'. She found me back in 2011 when I was very young, and I mean, I do owe my career a little bit to her because I wouldn't have one if she hadn't selected me for Canberra United.
"So it was really nice to see her ... and to play against them."
MORE IN CANBERRA SPORT:
Raso was not the only familiar face in the Australian green and gold for Klimkova. Lydia Williams, who played her 99th national cap in her side's win at Canberra Stadium, also played under the Ferns coach.
Canberra holds a special place for the former United coach, as it was somewhere she called home for two years.
And during her stint, led United to a premiership and championship season.
She is hoping similar success can be built on with the Ferns over the next 15 months before the 2023 World Cup.
"It's a very nice moment to be in such a nice city," Klimkova said.
"Everybody was talking about Canberra as a boring city but that's not true. I love Canberra, I have unbelievable memories from my time here with Canberra United and it's a special moment for me.
"I can't wait, we have a little reunion [Wednesday] with the players, with the staff. So it will be a great moment for us to to come together again and and share those memories again from those days."