Ellie Carpenter made history this week by becoming the youngest goal-scorer in the history of America’s NWSL. She joined the Kicking It With Kyah podcast after her Portland Thorns played Kyah Simon’s Houston Dash to talk about life in the US, massive crowds and the Asian Cup experience.

0:50: Portland’s a nice city. A bit trendy. A couple of weird people around …

3:13: We fell one short in the final against Japan but it was a good experience. Off the field, seeing Jordan out on the streets was fan, seeing their culture and experiencing new foods. That was pretty cool. It was a good tournament and we can definitely build from that …

5:51: I don’t think it’s hit me just yet … as time goes on and preparing for the World Cup … being my first one it will be really exciting … hopefully all my family come to France …

9:50: It hasn’t sunk in yet, the history I made. It was exciting to get on the pitch and make my NWSL debut …

10:20: I had my first home game against Seattle. That’s like a derby because they’re so close to each other. We had about 17,000 or 18,000 people there. The atmosphere was insane. It was kind of the equivalent to the RBB and the Wanderers …

11:40: It’s like a playing a national team game at home … every week …

12:27: The first day I got there everything was so crazy and different and so big. You don’t have to do anything for yourself. Everything is done for you. I only have to take my boots off, wash my clothes. They do it all for you. It’s the professional standard that the men get treated …

17:37: It’s harder coming into the game as a defender … I think it is harder coming in as an attack rather than a defender …

18:17: It’s a lot faster face. I expected that … more of that transition game … I did feel that in the game …

19:05: For a defender it’s easier to start. You feel the game and get into the rhythm of the game …

20:40: You guys had a lot of chances … it looked like you were going to score and that’s when we went back to a back four …

Kyah Simon is one of Australia’s most decorated footballers. She has forged a successful career in both the NWSL in the US and the W-League in Australia and has been a leading light for the Matildas for more than a decade. In her Kicking It With Kyah podcast, she will discuss life and football with her contemporaries around the world.