NPLW Victoria Wrap Round 1: Essendon Royals come for the crown

By Kieran Petrik-Bruce 20/3/24

Above: The Essendon Royals celebrate Ava Groba’s goal against Bulleen. Photo: Essendon Royals Instagram

Opening round of the NPLW Victoria kicked off on the weekend, this season 12 teams fighting to be champions, with two new teams to the top flight, plus Bentleigh Greens formerly Bayside United. More than half of the goals scored in the opening round came in the second half of matches, and there were some absolute stunners amongst them. We kick off the season with the opening match between Box Hill United and newly promoted Brunswick Juventus.

Box Hill United 1-2 Brunswick Juventus

Box Hill started the match with intensity, pressing forward in numbers and recovering the ball high up the pitch. The pressure combined with Juventus trying to play out from the back had most of the play in the Juventus half. Yet those first game cobwebs were occasionally allowing Brunswick to find some joy down the right wing off turnovers in midfield, but Belinda Stojcevski was seeing most of the play in front of her for the opening 15 minutes. 

While the Juventus backline and midfield did well to squeeze the space initially, some great passing from Asuka Doi and Mawa Sumaoro looked to have unlocked the Brunswick defence with a ball through to Maryam Anvari, but Gidari was quick off her line to clear the danger. The occasional high line of Juventus being well patrolled by the Brunswick no 1.

The first real chance of the game came at the 20th minute, with that pressure in midfield from Cooling and Sumaoro forcing a turnover. The ball played into Doi just inside the box and a sweetly struck shot going over the crossbar but signs that Box Hill were starting to get into a groove.

Again another mistake from the Brunswick backline, with some questionable passing and Box Hill almost gifted a golden opportunity, if not for the brilliant reading of the play by Sienna Gidari who was again off her line and there to the aid of her team.

The next 10 minutes was back and forth with neither team craving out any good chances. Stojecevski with tep crunchingtackles in succession, the first clean and textbook the second was a little late and play as stopped as Lay received treatment. 

The breakthrough come at the 34th minute as Olivia Ellis won the ball back, carried it down the wing, before a lovely pass down the right wing to Doi who cutback inside and crossed it into Anvari just inside the box, who took a controlling touch and calmly finishing past Gidari. 

Shortly after the breakthrough, Ellis again with some more fantastic play somehow keeping the ball in and sending in a prefect ball high across the 6 yard line and Anvari with the header unable to find the target. 

Brunswick were not creating much but a wide ball out to the right wonderfully controlled by Di Nucci who carried it into the box and crossed it into a number of bodies, well cleared by Stojcevski.  Now on the counter Sumoro held onto the ball after Anvari had made a fantastic run, the attack coming to nothing. 

Right on halftime Victoria Zikas went down after a challenge, called offside, the play stopped and the stretcher brought out for Victoria Zikas who had covered most of the grass in the first half with her relentless running. 

To start the second half, Box Hill maybe thinking about the missed chances in the first half, as some sloppy defending were quick to pounce on the chance. Zoe Hudson making immediate amends with a last ditch tackle as well as a smart block from Natasha Stathopoulos in goal who had looked composed for Box Hill so far.

The second half playing out much the same as the first, with the pace and pressure of the frontline for Box Hill causing problems without translating it into opportunities. With Pythagoras did find a ball behind or manage a shot on target it was meant with Gidari who was playing as a defender and a sensational shot stopper and the reason that the game was still 1 nil. 

The joy that Box Hill were seeing was from substitute Chiara Lettieri who came on for Zikas shortly before the first half ended. Some fancy footwork from Sumaro down the right opening up the switch on the left to Lettieri who made a lovely move into the box before letting a shot rip that was again well saved by Sienna Gidari. The ball half cleared and then Lettieri with another shot this time from the edge of the box which went wide of the post. 

At this rate is seemed that it was only a matter of time before the pace of Ting and Anavri were going to find a second for Box Hill, and yet. Gidari was equal to everything thrown as her. Then in the 7th minute a long ball down the right hand side for Juventus, Cooper with an excellent control of the long ball, turning her defender and shooting from outside the box to score a stunner and set up an enthralling final 15 minutes.

The goal sparking Box Hill into life and a strong shot from Ting well palmed over for a corner by Gidari. The corner pinched clear by Gidari and out to relative safety. 

Juventus with a triple change, signalling an intent to go for all 3 points. Box Hill starting to tire and while Anvari was working tirelessly, it was Brunswick with the momentum

In the 87th minute, Stringfellow went down under no contact holding her knee, which looked to be cramp. Meanwhile Juventus were again on the attack, a great long ball again down the wing, into Emily Keppens who played the ball into the box, followed by an magic touch from Cooper to pass the ball beyond the keeper and to a waiting Perrone who smashed the ball home from close range to complete a stunning comeback for Brunswick.

Round Up

Heidelberg United 2-0 Alamein United

Heidelberg hosted Alamein, and after 10 minutes had theirfirst for the season. Intercepting an Alamein attack, the ball played out to the left wing before being crossed into the box, and Steph Galea scoring with outside of the boot, wrongfooting the keeper and consolidating the opening dominance Heidelberg had. Keeley Lockhart, who was involved in the first goal, was on the end of a ball in from a corner taken short, and well headed home, Alamein were caught napping in the 43rd minute of the game. 

FV Emerging 4-2 Calder United

FV emerging started their campaign against Calder United and this was a game of anything you can do I can do better, or at least as spectacular. Rossi with FV’s first in the 19th minute as a poor back pass was pounced upon and resulting in a simple finish around the keeper. The next goal however was far from a simple finish. On the stroke of Halftime, Calder had won a corner which was calmy headed away and a bouncing ball towards Akane Shimizo standing about 30 yards out was sweetly struck off the left, and half floated half arrowed into the crossbar and down and in for a stunner and an early goal of the season contender. 

The second half, not to be outdone, Rossi hit a ball on the angle from outside the box over the keeper and into the bottom corner. Only Carina Rossi will know for sure if it was meant as a cross or a shot but the bar for best finish of the day was raised again. 

Butrus, a halftime substitute, scored after Rossi again with some lovely play on the left, made no mistake about a cross or shot sending a ball across the 6 yard line and well finished by Butrus in the 61st minute. 

Suddenly 3-1, Calder needed something to spark them back into life. A good ball played through to Shimizo in the 65thminute and a fabulous chip of the keeper to score her second of the day. Now equal with Rossi, which last for less than 45 seconds and from the restart a ball into the feet of Rossi meant she was able to turn and chip the onrushing keeper, not content with outscoring Shimizo, the chip signalling only one of the two strikers where going to be victorious today.

South Melbourne 4-1 Bentleigh Greens 

Champions South Melbourne started their season with a comfortable win over Bentleigh Greens. Iermano with a smart finish for the first at the 8 minute mark after a great ball from Tayla Christensen. Just 3 minutes later, Christensen was on the end of a turnover and hit it sweetly and with curl into the net that while Chen got hands too she was unable to keep the ball out of the net. The third coming in the 48th minute, great interplay on the right wing and the cross into Christensen who got her head onto it but straight down and then ricocheted back to her, before she sweetly tucked it away for her second for the afternoon. The fourth goal coming in the 74; minute after  a fantastic run through the middle of the park by Grace Taranto, taking on half the Greens midfield before Bella Sewards latching on the ball inside the box. Fernandez for Bentleigh with the late consolation goal, a gorgeous ball over the top well finished in the 93rd minute. 

Boroondara-Carey 2-3 Preston United

Boroondara-Carey looked to have made a great start to the season after Gabrielle Hollar scored in the 10th minute of the game against Preston, Anais Josefski adding a second at the 32nd minute to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead at the break. Preston had other ideas, and after Rui Zhao scored from a freekick, possibly with a slight deflection from a defender, in the 55th minute, the Lions had all the play. Johnson finishing an equaliser in the 63rdbefore Adcock netted the winner in the 76th minute to complete the turnaround in style.

FC Bulleen 1-2 Essendon Royals 

The final game of the round saw last ears Premiers host the newly promoted Essendon Royals. Early on it was clear that Essendon were ready to out of a fight and they defended from the front and then attacked in numbers. Looking to be physical with Bulleen the Royals looked hungry and highly capable at this level. Bulleen finding the most joy with Alana Cortellino, who looked every bit the part on the wing. 

The first half looked like it was headed for a nil all score, Essendon having defender so well, and when they did get opened up, Mason-Jones was there to save anything the Lions could muster. In the end it was Bulleen who cracked first, in the 45th +1 minute a misplaced ball from the keeper and Essendon were in, Audrey Oastler with a lovely step to open the shot, scored against her former side, and immediately sprinted to the bench to embrace the coaching staff. 

The second half again the Roayls up for the fight at before ends, Bullen starting to get into the game, but a long ball from Sutcliff found Groba in who started inside her own half but had 5 metres on the last defender, brought down the ball and finished calmly past the onrushing keeper. 

Not to be denied some late drama, Bulleen in the 84th minute won a corner, Betti Michael whipping it in and Builc with the header to give the lions a sniff of a comeback. Indeed Bulleenhad many chances in the second half but could not find a way past Mason-Jones who pulled out worldie saves to deny the lions. Then, right at the death, Burn saw a shot blocked from about 6 yards out by Marie Rampal before the follow up by Sato was saved. Essendon with a stunning upset and a notice to the rest of the league that they mean business. 

Match Report: London City Lionesses 1-0 Sunderland

By Joe Rosedon 18/3/24

Photo: Simon Lapwood For London City Lionesses Twitter 

London City Lionesses shock promotion chasing Sunderland with 1-0 win. Ruesha LittleJohn’s stunning first-half effort was enough to seal victory for the Dartford-based side. 

Within the first five minutes, London City Lionesses had a guilt-edged chance. Claudia Moan was called into action when Paige Satchell was put through on goal with a ball over the top, but the Sunderland goalkeeper was equal to it, producing a smart save at her near post. 

Satchell proved dangerous all game, providing a critical attacking outlet.

London City Lionesses again troubled the defence of the league leaders. This time it was Danielle Carter, whose effort from a tight angle was palmed over the crossbar by Moan.

This pressure led to the opening goal for London City Lionesses. A cross from the right-hand side from Carter found LittleJohn on the edge of the box. The Ireland international did the rest, curling home and giving her team a deserved lead. 

The league leaders did have opportunities in the first half. Jenna Dear struck the post with a volley while feeling they were denied a penalty following a collision involving Moloney in the box.

Sunderland needed a big second half to overturn the first-half deficit and they almost got the perfect start. A ball over the top found second-half substitute Ejupi Griffiths, who dragged her effort wide of the post. 

London City Lionesses almost doubled their lead. A square pass from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah almost found Emma Mukandi but Moan did enough to prevent the Scot from doubling the lead. Boye-Hlorkah again found herself in a similar position soon after, but her effort was fired into the side netting.

Captain Lois Jole also had a good opportunity to double the home side lead but fired over from the edge of the box. Jolewas also involved soon after when her dangerous free kick found Paige Culver at the back post who headed wide. 

An intricate and well-worked move from London City Lionesses opened up Sunderland’s defence but Boye-Hlorkahfailed to convert after a tremendous save from Moan at close range. 

This time it was Moloney’s turn to produce an excellent save, fully stretched to deny Brown after the ball fell kindly to the Sunderland player from a corner. The away side were beginning to turn up the pressure.

But the home side were able to withstand the pressure and secure a vital win in their bid to maintain their Championship Status 

After promotion hopefuls Crystal Palace earlier loss to Sheffield United, this will feel like a missed opportunity for Sunderland to have created a gap between their rivals for WSL status next season. 

After the match, London City Lionesses manger Remi Allen said, when asked about the performance of her team “Overall,really proud, I think we played some nice football in the first half, and we had opportunities to really hurt them. 

I think the second half became a bit of a scrap and we created enough to make the game more comfortable than it was”.

Starting XIs

London City Lionesses: Moloney (GK), Mukandi, Brougham, Campbell, Joel(C), Satchell, Fitzgerald, Carter, Culver, LittleJohn, Boye-Hlorkah

Subs: Cull, Scofield, Douglas, Alexander, Lindström, Wilde, Henson, Farrelly,

Goal: LittleJohn (25)

Sunderland Moan (GK) Brown, Goodard, Westrup(C), Ede(Griffiths 45), Fenton, Rouse, Dear, McAteer, Kitching(Watson 76)  Scarr

Subs: Borthwick, McCatty, Beer, McInnes, Jones, Ejupi, 

Striking statistics reveal sexism and misogyny faced by female football coaches

Above: The Hive Stadium 

By Rachel Gore (17/03/2024)

On March 7, new research by ‘Kick It Out’ revealed striking statistics about the sexism and misogyny faced by female football coaches.

‘Kick It Out’ is an organisation that aims to fight discrimination within football; set up in 1993 to tackle racism, its focus grew to all types of discrimination in 1997.

Its most recent survey highlighted the inequality within football coaching, it found that 80% of female coaches have experienced some sort of sexism or misogyny in a coaching environment.

For this piece of research, ‘Kick It Out’ surveyed 115 women coaches. This came following a 400% increase in reports of sexism to ‘Kick it Out’ during the 22/23 season compared to the 21/22 season.

Sharing their experiences 57% said that they have been spoken to differently while coaching due to their gender, 55% remember having their opinions ignored or doubted, and 48% have been questioned on their knowledge of the rules of the game.

Like these female coaches, other women and girls in football often feel as if their knowledge of the sport is doubted. England goalkeeper, Mary Earps recently launched a clothing brand, MAE27, which emphasised this; one of the first items she sold was a t-shirt with the slogan ‘Girls know the offside rule too’.

Wiegman, the manager of the English national team, is an example of an extremely successful female coach. Having led various teams to numerous victories, Wiegman commented on the current opinion that the next advance for professional women in football is to move them from working with women’s squads to men’s ones. She mentioned how, “It’s still the question of can a female coach a male team?” Wiegman has previously said that she is not convinced that the best way to advance the women’s game is to have women managing men, however she is confident that they could do so successfully.

Of those surveyed who have experienced sexist abuse, 56% said that it came from coaching staff while 40% said they had experienced it from the parents of the players that they had coached.

These women have not only experience sexism and misogyny once they are working, but also throughout their training. 70% experienced some sort of sexism or misogyny during a coaching course, and 71% of these women did not feel comfortable reporting this discrimination to the leader of the course.

While the percentage of women who have experienced these incidents is overwhelming, 60% did believe that coaching was an inclusive space. Although, 35% said that they had felt unwelcome in coaching environments and 54% declared that they had considered quitting coaching due to the sexism that they have faced.

An anonymous grassroots coach spoke to ‘Kick It Out’; after mentioning her love for inspiring girls to play football through coaching, she spoke on the sexism she has experienced from fellow coaches. Due to this treatment, she is now “no longer coaching because of the sexism [she’s] experienced”.

As a result of this survey, and prior complaints of sexism in football, ‘Kick It Out’ has now appointed grassroots coach educators with the aim of teaching coaches how to tackle unconscious bias withing football. They will also help coaches from minority backgrounds by providing them with support. Through these educators, ‘Kick It Out’ has the goal of preventing other female coaches being treated in the way that the majority of the women surveyed have been.

Sexism and misogyny are often spoken about in relation to women’s football. Usually, however, it is the experiences of young girls and professional players that are discussed. This research has highlighted the experiences of other women working in the footballing world.

Emma Hayes is an example of a successful female coach who has broken boundaries, and has faced discrimination, perhaps, as a result. The Chelsea manager, who is set to move to the USA at the end of the season to coach the American women’s national team, has often spoken about her experience as a female in the football industry. At a McDonald’s Fun Football project event ran alongside ‘Kick It Out’, Hayes spoke on her aim to encourage people to start coaching and create a more diverse talent pool within this sector of football. Beyond coaching, Hayes has also faced discrimination when working as a commentator; she has previously said that the misogynistic comments that female pundits receive are a result of the “sexist society” within English football.

Arsenal WFC brought attention to another sector of football at their recent north London derby. In collaboration with the WSL, Women in Football, and the Grounds Management Association (GMA), the club chose a team of 13 female ground professionals to work at this fixture. This grounds team made history as the first all-female team to work at a WSL game. Prior to this match, many had not thought about the difficulties that women would face working in this area of sport and after it, many women would have considered roles in grounds management for the first time.

The research by ‘Kick It Out’ has brought light to the reality of women working in football. The study has been emphasised by the opinions of leading female managers, and the experiences of women working in various areas within football.

It is evident that, despite efforts from some clubs, to raise awareness of women working in this sport, there is much more that needs to be done to support women in football. Female coaches desperately need support, and male coaches need education in order to prevent this sexist and misogynistic discrimination.

Match Report: Manchester United 2-0 Bristol City

By Fran Lever 17/3/24

Above: Lucia Garcia for Manchester United. Photo: Manchester United.

A scrappy game saw Manchester United hold onto their top four spot – but Liverpool are not far behind them. 

It was box office viewing at Leigh Sports Village as fourth placed Manchester United struggled at times against bottom of the table Bristol City. They found a way through with a brace from Lisa Naalsund. She found the back of the net in the ninth minute with the keeper Shae Yáñez unable to do anything. She scored again in extra time after a set piece from Katie Zelem. 

The game was scrappy from both sides which led to a sending off for Bristol’s Jamie Lee Napier who was already on a yellow card. 

Bristol shown potential at times they would find a way of scoring but could not finish the job. There were chances including one from Megan Connolly but was cleaned away by Millie Turner. 

Before Napier’s sending off, Manchester had 11 fouls called against them. Bristol’s frustrations showed at times but even after they were down to ten players, the defence shown promise but Naaland was undeniable with her goals.

Where the game had drama, it was lacklustre in parts as both teams struggled to find their rhythm at times but it was the Reds who had the most possession. 

Manchester fans will be happy to see Geyse back in action and made an instant impact off the pitch to the attack. It will be relief ahead of the Manchester derby next weekend. The reds will travel to the Etihad stadium against second place Manchester City. 

They now sit fourth place – on goal difference as Liverpool are now on 28 points – the same as them. The team will be happy with the win but the performance was far from the Manchester United that dominated the league last season and came close to winning it. 

Meanwhile Bristol remain at the bottom of the table and will host sixth place Tottenham Hotspur at home. They currently are six points behind 11th place West Ham. The team will be hoping for the breakthrough they need to stay in the league. 

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1) 

Earps, Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner , Blundell ; Zelem, Naalsund ; García, Toone, Malard ; Parris

Substitutes: Geyse, Williams,  

BRISTOL CITY (5-4-1) 

Yáñez, Powell, Aspin, Connolly, Struck, Napier ; Morgan, Rodgers, Syme, Hayles ; Thestrup 

Substitutes: Stratigakis, Harrison, Evans 

Scorers:  Naalsund 9’, 90+5’ 

Referee: Elizabeth Simms 

Attendance:  2,054 

Melbourne derby ends in goalless draw

Melbourne Victory 0-0 Melbourne City

By Kieran Yap 17/3/24

Above: Emily Gielnik (left) is pursued by Karly Roestbakken. Photo: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne derby ended in stalemate after both sides spurned chances to take all three points on Sunday afternoon.

Melbourne Victory entered the match on a hot streak. They had scored 13 goals in their last three games and had not been held scoreless since late December. Melbourne City’s early season form has waned somewhat. Last week they scored twice for the first time since January, and while they are in no danger of missing finals, some of the fear factor around them has dissipated.

Victory began with Paige Zois in midfield. The fan favourite was in the A-League Fantasy team of the week last round. Her two assists and composed performance helped deliver the 4-1 win.

City’s principle source of chances from Round 19 was Bryleeh Henry. The Australian U23 international set up both of Hannah Wilkinson’s goals in the win over Newcastle. She was moved further afield and started at right back. It was a curious choice to make with an in-form attacker, but given the clean sheet, she clearly was up to the task of stopping Beattie Goad, Alex Chidiac and Emily Gielnik throughout the match.

Despite the scoreline, it was not a boring match, just one of missed chances. Neither coach set out to play defensively and both continued to attack to the final whistle.

Emina Ekic was City’s most dangerous forward. The Bosnian international’s array of tricks, turns and her acceleration in tight spaces caused problems for the well organized Victory defence. after creating space, she sent a low drive across goal that Wilkinson almost met for a tap in at the far post.

For Victory, Chidiac was busy as usual, but the City back four made life difficult for the Victory attack. The midfield was able to find Emily Gielnik, but too often the in-form striker was pushed out wide, when the crosses came in, there was nobody to finish them.

If there has been a dependable way to create a chance  against City this season it has been pressuring them as they build from the back.  Victory had some luck with this method, and when Gielnik received the ball from a turnover, and was on her trusty right foot a goal looked likely, but she effort was straight at Barbara and the opportunity went begging.

In the dying seconds, a Victory corner kick almost found Emma Checker at the back post, but she was inches away from converting.

The 0-0 draw changes little for either team. Although Victory are still not mathematically safe in the top six, the game against Newcastle next weekend has now become a must-win. City are only one point ahead of fourth placed Central Coast Mariners. The two sides play each other next Saturday in what could be an early finals preview and what is certainly a game that will impact the final ladder.

Lineups:

Melbourne Victory: Newbon, Checker, Hansen, Morrison, Rankin, Zois, Gielnik, D’appolonia, Chidiac, Goad, Lowe. Substitutes: Privitelli, Briedis, Curtis, Pickett, Candy.

Melbourne City: Barbara, Henry, Otto, Stott, Roestbakken, Hughes, Davidson, L Mckenna, McMahon, Ekic, Wilkinson Substitutes: Grosso, Meyers, Varley, Accardo, Barbieri.

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Blayney hails her “resilient young women” as Young Matildas speak about bronze medal success

by Ben Gilby (17/3/24)

Above: The Australia U20 squad with their bronze medals after defeating South Korea to finish third at the U20 Asia Cup. Photo supplied to Impetus 71 by: Football Australia.

Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney along with players Lara Gooch and Chloe Lincoln have spoken of their huge pride as the squad clinched their best result at an U20 Asia Cup since 2006, and the first medal for any Australian national women’s football team since 2010 by finishing third at the U20 Asia Cup in Uzbekistan.

“(I’m) definitely a little bit emotional,” head coach Blayney said earlier today.

“It’s been something we’ve been working towards for a very long time, a cause we’ve been committed to. The amount of sacrifices the playing group have made to get here as well as the staff, and the support staff back home. It really is a special occasion and a big reward for us.”

The 1-0 win in the third-place play-off over South Korea was redemption for the Young Matildas’ 9-1 loss to the same opponents at the same stage of the previous tournament in 2009. Looking back at the journey since that day as a young coach, Blayney said: “I never wanted to experience that feeling again.

“From that day moving forward there was just a commitment to becoming the best version of ourselves as a group, we learned from those experiences and put them forward. I’ve been waiting now for (five) years to put that right.”

The overarching observation from this tournament has been the strong sense of togetherness that has been fostered in this Young Matildas team. Many sides would have mentally packed up after a disappointing semi-final loss and just gone through the motions in a third-place play-off. Not Blayney’s side.

Above: Australia U20 head coach Leah Blayney speaking about her side’s historic achievements earlier today. Image: Football Australia.

“They bounced back like the resilient young women they are,” smiled the head coach. “They are a strong group. We took learnings from the Japan game into this match. Overall, our performance and our quality of play was at a very good level, and the later stages of the game, we set the task of staying disciplined and executing our game plan, and we saw that for 90 minutes.

“We knew we had to move the ball…we knew they were technically excellent. They are always a threat in behind. It was always going to be a team effort.”

“It’s just the beginning. A talented group of players on the pitch, a talented group of staff around us. The future is bright.”

Leah Blayney, Australia U20 Head Coach.

Nine of the Young Matildas’ bronze medal squad are aged 17 or younger, and among that number likes of the hugely talented regular A-League Women starters Indiana Dos Santos, Dani Galic and Alexia Apostolakis as well as Central Coast Mariners’ Peta Trimis who is finding the net for both club and country.

“They are extremely young in their careers,” Blayney recognised, “yet they are bringing so much on the pitch and off the pitch to our squad. We have a very good balance of very young players and very mature heads.”

Whilst the historic achievements in Uzbekistan are now over, and it’s time for a much-needed short rest for Blayney and her coaching team, it won’t be long before they lock in their focus on the U20 World Cup in Colombia.

“We’ll be straight back at it, preparing for this Youth World Cup in terms of looking for the kind of opponents we need to schedule as well as continuing to cast the net wide in terms of players that are available to attend this Youth World Cup. We have five months of preparation now, and it’s back to business.”

Above: Lara Gooch, the scorer of the Young Matildas’ winning goal in the 3rd/4th Place Play-Off speaking about the game. Image: Football Australia.

Newcastle Jets’ 18-year-old forward Lara Gooch was the scorer of the Young Matildas goal that clinched third place at the U20 Asia Cup, and she’s still searching for the words to describe what it means.

“I don’t think there is a word to describe the feeling! Just to be able to give back to the team, to everybody. I was the one there in the right place at the right time to tap it in.”

Gooch and her team-mates knew that their opponents were strongly motivated to make up for their opening Group A defeat to the Young Matildas, in a game played with up to 15cm of snow on the pitch in Tashkent.

Above: The Young Matildas celebrate Lara Gooch’s winning goal. Photo supplied to Impetus 71 by: Football Australia.

“South Korea put up a good fight. We knew they were good competitors. We played them in the first game, it was a hard game, and to get the win was good. To play them again, we knew they would come out guns blazing. We knew they would want to take back that win…we just trusted in our game plan. Credit to the girls they worked to get that win.”

Gooch’s goal secured a first medal for an Australian national women’s football team since the senior Matildas lifted the Asia Cup in 2010. Such is the level of that achievement, it will take a while for the realisation of what she has done to sink in.

“It’s a surreal feeling. Proud is definitely the word that comes to mind. To think that it hasn’t been done for so long, and we’re the group of girls to do it. I don’t think it will really soak in til later down the line, but definitely a great feeling.”

Above: Young Matildas goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln praising her defence earlier today. Image: Football Australia.

Canberra United’s Chloe Lincoln spoke of the sheer pride in the defensive line in front of her – a group of players who have assisted her in keeping three clean sheets in the Young Matildas’ five games in the U20 Asia Cup.

“Absolutely amazing! I’m so excited, so happy for this group. We deserved this win, I think…It was definitely tough, bit of a nailbiter. It was quite close, the whole match. It was a big result for us as a defensive group to get a clean sheet, and obviously, the forwards were able to do their thing and made it count when it needed to.”

“I honestly feel so safe and so lucky to have the backline in front of me that I do. Amazing group of defenders. I feel like sometimes I might just be able to have a sip of tea and chill out at the back there! Their hard work and dedication and discipline in big moments has really showed in this tournament.

Chloe Lincoln, Australian U20 goalkeeper on her defence keeping three clean sheets in their five games at the U20 Asia Cup.

It takes a special group of players to pick themselves up after a shattering semi-final loss and refocus on producing the best possible performance in a third-place play-off. Lincoln knew exactly how they did it.

“It was the belief. Once we were able to ride the low of Japan and get through it and focus, the belief was there that we could really do well and perform against South Korea as we did in the first match, and we got it done.

Above: The belief and togetherness of the Young Matildas in the U20 Asia Cup have been truly incredible. Photo supplied to Impetus 71 by: Football Australia.

“It means so, so much. The whole group can speak to whole much it means from the individual perspective to the whole team to be able to get this result, we haven’t got this result (as an Australian U20 team) since 2006. It’s been a long time coming for an Australian team and we’re just so happy that we were able to get this job done today and wear these medals back to Australia to thank all those people who have really allowed us to be in the place that we are right now.”

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Clinical Jets record crucial win at Western United

Western United 1-3 Newcastle Jets

by Callum Logie (17/3/24)

Above: Libby Copus-Brown (second left) celebrates her opening goal with Tash Prior. Photo: Newcastle Jets.

Western United’s first-ever home game at Wyndham Regional Football Facility in Tarneit saw arguably the result of the season recorded by Finals-chasing Newcastle Jets.

Both teams came into this fixture with decisive away losses, Western United doing down to fellow title contenders, Sydney FC, and the Jets falling to Melbourne City. The Jets in particular looking to come away with three points after earning just one in their last two fixtures.

Western United made a few changes, with Alyssa Dall’Oste getting the start in goal and the teenager Avaani Prakash got her first career start in the midfield. Tyla-Jay Vlajnic also rejoined the starting XI. The Jets on the other hand made just one change, Josie Wilson getting the start at the back in place of Zoe Karapidis.

The Jets started the game in possession and quickly signalled their intent to play pressing and physical football when going forward. Western United on the other hand played with a high pace offensively, a long-range effort by Aimee Medwin was saved competently by the stalwart Isobel Nino.

Forward action continued at the early stage of the game with both sides working the ball forward into their respective, opposing boxes. It was the Newcastle Jets that were able to strike first. Sarina Bolden played the ball from the left wing into where there were four Jets waiting. Libby Copus-Brown volleyed the ball home cleanly and the visitors had an early lead.

Medwin was proactive when going forward, playing a mix between right-wing and attacking midfield. At 13 minutes, the industrious all-rounder won the ball high up and took a low-driven shot which was saved well by Nino. A moment later, Nino spilled a cross but follow-up efforts from Jaclyn Sawicki and Prakash were blocked and driven wie respectively.

At the 20-minute mark, Western United were able to get their goal back. A long ball from Stacey Papadopoulos put Medwin in on goal after losing her defender through great strength. The ball was struck powerfully and collided off of Nino’s right hand and ended up over the line, Prakash ran in to ensure the goal which was rewarded to Medwin.

The very next moment, the Jets took their lead back. A shot from outside the box was blocked but fell into a great position for Lauren Allan who curled the ball from outside the box to loop it past Dall’Oste. Both teams were well and truly in it to win it.

Bolden almost extended the lead after Grace Maher gave away possession to Sophie Hoban in an advanced position. Hoban squared it across the goal to Bolden who put her shot wide. The Jets pressure was relentless and Lauren Allan also struck an effort wide after they won the ball in an advanced position again.

Medwin, Hannah Keane, and Keiwa Hieda worked together in the box in the 32nd minute to direct a decent chance at goal. Unfortunately for Western United, the forward’s effort was driven too high and resulted in a goal kick. The game was played at an electric pace for the first half as a moment later, Medwin was released by Keane for another shot which the determined winger directed wide.

Getting Keane involved in the attack was key in the hosts drawing some momentum back in the first half as her excellent hold-up play created a few chances for Hieda, Sawicki, and of course, Medwin. A corner at 35 minutes was nervously punched away by Nino and a goal-front skirmish ultimately resulted in a clearance by the Jets.

It took a while for Western United to get into the game but they looked potent in the final quarter hour of the first half. A lot of the attacking work was done through Medwin who had three shots and several chances created in the first half but Newcastle were more clinical with their chances and dominated the first period of the game.

The Jets started the second half quickly as Mindy Barbieri ran onto the edge of the box and drove a shot wide of Dall-Oste’s goal. The visitors looked to be focused on keeping possession as Western United have a reputation of getting the job done late in games.

The home side roamed forward themselves with Keane looking to create opportunities from other places on the pitch. This created a gap in the forward line but Sawicki looked to take advantage of their space and drove a shot on goal which was not a threat in the end.

A striking pattern to observe in this battle of contrasting styles was the difference in physicality between the two teams. The Jets got a lot more stuck in and played more aggressively out of possession, committing 10 fouls to only one by Western United.

In the 49th minute, Nino had another uncharacteristic spill of possession thanks to great pressure by Keane. Two Western United players tried to run onto the rebound but Newcastle’s defence was able to scramble the ball away and keep a hold of their lead.

Western United piled on the pressure as the second half moved along, Prakash trying to find Keane in the box but the ball was deflected out to Papadopoulos who directed her effort high over the bar. Keane was more proactively creating space by dropping back and drifting to the left wing to try and create opportunities for Medwin and the midfielders.

Keane took a turnaround snapshot from just outside the box but Nino’s alertness allowed her to collect the effort easily. Keane needed to get the shot away quickly as there were always at least two or three Jets players looking to thwart her whenever she got onto the ball in an attacking position.

Just before the hour mark, Kat Smith’s side continued to create chances. Melissa Taranto moved forward and managed to get the ball into the box. The tenacious Prakash managed to get a shot away across goal but it drifted down the byline as she was unable to hit the target. The ball eventually found its way back to Taranto who struck over the bar.

Seemingly one of the only chances of the second half for the Jets, Bolden struck a low effort on goal after the Jets managed to roam forward. The angle was far too tight to pose any trouble for Dall’Oste however and Western United took back possession once again.

Against the run of play, at 66 minutes, Hoban and Mindy Barbieri combined to win a corner. The resulting set piece was sent to the far post by Barbieri which found the head of the goal machine Bolden who converted to extend the Jets’ lead to two.

Soon after the goal, Western United created a chance to pull a goal back as substitute Catherine Zimmerman got a shot away from the edge of the box. Nino was positioned perfectly and was able to collect what was one of the better chances of the second half.

The action quieted down a bit as both sides made a few substitutions. The Jets held better territory but also conceded more space behind the back line for Zimmerman and Keane to try and create opportunities. Vlajnic sent in several dangerous corners from the right side but there was never quite any meaningful connection on any of the crosses.

At 80 minutes, substitute Emma Robers tried a shot from outside the box which was again competently dealt with by Nino. Newcastle broke forward the next moment and Melina Ayres forced a good save out of Dall’Oste on the other end.

Western United will feel hard done by after this result as they had over double the Jets’ entries into the penalty area. The difference was the clinical finishing by Newcastle when they created chances which secured them this extremely important win.

Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Dall’Oste, Vlajnic, Maher, Cerne, Papadopoulos, Taranto, Sawicki, Prakash, Hieda, Keane, Medwin. Substitutes: Larsen, Sardo, Richards, Robers, Zimmerman.

Scorers: Medwin 20′.

NEWCASTLE JETS (3-4-3): Nino, Baumann, Prior, Wilson, Copus-Brown, Davis, Dundas, Hoban, L. Allan, Bolden, Barbieri. Substitutes: Dunbar, Huynh, Ayres, Hammond, J. Allan.

Scorers: Copus-Brown 4′, L. Allan 21′, Bolden 66′.

Referee: Georgia Ghiradello.

Attendance: TBC.

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Central Coast celebrate clinching Finals in first season back

Central Coast Mariners 4-1 Canberra United

by Ryan Miller-Woods (17/3/24)

Above: Celebration time for Central Coast Mariners today. Photo: Central Coast Mariners.

Central Coast Mariners officially confirmed their spot in the Finals thanks to a 4-1 win against Canberra United with Emily Husband’s side clinching their fourth straight win in the process.

The home side were on the front foot from the start, taking just four minutes to go ahead. Bianca Galic won possession from the Canberra defence to provide a through ball into the box for Wurigumula whose initial shot was saved by Coco Majstorovic but the ball ricocheted into Wurigumula’s path to put the ball into the back of for her eighth goal of the season.

Two minutes later, the Mariners doubled their lead thanks to a great pass by Isabel Gomez that found Kyah Simon outside the box who then flicked the ball into the path of Rola Badawiya who ended her run into the box by slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

The Mariners controlled the flow of the game for the first 20 minutes, but as time wore on, Canberra gradually grew into the encounter. Just before the half-hour mark, Deven Jackson provided a great through ball for Michelle Heyman who then timed her run and crossed the ball into the box for Vesna Milivojevic who saw her effort saved by Central Coast goalkeeper Casey Dumont.

Three minutes later, Central Coast were awarded a penalty as Simon’s shot came off the hand of Sarah Clark. Simon from the spot successfully converted. The hosts grabbed another in quick succession when Jazmin Wardlow’s cross found Badawiya who controlled the ball before placing it past Majstorovic for 4-0.

Early into the second half, Canberra almost had a great opportunity to have got a goal back as Jackson laid off a very good through ball that had Ruby Nathan one-on-one with Dumont who was well out of her goal but Nathan was on an angle which wasn’t prevented her from having a clear cut shot on goal.

In the 64th minute, Nathan was involved again by providing a crucial pass for Jackson in the box which forced an important save out of Dumont. Despite the scoreline, Canberra had a much more productive second half as they created more chances.

With 20 minutes remaining, Nathan’s influence on proceedings grew further as she was found in the box by Milivojevic and hit a first-time volley that forced a brilliant save from Dumont.

Three minutes from the end of normal time, Canberra finally got some reward for their efforts. Jackson’s initial effort and then Nathan’s shot were both saved by Dumont but the goalkeeper wasn’t able to deny Nicki Flannery in the box who headed home her fifth goal of the season.

Teams: CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (3-4-3): Dumont, Wardlow, Irwin, Hayward, Gomez, Galic, Bryson, Simon, Wurigumula, Badawiya. Substitutes: Langman, Rasmussen, Karrys-Stahl, Karambasis, Evans.

Scorers: Wurigumula 4’, Badawiya 6’, 35’. Simon (pen) 33’.

CANBERRA UNITED (4-1-3-2): Majstorovic, Christopherson, Ilijoski, Clough, Whittall, Clark, Flannery, Milivojevic, Jackson, Nathan, Heyman. Substitutes: Ritchie, McKenzie, Murray, Piazza, McNulty.

Scorer: Flannery 87’.

Referee: Caitlin Williams.

Attendance: TBC.

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A Vine time for Sky Blues as Nix are downed

Wellington Phoenix 2-4 Sydney FC

by Jonathon Hagger (17/3/24)

Above: Cortnee Vine celebrates earlier today. Her brace set Sydney FC on the way to victory in Wellington. Photo: Sydney FC.

Hot in the back off of a Wellington Phoenix women’s away win in Perth, the Phoenix women returned home to play Sydney FC in front of a rowdy home crowd at Jerry Collins Stadium.

With Sydney FC heavily favoured to be this season’s A-League champions, the Phoenix found themselves in a David vs Goliath size challenge. While the visitors did not have the luxury of having their Under 20 Australian representative players available, they were still able to field an incredible assortment of extremely talented footballers in the front, mid, and backfield.

From the kickoff, Sydney showed how and why they are challenging at the top once more. Speed, keeping possession, a high percentage of completed passes and relentlessly hunting for the opening goal. Both teams traded goal-scoring opportunities.

However it was Sydney’s first opportunity in the seventh minute that really put the Phoenix on notice. The Phoenix defenders sat on their heels and allowing Tallon-Henniker to run with ease which eventuated with a shot on goal that Phoenix keeper Rylee Foster was able to tidy up.

At the other end of the pitch, the Phoenix strung together a number of high quality short passes that cut the Sydney defence into smithereens. The Robertson-Whitman-Fraser combination was ferocious but unable to get a much-needed goal. Unfortunately, Sydney’s quality player, Kirsty Fenton, exited the match in the 14th minute after wrenching her knee. A trip to Wellington Hospital via ambulance for a scan will hopefully come back clear.

The 17th minute saw Matildas superstar Cortnee Vine put the visitors ahead as she drilled the ball into the Phoenix goal off a beautifully placed corner kick from Mackenzie Hawkesby. A cleanly kicked torpedo beat Rylee Foster dicing to her right but the accelerating ball whistled past her outstretched hands.

While a lot of the Phoenix plays appeared to be disjointed, Speckmaier showed fleet-footedness in the 27th minute, allowing the ball to run through her stance thereby bamboozling the Sydney defenders, and reminded Whyman that she always poses a threat.  

Fast forward to the 41st minute and Sydney FC doubled their goal tally as the Phoenix defenders let Hawkesby slide a wayward pass across the Phoenix goalmouth which connected with the boot of defender Tiana Jaber resulting in a totally unexpected own goal.

The Phoenix are not a team to give up and in the 47th minute, slide passes from Fraser to Whinham then on to Breslin was converted into a shot on goal from a long way out. But to beat a keeper of Whyman’s quality required a much better shot than what Breslin offered up.

The first half ended at 2-0 with Sydney clearly being the better side. Vine’s goal-scoring prowess, Hawkesby’s quality set pieces, and the defensive abilities of Sydney’s midfield closing down the Phoenix attacking threat deservedly had them ahead on the scoreboard.

With the chance to go top of the table, Sydney launched their second half in the same way they finished the first half. Full on energy. Ante Juric’s side demonstrated they certainly aren’t a one-trick pony as attacker Shea Connors weaved her way into a shooting position in the 47th minute and was only denied a goal through a brilliant tackle. Tunmeth, Chauvet, and Lemon also put on a show of classy ball skills.

The Phoenix were not going to give up and this was demonstrated through the midfield players of Whinham, Fraser, and Speckmaier going to work. The small ball style of play that Phoenix coach Paul Temple has used as the go-to strategy throughout the season was truly demonstrated as being effective.

Phoenix defender Mackenzie Barry doesn’t get many yellow cards and the tackle that earned the card in the 55th minute, carried through to the sloppy defending of the resulting kick which found an unmarked Vine directly in front of the Phoenix goal and with a deft touch of her head, Sydney went up 3-0.

Yet again, where other teams would drop their heads and concede defeat that was not to be for the Phoenix. From the restart, the midfield threw themselves into the play pressed with significant force looking for goals. The injection of supersub, Isabel Cox really caught Sydney unawares resulting in some fantastic attacking soirées. The second of two corner kicks delivered by Macey Fraser found the forehead of Cox whose height beat Whyman and scored the Phoenix first for the afternoon in the 63rd minute.

It was Cox again who would set up the second the 70th minute. A spliced save by the Whyman landed at the feet of the season’s leading goal scorer Speckmaier, who brilliantly executed a shot into the net.

The fourth and final goal of the match came in the 74th goal with Thompson drilling home the fourth after the Phoenix defence failed to clear their lines.

Kate Taylor showed everyone how big a loss she has been through her being unavailable due to injury for the past month. Her deftness on the ball, timing of passes, and vision around the pitch put the Phoenix in a strong scoring position in the 75th minute with their unleashing repeated waves of attack towards the Sydney goal.

Even though they were down by two goals, the Phoenix continued to press on and in the 93rd minute, Taylor beat Hawkesby, running around her from the right-hand edge deep in Sydney’s half who then passed the ball to Errington but the shot was knocked away by Whyman.  

This match was won by the Sydney FC midfielders of which Taylor Ray was a standout contributor. With accurate passes and strong pressing, she was able to disrupt the Phoenix flow of play. Ray will be a key player in Sydney’s finals run.

For the home side, Helena Errington came into the match quite late as a substitute player. In her limited minutes, she got herself into goal-scoring positions and made an incredible number of accurate passes. Hannah Wilkinson, the Football Ferns incumbent striker, needs to watch out because Errington is coming.

Sydney demonstrated poise and composure throughout the entire match. Whilst the Phoenix repeatedly tested the visitors’ strategic plays, they came up short-handed. The defining difference between the two teams was the Phoenix players not quite being able to be fully engaged for the entire 90 minutes.

Small pockets of inattention and a drop in communication gave Sydney opportunities which they put away. Small lapses of concentration ultimately cost Wellington in the end result.

Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (3-4-2-1): Foster, Barry, Foster, Fraser, Jaber, Breslin, Whinham, Brazendale, Robertson, Speckmaier, Elliot. Substitutes: Feinberg-Danieli, McMeeken (77’), Taylor (59’), Errington (68’), Cox (59’).

Scorers: Cox 63’, Speckmaier 70’.

SYDNEY FC (4-3-3). Mathyssen-Whyman, Fenton, Thompson, McLean, Tunmeth, Hawkesby, Ray, Chauvet, Lemon, Vine, Tallon-Henniker. Substitutes: Black, Malone (90+1’), Saveska (90+1’), Keane (63’), Connors (14’).

Scorers: Vine 18’, 55’. Jaber (OG) 42’, Thompson 74’.

Attendance: 1,040.

Referee: Bec Mackie.

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