Above:Hosts, Blackburn Rovers moments before kick-off. Photo: roverswfc on Instagram.
By Freya Hiscott (03/03/24)
Blackburn Rovers welcomed Durham to County Ground on a warm Sunday afternoon for a captivating 90 minutes of the Barclays Championship. In a table placement ultimatum, both sides had a plethora of chances with the game ending with four collective goals scored.
Blackburn Rovers face Durham for the third time this season, with the two teams already battling it out in the league and the continental cup. Both sides were desperate to leave with 3 points for their teams as they both sat in the middle of the championship table. Blackburn Rovers sat in 7th place just one point behind Durham who sat 6th.
Blackburn Rovers and Durham last met in October with Durham winning 2-1 seeing goals from Saoirse Noonan (Durham) and Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers).
There were four notable changes to the Blackburn Rovers line-up after their recent 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, in their last Championship fixture. Simon Parker’s side saw the return of the English midfielder Annie Hutchings and Northern Ireland’s midfielder Danielle Maxwell, with captain Jade Richards making the starting eleven alongside Tyler Toland, who had been previously ruled out of Ireland’s two friendlies due to injury. Claire Ditchburn’s Durham lined up as they did last time out, when they drew 2-2 against London City Lionesses.
Durham started and took the advantage, backed by the support of their booming fans. But the early stages of the game were stop-start with a number of players suffering collisions requiring medical treatment from both teams’ physios.
In the opening 20 minutes of the game Blackburn Rovers successfully defended a number of Durham’s corners with the away side threatening to make a break through.
As the match progressed it was the visitors who looked the most likely to open the scoring, as Durham evidently dominated possession, passing the ball cleanly up and down the pitch.
Saoirse Noonan, the Irish striker came close to an opening goal for the wildcats but her volley was just wide of the far post. Moments later, Noonan came close to scoring again but was adjudged offside.
As the first-half was closing in, both teams were battling it out to be the first on the score sheet. Powerful chances were created by the Rovers but were quickly diverted away by the wildcat’s defensive line. Noonan struck another good chance but saw her effort expertly caught by the Rovers goalkeeper, Alex Brooks.
Despite Durham maintaining their ascendancy throughout the majority of the first-half; It was the home side, Blackburn Rovers who took the lead. Danielle Maxwell fired the ball into the back of the net in added time, grabbing her first goal for the Rovers since signing earlier this year.
Above: Danielle Maxwell receiving player of the match after an outstanding game against Durham. Photo: roverswfc on Instagram.
After the break, Maxwell came close to her second goal before being denied by clipping the crossbar.
Regardless, Durham visibly started the second-half stronger with another dominant display as pressure was enforced. An outstanding save from Naoisha McAloon denied Lucy Shepherd from increasing the score for the Rovers.
Noonan then ably fired a long ball to Hepple who curled a beautiful shot into the top corner of the net just yards away, levelling the score at 1-1. Then just three minutes later Durham were ahead again after Silcock put a goal past her own keeper, following a myriad of attempts to clear the ball in a dangerous area.
Sarah Wilson came close to adding a third goal for Claire Ditchburn’s side, but her strike from a corner went agonisingly just wide of the left hand post.
Not long after, the hosts levelled up through Shepherd, tapping the ball in from close range, to make it 2-2.
As the game came to a close both sides saw chances at either end of the pitch but ultimately the spoils were shared with the match ending an entertaining 2-2 draw.
With the match ending in stalemate, no changes were made regarding their placements in the Championship table. Durham still remaining in 6th place with Blackburn Rovers staying close behind in 7th; with just one point separating the two teams.
Blackburn Rovers are set to face Lewes next at home, currently lying 11th in the Championship. Next up for Durham is a tough match against Charlton, presently 4th, 10 points ahead of Durham.
MelindaJ Barbieri’s volleyed equaliser gave Newcastle a deserved point at home against Perth Glory. In an attacking game, filled with chances for both sides it was the Jets playmaker who scored the goal that could be crucial to their season.
Above: Newcastle and Perth Glory battle for possession. Photo: Newcastle Jets
Glory came into this match needing a win. Alex Epakis’s side has struggled for results since December, and after starting the season in top gear, they have slowly fallen down the rankings. Newcastle’s trajectory has been the opposite. They have gone under the radar for much of this season, but have steadily climbed. The introduction of Sarina Bolden has coincided with this improvement, but the newly assembled team has slowly adjusted first to each other and then to the resignation of former coach Gary van Egmond.
What they are now is a lighting quick attacking side, capable of more than just the wing play and pressing that they have previously been known for. Newcastle can now attack in a variety of ways and they played with a confidence that was exciting for neutrals.
The game did not begin according to coach Ryan Campbell’s plans. Glory took an early lead through Tash Rigby’s cross that was turned in for an own goal with a hesitant effort to block. Perth had numbers in the box, but none of them needed a touch as the ball trickled over the line.
Infront of their home fans, The Jets did not let their heads drop, and immediately went on the search to level the scores. Sophie Hoban had claims for a penalty turned down, and Emma Dundas forced Morgan Aquino into action. The Perth Glory stopper was the team’s saviour once again with a save from Bolden’s header, but as Barbieri began to scheme and Cass Davis continued to win the ball, it felt like Newcastle was in the ascendancy.
By the time Barbieri levelled the scores, Newcastle had shot on goal 31 times, when it arrived, it was an effort of pure quality from the new recruit. After controlling a cross from the right, Barbieri angled herself to rocket the ball home off her right foot. It was excellent technique, the kind of perfection required to beat an in-form Aquino.
With the result in the balance, both teams went on the attack. Substitute Sofia Sakalis added a noticeable spark when she came on. her late fizzing ball across the face of goal was begging to be finished but there were no Glory players attacking the space. Mille Farrow had been relatively well marshalled, but thought she had earned a penalty when she slalomed into the box. The referee had a better view than the cameras and waved the appeals away without hesitation.
Up the other end, a swift counter-attack found youngster Josie Allan in space at the back post. Her control was excellent and her finish on target, but Aquino pulled off another miracle to push the ball onto the woodwork and away for a corner.
The final whistle signalled an end to an exhilarating football match, and although the Jets attack was menacing and entertaining, the game was decided in midfield. Davis and Libby Copus Brown gained the upper hand over Isobel Dalton and Hana Lowry. They won the ball but also attacked themselves, preventing the Glory duo from showcasing their dynamic potential. On the bench, Epakis rolled the dice, withdrawing defender Claudia Mihocic and replacing her with attacker Sarah Cain. It momentarily gave Glory the extra number in attack, but without the steady supply that the Jets midfield was supplying it made little impact on the result.
Glory’s slump continues and it must be a mystery to those involved. They are not playing poorly by any stretch of the imagination and are never easy to beat but the results and the goals just are not falling their way.
Changes have been made. At times in this match they tried five at the back, and in flashes, Farrow looked back to her early season best after coming on as a subtitute, but the Jets were able to control the midfield and the lack of a specialist defensive midfielder meant that Newcastle could push Glory’s players back with consistency if not ease.
Newcastle were able to create numerous chances and while both teams would have felt unlucky not to score a second, The Jets looked more dangerous over the full 90. Both teams need to convert more regularly, but the Jets are starting to look quietly ominoius. They have a smoothly functioning midfield and a pure striker than on any other day would not have had Morgan Aquino in her way.
The Concacaf Gold cup has been filled with thrill, glee and a lot of roller-coaster emotions. From mouthwatering goals to mind-bending results, our correspondent Emmanuel Faith, brings us a review of the Group Stage.
Above: Linda Caicedo for Colombia. Photo: Concacaf Twitter
The Concacaf Gold Cup means different things to different countries. For countries like USA and Canada, it is an opportunity to redeem themselves after an underwhelming World Cup performance and for countries like Mexico and Paraguay, it is a chance to show the world what they missed watching at the World cup. In the group stage, there were no dull moments. Below is a peek into what happened across the groups..
GROUP A:
Group A opened with an action-packed goalless draw between Mexico and Argentina. Mexico recorded 15 shots with five of them on target, however the resilience of Argentina’s defenseensured that the match finished without a goal.
USA started their campaign on the front-foot, beating Dominican Republic 5 goals to nil. The 18-year-old debutant, Olivia Moultrie was the star of the night with a brace while the NWSL 2023 player of the year, Midge Purce bagged a brace of brilliant assists.
The second round of matches were dominant performances with USA putting 4 past Argentina and Mexico putting 8 goals past Dominican Republic, the shock was however in the third round of Matches. USA locked horns with the Mexico for the slot of the group winner in a well-familiar rivalry where USA had often come out on top but the case was different this time around.
Two emphatic goals from Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo-Bernal at the 38th and 92nd minute gave the Americans their first defeat and acted as a reality check for the team on the journey of getting their rhythm together. They face Colombia in the quarter-finals and it is going to be a test of their tournament so far.
The Mexicans celebrate their win against USA. Photocredit (Gold Cup on twitter)
GROUP B:
The opening match of Group B was quite contrasting. Colombia continued their brilliant run of sterling performance with a 6:0 win over Panama while Brazil had to settle for a 1:0 win over Puerto Rico thanks to the astounding brilliance of their goal keeper, Sydney Martinez.
This brilliance flowed into the second match as they beat Panama by two goals to one to get their first win of the tournament while Brazil had another narrow win over Colombia to make it two wins, with two goals from two matches.
The Samba queens finally unleashed their scoring boots with a five-nil win over Panama, while Colombia beat Puerto Rico two zero with two astounding goals from Catalina Usme and Linda Caicedo as they set up a thrilling quarter-finals with the hosts, the United States of America.
The Colombian whiz celebrating her second goal against Peurto Rico. Photo-credit (Concacaf on Twitter)
GROUP C:
After a forgettable experience at the World cup, Canada showed the world (or at least the CONCACAF continent) that they are back and back on track with three solid wins over Paraguay Costa Rica and El-Salvador. There are many traits that makes this Canada team stand out, but one worth mentioning is how clinical they are in front of the goal. In their first match, they scored six goals out of ten shots on target, and in their last match, they scored three goals out of four shots on target. They’d be relying on this trait when they face Costa-Rica in the quarter-final.
In other matches, Paraguay’s one-nil win in the opening match and a hard-fought 3-2 win in their last match was good enough to set up a quarter-final match with the Mexicans while Costa-Rica beat El-Salvador by two goals to nothing to ensure they picked the last ticket for the best-loser’s category and set up a replay against Canada.
There were a lot of outstanding performers across different matches but Adriana Leon probably should be the player of the stage with five goals and two assists in 3 games.
With 5 goals and 2 assists, Leon has been unstoppable for Canada.
Quarter-finals review:
An intense drama ensued amongst the fans when Costa-Rica tied with Puerto Rico were tied after the Group stage in all tie-breaking criteria per Concacaf rules and were left with a random selection pick to determine who goes to the next round. It is probably unfair that the fate of a nation and their chance at a trophy is being determined by a ballot pick, and it shows how much revision and revisit needs to happen to the rules guiding this beautiful game.
The hosts lock horns with a burgeoning, impressive team in Colombia who are not scared to play anyone as they showed against both Germany and England in the last world cup.
USA is in a must-win scenario against a continuously evolving Colombia and the big stars on the roster have to show themselves worthy.
While the quarter-final draw being talked about the most is USA vs Colombia, for valid reasons, Brazil locking horns with Argentina in a COMMEBOL match-up and Mexico facing Paraguay are probably thrilling matches to watch out for. The Brazilians are also hoping this tournament acts as a good preparation for the Olympics while the Argentinians always play like they have nothing to lose; to be honest, they don’t. Mexico sent a solid statement across when they beat the host nation and four-times World Champion, USA and be hoping to make it to the finals but they need to get past Paraguay.
Canada vs Costa-Rica looks like an easy draw on paper,especially because of the three-nil victory recorded during the group stage but this is tournament football, there are no big teams or small teams, just teams that show up and play their best football.
Who are you tipping to make it to the semis? Leave a comment below.
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Above: Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper, Sarah Langman. (Source: @CCMariners on Twitter)
The Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United faced off in the ‘Pink Round’, as chosen by the Mariners club, to show support for the Glenn McGrath Foundations breast cancer awareness campaign.There were no issues for spectators knowing which team was which as the pink kit was razor sharp.
Given the starting temperature of 30 degrees for the match, the opening minutes were played at a mostly pedestrian pace. Both teams got testy with each other in the opening minutes with some heavy defensive challenges being put in by each side. Mariners midfielder Galic made a tough block that earned her a yellow card which was soon followed by team mate Badawiya putting in a rough challenge that the referee decided was worthy of a warning but not a card.
Continuous possession of the ball gave the Mariners both the momentum and a good location to launch their offensive attack. The 13th minute saw the first real opportunity become available as the Mariners set up camp in the Adelaide goal area but an errant offside saw a fantastic goal opposite waved off.
At the halfway point of the first half there were definite trends showing through –
The Mariners dominated in possession and location,
Adelaide’s quality of passing was well below their usual standard,
The Mariners shape and structure closed down any offensive chances that Adelaide tried to conjure up,
Adelaide made very few breaks through the Mariners midfield and when they were in the open the midfield and forwards were unable to connect.
Fast forward to the 31st minute and Adelaide launched their first real goal scoring attempt. Following a loss of possession by the Mariners in their midfield, Isabel Hodgson cleanly put the ball at the feet of a wide open Dylan Holmes. Holmes shot the ball off her right foot at the top of the Mariners goal area that was clearly on target however Adelaide’s keeper, Langman was able to punch the ball away resulting in a corner. Langman was called upon again, employing her shot stopping skills, collecting an on target ball off the head of Waldus from the corner kick. Adelaide had finally got themselves into the match. Game on!
Following periods of to and fro from each team, the Mariners capitalised on poor possession by Adelaide with Izzy Gomez intercepting a wayward ball. A shimmy, a shake and a lay off pass right in front of Adelaide’s goal was squandered as Hayward sprayed the ball wide to the left. What should have been the opening goal came to naught. The first half ended 0-0 which Adelaide were very lucky to get away with.
The Mariners showed their intent for the second half straight after the half time break with Izzy Gomez stealing the ball and creating an opportunity to score. Kyah Simon was unaware the ball was coming her way and was unable to put away the opportunity given her.
The opening goal of the match came in the 50th after Adelaide’s Mullan gave away a free kick in a dangerous position. Simon and Gomez’s first attempt as scoring was undone through some marvellous blocking by Adelaide however the Mariners Karambasis benefitted from poor clearing of the area. An easy toe poke into the net and the Mariners went up 1-0.
A first Liberty A-League for Tiarna Karambasis breaks the deadlock in Gosford 🌴🔓
She never gave up on the chance and got her reward!
It wasn’t until the 60th minute until the match came alive again, following a superb pass by Gomez to Simon who was cut down by the Adelaide defender Tolland. The warning bells were ringing in the Adelaide camp as the Mariners launched repeated attacks on goal. A long ball down the left flank by Hayward found Badawiya in the open but the cut back pass to two open Mariners attackers right in front of goal, rolled harmlessly out of play,
Once again Adelaide was let down by their own sloppy defensive work as the Mariners corner kick not being cleared, resulting in a goal as Wurigumala sent the ball straight into the back of the net in the 64th minute. Mariners 2-0.
A powerful strike from the Mariners star forward, who slots her 6th of the season#CCMvADL is live on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/YDpFR1AWTH
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) March 3, 2024
A return to a stock standard 4-4-2 formation ensued as the Mariners were happy to defend their lead. But Adelaide weren’t going to give up. Isabel Hodgson went for a fantastic run that challenged the Mariners defensive setup however Irwin and Langman were able to diffuse the pressure.
Try as they might, Adelaide were unable to break through the staunch Mariners formation. A quality attempt on goal in the 79th minute saw a torpedo shot by Hodgson punched away by Langman. What was Adelaide’s best scoring opportunity just didn’t have enough heat in it to beat the keeper.
The remainder of the match saw the Mariners team soaking up the pressure being applied by Adelaide. In a continuation of the flow of energy in the match, Adelaide were unable to create any real chances to score.
A big congratulations to the following Adelaide players –
Annalee Grove on making 50 appearances in the A-League,
Emily Condon on achieving 100 appearances in the A-League.
And well done to –
Izzy Gomez who once again showed the league what a quality #6 looks like, and
Shae Evans whose performance, in the final 10 minutes, really kept the Adelaide keeper on her toes!
A combination of incredible mentality, and an ability to adapt on the field and coaches bench delivered Australia’s Under 20 team a win for the ages.
Above: Peta Trimis (middle), Daniela Galic and Lara Gooch celebrate Australia’s equaliser against South Korea. Photo: Football Australia
Leah Blayney’s Young Matildas have begun their Asian Cup campaign with a dramatic win over traditional powerhouses South Korea in practically unplayable conditions.
The air was visibly icy in Tashkent as the teams lined up, and most of the pitch was covered with snow, but goals from Peta Trimis and Naomi Chinnama gave Australia a 2-1 win after going behind early in the first half.
The opening game of any tournament is vital, and a draw would have satisfied many watching at home, but the win puts Australia in a strong position heading into the next game, howwver it did not come easy. Known for their flowing, relentless attacking football in the qualifying stages, the Young Matildas were noticeably hampered by the frankly ridiculous conditions. Players had to dig the ball out from snow to take free kicks, and it was not simple enough to just boot the ball away when feet were sliding out from under players.
The flanks and penalty areas were kept clear of snow, but curiously not the centre of the pitch. South Korea adapted quickest and kept Australia pinned back in the early stages, preferring to just get the ball forward rather than try and form any passing combinations.
Jeon Yug-Jeong opened the scoring after the ball slipped past Chloe Lincoln and was scrambled over the line. It was reward for the early momentum, but still felt like an unfair way for Australia to concede. Lincoln was otherwise excellent in a testing game and overcame that early error to be a stable presence and a vital source of counter attacks for the rest of the match. Jessika nash was outstanding in the first half and right back, and Sasha Grove was typically industrious on the opposite flank.
Australia were able to hold on until half time and took the much-needed opportunity to regroup.
Peta Trimis made her opportunity count in the second half. Australia started to move the ball quicker, and the 17-year-old Mariner ran onto a ball from midfield to slot past the South Korean goalkeeper and level the scores. The Young Matildas had been gradually working their way into the contest, and Blayney made more moves to take advantage of the conditions rather than fight against them. The introduction of Lara Gooch meant that long hoofed passes from midfield would hold up in the snow, and the young Newcastle attacker’s electric pace would take her clear of any defenders and keep them on the back foot as a team.
Alana Murphy was brought in after Indiana Dos Santos was withdrawn following a nasty looking tackle. Murphy’s three years of senior A-League football were immediately telling, and she was able to impose herself on the contest almost instantly. Kahli Johnson’s presence up front helped gradually shift momentum Australia’s way.
Up against one of the tournament favourites, a draw would have been an acceptable and commendable result, but the Never Say Die mantra of The Matildas is clearly baked into the DNA of the Under 20 side too. They sensed a win, pushed for the win, and forced it to happen through a mix of sheer will and Naomi Chinnama’s right boot.
Johnson’s presence and calm head held the ball up in after a set piece, she battled off three defenders but could not get the shot away through traffic. When the ball fell to Chinnama at the edge of the 18 yard box, she did not hesitate. The Melbourne City defender pulled the trigger and the ball dipped over the goalkeeper to give Australia a late lead. They were able to hold on through the final stages with rudimentary defending. The result was most important, and they secured one in the most difficult of circumstances.
This was one of the most impressive wins of their entire campaign. The high scoring games of qualifying were enthralling to watch, but rarely were they forced to dig deep like they were in Tashkent. This is a moment to celebrate but is also the first step of what is shaping up to be a tournament full of surprises.
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Above: Paige Zois (right, facing camera) celebrates with Tori Hansen. Photo: Melbourne Victory
La Trobe University hosted a clash between teams on different trajectories so far this season with the Victory looking to continue their great form.
Malbourne Victory came into the game after an emphatic 4-0 home victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers. The Wellington Phoenix came in off the end of a 3-0 defeat to Western United, showing the stark difference in form between these two sides.
Two changes were made to the Melbourne Victory team from the Western Sydney Fixture with young Paige Zois getting the start in midfield over Elise Kellond-Knight and Beattie Goad got the start on the wing in place of the brace-scoring McKenzie Weinert who returned to the Seattle Reign.
Wellington made a few changes across its lineup, opting for a 4-3-3 formation. Captain Michaela Foster and Mackenzie Barry rejoined Wellington’s defensive line with Tiana Jaber and Michaela Robertson dropping to the bench. Macey Fraser also joined the midfield in place of the teenager, Daisy Brazendale.
The Victory started strong with Emily Gielnik asking early questions of the Phoenix defence. The final ball was lacking though and no meaningful chance was developed in the beginning of the game. Victory however was firmly on top in terms of possession and territory.
The first meaningful chance went the way of Wellington as a misjudged pass back set Emma Main in at goal. The Victory defence recovered well to force Main wide and Courtney Newbon was able to collect without any fuss.
On the other end, a ball was played over to the right side of the field with Gielnik finding a great amount of space and time outside the box. Gielnik delivered the ball toward the six yard box and the forward running Goad was able to convert a header for her first goal of the season. Melbourne took an early lead after 10 minutes.
Eight minutes later, after a decent period of play for the Phoenix, Melbourne worked their way forward to win another corner. Beattie Goad sent in a terrific in-swinging cross which deflected across to Tori Hanson who was able to convert from about two yards at the back post.
Through the first 25 minutes of the game, the only Phoenix player that was able to make runs behind the Victory Defence was Emma Main. Main showed a high work rate, chasing both full backs and applying pressure but Kayla Ann Morrison and Jamilla Rankin’s composure at the back and on the ball meant the winger was unable to create anything more than the early half-chance.
At 25 minutes, Paige Zois struck a long-range effort after being played the ball across from Alex Chidiac. A well-struck effort forced a dive out of Rylee Foster but she was able to hold on well.
25' | WHAT A SAVE FROM RYLEE FOSTER! 💪#MVCvWEL | 🔵2-0🟡
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) March 3, 2024
A minute later, Gielnik went forward after a defensive miscommunication for the Phoenix and cut her way inside from the byline. The tight angle proved too difficult for Gielnik to hit the target but the forward proved why she’s one of the most dangerous attacking players in the league.
Rachel Lowe played the ball forward at 33 minutes which found its way to the woman of the moment, Emily Gielnik. Gielnik rushed forward and found herself with a goalscoring opportunity on the right side of the box which was saved at the neat post by Foster.
The resulting corner saw Chidiac send in a cross to the near post which Gielnik headed on to Beattie Goad who converted at the far post. A brace for the returning midfielder as the Victory were in full control of the first half.
Near the end of the first half, Main and McMeekin worked their way forward to make an awkward goal front encounter for Newbon. The chance ultimately resulted in the goal kick but the Phoenix were still willing to move forward and create chances despite the heavy deficit.
In the 45th minute, Chidiac found some space outside the box and took a shot from outside the box. The left foot of Chidiac proved true and a touch fortunate as the ball thundered off the bar and into the back of Rylee Foster on its way to the goal which made it 4-0 before the half-time whistle.
The always energetic Isobel Cox put a shot over the bar as a sensational first half for the Victory came to a close. While thoroughly on top, the Phoenix did show some promise with the work-rate of Main and McMeekin creating some chances and Mackenzie Barry stepping in to make three key challenges in the defensive third.
Wellington’s second-half started well with Alyssa Whinham forcing a great save out of Newbon at 48 minutes. The forward was unlucky not to pull one back from her effort as the keeper was able to keep her clean sheet bid alive in the second-half.
Wellington created a few chances in the second-half, consistently pressing the Victory defence and goalkeeper. This eventually paid off as a corner swung in by the Phoenix was deflected off Rankin for an own goal. While the deficit was still three goals, the Phoenix were determined to keep playing through to the final whistle.
Gielnik and the Victory nearly restored the huge lead a moment later, with a shot inside the box being well held by Rylee Foster. Just after the hour mark, Whinham took a shot from outside the box which was directed wide, but the possession and territory for the Phoenix had been a lot better since coming out at the half.
Rachel Lowe did restore the four goal lead after a dangerous Emma Checker cross found its way to the in-form Goad. Goad’s shot was deflected but fell fortuitously to Rachel Lowe who converted the chance to make the scoreline a remarkable 5-1.
Isobel Cox worked her way inside from the left wing in the 66th minute and a deflected effort almost found its way over the line if not for the defensive presence and composure by Morrison who was able to clear the ball off the line and clear.
The game became a touch more physical from this point with a few stoppages as both teams looked to employ prevention tactics defensively. The ball was up and down the field a lot more in this half due to the strong response from the Phoenix but the Victory ultimately had too much quality to be denied.
Toward the end of the game, substitutes Helena Errington and Michaela Robertson both forced great saves out of Newbon as the Phoenix looked to forge back a more respectable score to close out the match. The resulting corner ultimately ended up at the feet of Robertson who was able to convert off the crossbar and allow Wellington their second goal.
Wellington’s tenacity persisted as they won the ball off the resulting kick off and Whinham was able to play in Marianna Speckmaeir who scored a terrific curved effort to make the score 5-3.
A nervy four minutes of stoppage time was seen through by the Victory who had a closer finish than they expected but their attacking potency was enough to see them get past a defiant Phoenix side.
Above: Brisbane Roar celebrate during their excellent win over Melbourne City today. Photo: Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane Roar stunned Melbourne City on Saturday evening, exacting revenge for the painful 5-3 defeat they suffered to City the last time the two sides met in December.
It was a warm evening in the Sunshine State and there were once again over 2,000 people in the stands and on the grass behind the goals. The atmosphere at Perry Park was incredible.
Despite the warm weather, both sides started the match with a lot of intensity. Both Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City had good goal-scoring opportunities, but the hosts definitely had the majority of them. In the 10th minute, a fantastic run from Tameka Yallop caused chaos in the City box and put their new goalkeeper, Brazilian legend Bárbara, to the test early on. As she was forced to parrying away a number of attempts on her goal.
About 10 minutes before halftime, City turned over the ball in the midfield, which wouldn’t usually be too threatening, except that on this occasion, Jordan Silkowitz had come very far out of her goal and was forced to scramble back to safety. In a footrace with her was the very quick and talented Emina Ekić, who barrelled down the right flank and launched a very well-placed shot. Silkowitz was beaten but the ball kissed the crossbar and the follow-up was put wide, much to the joy of the home crowd.
Both sides kept up the intensity in the second half, but once again it was Brisbane with the better of the chances. Just before the hour mark, an excellent challenge in the midfield from Sharn Freier turned the ball over for Alicia Woods who hit a perfectly weighted pass for Yallop, who had timed her run well and received the ball, breaking through the high vistors defensive line.
The Australian international sprinted down the field, outrunning her nearest defender, and tucked it past the onrushing Bárbara to give Brisbane Roar a massive advantage in the match. The crowd went absolutely wild. The hometown hero, Yallop, once again proving why she’s been an integral part of the Matildas setup for so many years.
What a run and finish this is from @TheMatildas star Tameka Yallop 🇦🇺🎯 She is unstoppable right now 😤
Not even two minutes later another excellent ball from Woods found the feet of Freier, who had enough open field to park a 747 in. She used her pace to leave her defender in the dust and pulled out a fantastic finish to bury the ball in the side netting. Once again, the 2000+ home fans in attendance roared in celebration.
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) March 2, 2024
The Roar were able to weather the City storm for the last half hour of the match, but it didn’t come easily. They had to fend of many waves of attacks from City, dodging another bullet in the form of a Bryleeh Henry shot that hit the crossbar. But the Roar were good enough to close the match out, preserving their clean sheet for only the third time this season.
Brisbane Roar were fantastic today. It was an excellent team performance that Alex Smith will be very happy with. Smith and his team solved a lot of problems today: first, scoring goals, second defending well for 90 minutes, third, exercising great late game management.
Silkowitz and her best friends, the goalposts, put in a good shift. Leah Scarpelli and Holly McQueen were outstanding in the backline, making numerous crucial blocks and interventions, acting as Silkowitz’s bodyguards.
Freier, who usually plays as a winger, played in a wing-back position today and she was incredibly effective there. She covered a huge amount of ground for the entire 90 minutes, was actively involved in most of Roar’s attacks, and scored the insurance goal.
Yallop’s pace and physicality today were outstanding, and so too was her finish, past one of the most experienced goalkeepers in women’s football. But it was Woods who stole the show today for Brisbane. She created a number of goalscoring opportunities, including two phenomenal assists, and she even pitched in at the backline. What a revelation she has been. She’s definitely earned her spot in the starting 11 for the rest of the campaign.
Melbourne City will be disappointed with the result. After drawing with then bottom of the table Adelaide United last round, they would have been hoping to bounce back with a strong performance against Brisbane.
Their season, which started off so strong has begun to falter in latter stages of the campaign. But they will still have a number of positives to take from the match. Rebekah Stott was excellent in their backline, but sadly her fellow defenders were not always on the same page as her.
Ekić and Henry were fantastic up front for City, creating a number of goalscoring opportunities. Between them, they took nine shots and hit the woodwork three times. On another day, they could have scored three or four goals between them (I think that day was in December actually).
Above: Caley Tallon-Hennikercelebrates her debut goal which sealed Sydney FC’s derby day win. Photo: Sydney FC.
Sydney FC have come away victorious in the Derby against Western Sydney Wanderers, winning 2-0 at a confusing contest at CommBank Stadium.
The opening half was characterised by missed opportunities, between shots sent wide or over the bar and brilliant goalkeeping from both teams’ keepers, neither side was able to break the deadlock.
The second half initially saw much of the same until half-time Sydney FC substitute Caley Tallon-Henniker was taken down in the box by Western Sydney defender Madison McComasky, with referee Casey Reibelt pointing immediately to the spot to award a penalty.
Above: Mackenzie Hawkesby shows her pride after putting Sydney FC ahead from the penalty spot. Photo: Sydney FC.
McKenzie Hawkesbury stepped up to the spot and delivered a decisive spot kick to the bottom right corner, beating Wanderers’ keeper Sham Khamis, who had pointed in that direction when on her line, but ultimately chose to dive the other way.
The goal marks Hawkesby’s second for Sydney FC since her return from her overseas stint with English WSL club Brighton and Hove Albion.
Five minutes later saw one of the most interesting red card issues in the A-League Women in quite some time.
Wanderers’ defender, American international Vicky Bruce made a late challenge on Sydney FC superstar Cortnee Vine from behind that saw Vine hit the deck. Despite Bruce having her captain Amy Harrison ahead of her as the last defender, Bruce was shown a red card. Somehow, despite already having been ejected from the game, Bruce was then also shown a yellow card.
Above: Sydney FC and Matildas star Cortnee Vine (right) battling away today. Photo: Sydney FC.
With the Wanderers down to 10 players, all they could do was batten down the hatches and hope to see the rest of the game out without any further concessions. Of course, Sydney FC had other ideas about this and decided to score at almost the last moment possible.
Cortnee Vine played a clever through ball, switching sides, to find the feet of Tallon-Henniker, who had been left all alone on the left-hand side.
From there, all Tallon-Henniker had to do, on her debut game in the league mind you, was take the ball along a few paces and fire away a gorgeous shot that was lifted into the far corner.
Impetus had Genevieve Henry and Ryan Miller-Woods in four clubs’ press conferences ahead of Round 18 (1/3/24).
Central Coast Mariners
By Ryan Miller-Woods
Above: Central Coast Mariners’ captain Bianca Galic speaking to the media about her first goal. Image: Central Coast Mariners.
The media heard from Central Coast Mariners’ Bianca Galic and Head Coach Emily Husband ahead of their upcoming match against Adelaide United on Sunday.
Central Coast go into Sunday’s match off the back of a great come-from-behind 3-1 win against Perth Glory and know that a win against Adelaide this round could see the Mariners move to as high as third on the A-League Women’s ladder.
A player who has been massively crucial for Central Coast this campaign with the role she’s played in the midfield is Bianca Galic, who last round scored her first goal of the season and just her second goal in the A-League Women.
When asked about the match last round against Perth Glory, Galic said, “last week against Perth (was a) great game in terms of (the) result for us. We definitely needed the win, not just for points but also for confidence. To be on that scoresheet finally is definitely a good feeling and one that I want to keep getting for the girls.”
Last week having been an international break, would have given the Mariners some time to reflect on Perth result and set themselves up for the remaining games of the season to try and maximise as many points as possible with the charge towards dinals.
When asked what training looked like during the international break, Galic said, “definitely felt a little different because we didn’t have a season game to look forward to on the weekend. We did play a friendly in between, (to) sort of get the legs ticking over, but I think it was just important for us to not switch off and think it was a holiday for a week, we did want to keep working towards our goal which is essentially making finals and getting to that grand final.”
The last time that Central Coast played Adelaide in Round Two, they emerged with a 2-1 win thanks to goals by captain Taren King and Wurigumula, the Mariners’ first win in their return campaign. It’ll be an interesting encounter between the two sides as they are different sides to when they faced each other earlier in the season.
When asked about how she sees the matchup between Central Coast and Adelaide this round, Galic said, “Adelaide are a much different team to how we versed them in Round Two and I think we are as well. Definitely, in the last couple of games, our possession has gotten a lot better, our attacking abilities have improved as well and I’m sure (the) same for them. We’re not coming into the game thinking it’s going to be an easy match just because we won against them in the second round. We’re ready for the challenge and we’re not going to drop off.”
Above: Mariners head coach Emily Husband addressing the media. Image: Central Coast Mariners.
The win against Perth was very important and hard-fought for many reasons such as getting one over the Glory from the previous time they’d faced each other in Round Nine which the Mariners lost 2-1, the temperature that both teams played in and to come from behind in the manner that they did, really was highly impressive.
When asked about the match last round against Perth Glory, Husband said, “it was probably one of our best performances of the season so far in the way that we kept the ball, we created so many goalscoring opportunities again which we’re still not quite taking (full advantage of) but that’s football sometimes. Just really proud of the girls, travelling all that way under the conditions and the heat that we had there (in Perth), to pull out one of our best performances, really happy with the group.”
When asked how she and the team spent the international break and what training looked like, Husband said, “we pretty much trained every day straight. It was a tough week for the girls but if we want to make a real crack at this, we’ve got to do everything in our power to make sure we don’t leave any stone unturned. So that’s really what we tried to do and we focused on many elements that sometimes we don’t always get the time to do during a normal game week.”
When asked how she sees the matchup between Central Coast and Adelaide, Husband said, “Adelaide have got into a good run recently and I think they’ll be a completely different team to what we played in Round Two. Likewise, we are as well. We’ve just got to concentrate on the things that we need to do well and keep on the trajectory that we’ve been on as well.”
Sydney FC
By Genevieve Henry
Above: Jordan Thompson addressing the media ahead of her first Sydney Derby. Image: Sydney FC.
Ahead of the Sydney Derby in the A-League Women, Sydney FC’s American defender Jordan Thompson spoke to the media, saying, “to win any game in this league is a big deal.”
3rd placed Sydney FC will face 7th placed Western Sydney Wanderers in their second match-up of the season, with the first comfortably going Sydney’s way in Round One. Western Sydney will be no easy task, however, having beaten some of the best teams in the competition recently. Thompson commented on the difficulty Sydney are expecting from their rivals, saying “we know that they’re a really amazing team, so we have to come out and be ready for a fight.”
With a week off in between games due to the international break, Sydney Fc are experiencing their first real calm period in the season, allowing them to focus on their goals for the season. The players are being pushed extra hard in training in order to maintain their competitive spirit within the competition. “I think we’re always dangerous”, Thompson commented with a laugh when asked about the importance of this refreshing period, but continued, “I think having fresh legs is a huge advantage.” For Sydney, fitness has played a huge role in their season thus far, and they will want to make sure they can finish the season strong.
Sydney has high expectations surrounding them, from the media and the fans, but Thomspon said none is more important than internal pressure. Each player and staff member have been putting in the extra effort to improve come the end of the season. In training, players are working to improve their games by “making sure that (they’re) always locked in.” Lapses of concentration, alongside the inability to finish, have been the Sky Blues’ Achilles heel this season, according to Thompson. She commented on this lack of goals, saying, “it’s just the game.” She feels that the important factor is that Sydney are creating the chances, and feels full of confidence that the goals will come.
Having a squad filled with players who know how to win a championship gives Sydney not only confidence, but extra pressure. “It’s always demanding the most out of each other.” Thomson talked about the importance of leaning on their veterans during tough moments and believing that they will carry them through. Thompson spoke about the importance of not only these players, but the full squad. “Our entire squad is really, really talented.”
A boost for Sydney comes in the form of the returning Shea Connors, Thomspon’s compatriot from the States. Connors has spent a large chunk of the season sidelined by injury, but having an out-and-out number nine could be a major factor in Sydney’s quest for goals. Thompson emphasised how good it will be to have her speed on the pitch again. Another player returning for Sydney that could have an impact, especially in a game that promises to give minutes to some new faces, is Lucy Johnson. Thompson said her big skill is, “winning about any ball that comes down the middle.”
The exciting news of injured captain Nat Tobin’s process of recovery in her ACL injury has brought a boost to Sydney. The defender was able to run on grass for the first time over the international break, and although it won’t pay off until next season, it has pumped the squad up. Thompson herself, who was brought on as an injury-replacement signing for Tobin, feels especially happy for her, saying, “oh my gosh it’s so exciting!” about her progress. Their captain has been handling her injury like no other, Thompson said, with grace and a giant smile. “It’s extra motivation for us to play for her. (We’ll) try to get another championship and premiership for her, and to carry on the legacy she’s worked so hard to build at Sydney.”
Wellington Phoenix
By Ryan Miller-Woods
Above: Alyssa Whinham speaking to the media. Image: Wellington Phoenix.
The media heard from the Wellington Phoenix’s Alyssa Whinham and Olivia Ingham ahead of the team’s upcoming match against Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
Wellington goes into this weekend’s match against Victory knowing that they need a positive result for their finals aspirations. Even though they are only four points away from sixth and could be within a point of the finals come the end of the round, they need results to go their way, and most importantly, bounce back from the 3-0 defeat last round to Western United.
Someone who played in the match against Western last round whilst certain players were on international duty for New Zealand was Alyssa Whinham. While she has featured in 10 matches this season for Wellington, the Western match was only her second starting appearance of this campaign and has had just 279 minutes on the pitch in total this season.
When asked how it’s been being back in the side over the past couple of weeks, Whinham said, “it’s been good. It’s been a pretty tough season for me just not getting much game time. I think I came into the season in a really good mindset and wanted to put my best foot forward and unfortunately, I haven’t really been getting that game time. I’ve had to work pretty hard outside of here to show Paul (Temple) that I am good enough and I can do it. I had been eying up that Western game (last round) for a while. So I was glad I got that opportunity, that was my second start. Unfortunately, it didn’t really go the way we wanted but I was just happy to get 90 minutes in and it’s always a privilege to play for the Phoenix.”
What has been the Achilles heel for the Phoenix throughout this season is that while they have been great at home in New Zealand (fourth in the league based on home results), they’ve only won and achieved points once away from home this campaign (12th in the league based on away results).
When asked whether the team still has that belief that they can make the top six and finals for the first time, Whinham said, “100%. We’ve got a very good team despite all of our injuries. We’re more than good enough to make the top six, we’re just at that part of the season where it really matters like each game is so important. I think anything less than top six, we would be very disappointed with. So, each training, each game is huge and internally we think about it more than we speak about it but we all know that it’s huge and we’re definitely going to be making that top six.”
Despite the match being played in Melbourne, something that Wellington can take going into this weekend is that the last time they played Victory were able to get a point from it come the final whistle in Round Seven with a 2-2 draw of which the Phoenix led at one stage in that encounter.
When asked about the challenge of playing Melbourne Victory away from home and whether the team is daunted by it being played in Melbourne, Whinham said, “definitely not! I think when they came we played them at home last time, we probably could have got more out of that game, than what we did. So I think it was a pretty end-to-end game and it was tough, they’re a very good side, we need to respect them a lot. I think it’ll be a battle between the midfield for sure. We can definitely go there and hopefully get three points, that’s the goal.”
Above: Returning from injury, Olivia Ingham speaks to the media. Image: Wellington Phoenix.
During the international break, Wellington played a friendly between their Senior Squad and their Women’s Academy team which saw the return to pitch for midfielder Olivia Ingham for the first time since the ACL injury she sustained in December 2022.
When asked about her thoughts on making her return to the pitch, Ingham said, “it was a really special moment; I was really excited. It’s been a long time coming and (have) been out for quite a while, so I was really happy to be back on the pitch.”
Western Sydney Wanderers
By Genevieve Henry
Above: Vicky Bruce speaking to the media ahead of the derby. Image: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers go head-to-head with rivals Sydney FC in an all-important clash they will be desperate to win this round. With revenge on the mind, the Wanderers will throw everything they have at a tough Sydney side in hopes to get their season back on track. “It means that much more if you’re the underdog.” Wanderers defender Vicky Bruce spoke to the media ahead of the match.
One spot away from the top six, the Wanderers have finals within reach and will be gunning to make their claim. Bruce spoke of their ambitions, saying, “this game was already gonna be so important and such a good game for everyone involved and now it means that much more for us. If we can win, we can crack into that top six.” The American defender has played an important role for the Wanderers, even scoring the winner two rounds ago against the Newcastle Jets.
After a proper smashing by Melbourne Victory, the Wanderers had a week off due to the international break spent reflecting and readjusting for the rest of the season. On their performance in that defeat, Bruce said, “it wasn’t our best team performance.” The Wanderers tactics were easily thwarted by a Victory prepared to capitalise on any chances they were offered. In the week off, they focused on limiting these errors for when they face Sydney.
One boost for the Wanderers was that star Sophie Harding received her first call-up for the Matildas, and although she never saw the field, it will surely bring motivation to her and her teammates. Bruce spoke of the team’s excitement for her and how it could bring even more fire to Harding’s game. “She is a force of nature. She’s so fast, she’s strong, she can shoot from almost anywhere. She really came into herself this year and we’re proud of her. She’s kinda taken us on her back and finished a lot of chances that maybe we wouldn’t have scored normally. With her athleticism, we make it work, and we’re gonna do everything we can to see if we can help her find the back of the net again.”
The Wanderers are currently performing better than they have previously, perhaps due to the extended season. Bruce says this is extra motivation and belief for them that is inspiring them to attempt to close the gap on Sydney. Having never finished above them on the table, the Wanderers will have that in mind as they face the Sky Blues. It will be an interesting matchup, with a defensively sound Sydney side taking on an excellent attacking side in the Wanderers. If Western Sydney can figure out Sydney’s weaknesses early on and exploit them on the counter-attack, there could be another upset for the side in red and black. “We have the chance to make history as a club.”
“This game means so much to everyone, I’m confident both teams are gonna go out with 120%. It’s gonna be who can do better on the day. If we can get the crowd behind us, the fans helping, then that will be key.” Set to be played at a sold-out CommBank Stadium, players on both sides are raring to go in the derby, with excitement being the main feeling. “I think it’s gonna be a crazy atmosphere, lots of positive vibes. This time it’s gonna be our home game which is nice, you know, last game we didn’t come away with the result we wanted, so all more reason to win in front of our crowd, our fans.”
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Above: Western United hat-trick hero Hannah Keane shows her joy after scoring today. Photo: Western United.
Western United solidified their lead at the top of the A-League Women’s ladder with a 4-2 win against Canberra United at City Vista Recreation Reserve to extend their winning run to six matches.
The home side had the perfect start as Hannah Keane opened the scoring in just 12 seconds as she powered her shot from outside the box past Canberra goalkeeper Coco Majstorovic into the bottom right corner for her seventh goal of the season. Surely one of the quickest goals ever scored in the A-League/W-League.
Canberra’s afternoon didn’t get much better as in the ninth minute Ava Piazza brought down Keane in the box and Western was awarded a penalty. Chloe Logarzo slotted the ball into the right corner for her ninth goal of the season to double the Victorian side’s lead.
Four minutes later, it got better still. Logarzo floated a beautiful cross into the box which found Keane whose header went into the top left corner for her side’s third goal of the match. This 14-minute period despite having had less possession personified just how good Western have looked and played under Kat Smith since her appointment in December.
As the first half progressed despite Canberra having had the majority of possession, the home side really controlled the flow of the match after the first 25 minutes. While Canberra slowly got into the match as the half progressed, they didn’t really look to be able to break through. Indeed, there were a few more chances for Western United to further extend their lead.
Above: So much to celebrate for Western United right now. Photo: Western United.
Within the first four minutes of the second half, Canberra brought the deficit down to two thanks to Deven Jackson, who from outside the box blasted her shot into the bottom right corner for her second goal of the season with a great strike. Credit also has to go to Ruby Nathan who laid off the crucial pass which set up the goal.
Just before the hour mark, Western almost scored another goal thanks to Emma Robers who provided a through ball for Aimee Medwin into the box who despite being on an angle, still hit the target with the ball coming off the crossbar to find Logarzo at the centre of the box who missed a great opportunity of scoring with an open goal as her shot went over the bar.
Seven minutes later, it was four for the home side thanks to an integral pass by former Canberra legend Grace Maher for Keane. The latter controlled the ball with ease as she made her run into the box and curled her shot into the bottom right corner to seal her hat-trick.
However, there was still time for Michelle Heyman to bookend a fairytale week with yet another goal – her sixth in as many days. The legend’s shot from outside of the box sealed and Heyman’s 13th goal of the season.
Despite more heroics from Heyman, it couldn’t take away from another superb display from Western United, who regardless of results in other matches this weekend will remain top of the pile.
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-2-3-1): Larsen, Robers, Medwin, Cerne, Papadopoulos, M. Taranto, Maher, A. Taranto, Logarzo, Hieda, Keane. Substitutes: Dall’Oste, Dakic, Sardo, Prakash, Zimmerman.
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