Above: Grace Johnston speaks to the media. Image: Perth Glory.
By Ella McShane (19/2/26)
Perth Glory’s Stephen Peters and young gun Grace Johnston spoke to the media ahead of their match up with Newcastle United for round 18 of the Ninja A-League. Three points separate the respective sides, therefore the common theme of a tight contest is likely to continue in the Hunter Valley with finals football to play for.
Following a victory and clean sheet against Canberra United at home on Saturday, spirits remain high amongst the squad.
“We just have to take that into next week against Newcastle,” said Johnston. “Finals is the end goal, but the only way to get there, is to take 3 points from every game.”
Heading into the weekend, Peters and Johnston highlighted the importance of harnessing the positive morale from last weeks three points, but also remain cautious of overconfidence.
“It’s all mentality, trying not to get too overconfident. I’ve been confident in our abilities and our ability to win, but we have to work on that in training each week and know [Newcastle United’s] strengths as well.”
“They’re a very strong team, very physical team. So we have to incorporate that into our game,” said Johnston.
“Morale wise we are feeling very good. But we are not getting ahead of ourselves, one win keeps us in the pack,” said Peters.
Above: Stephen Peters speaks to the press. Image: Perth Glory.
Looking to the tactics board, a more courageous style of attack has been a clear focus for the Glory in recent weeks. And it paid off on Saturdays clash with Canberra. We asked how Glory are plan on maintaining the more bold approach moving forward.
“It’s giving the 3 girls that start the confidence that they can shoot and that’s gonna yield an outcome for them. There was a little bit of that in training again today,” said Peters.
“But it’s also building the combinations. We want to try and settle on some combinations that are working.”
Being in contention for finals football is a welcome challenge for the girls in purple, however it has been a number of years and a complete squad turnover since this was the case. Reflecting on the pressure, Johnston explained that the team’s internationally experienced players have provided valuable guidance in these final weeks.
“That experience can be taken into the games,” said Johnston. “We have to treat every game like the final, those players can help us through and guide the younger players like myself through.”
Megan Wynne has returned to full training following a ruptured ACL and defender Naomi Chinnama is working on rebuilding strength and stamina after an ankle injury.
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory will be played on Saturday the 21st of February at No.2 Sportsground at 2pm AWST. Streamed free on 10Play and for paying subscribers of Paramount+
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Above: The Philippines lines up for a team photo. Image: Philippines Women’s National Team.
By Genevieve Henry (19/2/26).
A growing power in Asian women’s football, The Philippines Women’s National Team will be competing in their 11th Asian Cup. Las Filipinas will look to improve upon their semifinal appearance in the 2022 edition. Competing in Group A alongside Australia, South Korea, and Iran, this team will have to make every moment count.
The Philippines know how to play tournament football, however, their pedigree has grown in recent years. In 2022, they won their first major trophy, taking home the ASEAN Women’s Championship and solidifying their place as one of the best in Southeast Asia. The Philippines also added a first World Cup appearance — and win — to their list of accomplishments in 2023.
Squad:
Mark Torcaso announced the preliminary 32-player squad on February 4th.
Defenders: Hali Long (College of Asian Scholars), Sofia Wunsch (Unattached), Jessika Cowart (Vancouver Rise), Malea Cesar (Trinity Tigers), Angela Beard (Brisbane Roar), Janae DeFazio (Western Sydney Wanderers), Ariana Markey (Pepperdine Waves), Aiselyn Sia (Illinois FIghting Illini).
Midfielders: Sara Eggesvik (LSK Kvinner), Jaclyn Sawicki (Calgary Wild), Anicka Castañeda (Kaya–Iloilo), Kaya Hawkinson (Stallion Laguna), Isabella Pasion (Stallion Laguna), Alexa Pino (Kentucky Wildcats), Alessandrea Carpio (Kaya Iloilo), Natalie Oca (UC San Diego Tritons), Aaliyah Schinaman (George Mason Patriots), Jourdyn Curran (Unattached), Ava Villapando (LSU Tigers).
Above: Mark Torcaso watches on from the sidelines of a PWNT match. Image: PWNT.
The Philippines are coached by a man well-known in Australian football: Mark Torcaso. After finding success in the NPLW, the Australian rose to prominence leading Western United in their inaugural season to great success, winning A-League Women coach of the Year 2022-23. He succeeded fellow Australian Alen Stajcic as the coach of Las Filipinas in August 2023. Torcaso recently led the Philippines to a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December 2025, defeating Vietnam on penalties after a testy mini-tournament run.
Asian Cup History:
This will be the 11th Asian Cup appearance for The Philippines. The 2022 edition was their most successful run, making it all the way to the semifinals. In every other edition they have qualified for, aside from 2018, they only played in the group stage. The past two editions, finishing sixth and making it to the semifinal, will give the team hope.
How They Qualified:
The Philippines topped qualification Group G to qualify for the Asian Cup. They earned a perfect 9 points and a goal difference of 10, beating Saudi Arabia 3-0, Cambodia 6-0, and Hong Kong 1-0.
Strengths:
The Philippines boast a squad filled with international experience that has helped propel them to their recent success. With players in Australia, Europe, Canada, and plenty in the U.S. College System — alongside the domestic players — the team is able to draw from a wide range of experiences and styles. This helps the team thrive defensively, especially, conceding only 8 goals in 15 games in 2025.
Development Areas:
The Philippines struggle offensively at times, failing to score more than 1 or 2 goals when met with good competition. Despite having high scoring forwards such as Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada, the team needs varied routes to goal. Their Asian Cup qualifying campaign exemplifies this, having the lowest goal difference of any winning team.
Key Players:
Above: Hali Long strides up the field with the ball. Image: PWNT.
Hali Long captains the Philippines and holds their appearance record with 101. The 31-year old centreback has also scored 22 goals, an impressive feat for a defensive player. She drives the team from the defense, making runs and constantly spurring on moves with her attack-minded play. She plays her club football for The College of Women Scholars in Thailand, on loan from Filipino club Kaya Iloilo.
Olivia McDaniel in goal has been a star for the Philippines in the past few years. The 28-year old goalkeeper plays for Stallion Laguna in the Philippines and has made 59 appearances for the national team. She is firmly in control of the number one goalkeeper spot. She is pivotal in keeping the Philippines stronger defensively.
Midfielder Sara Eggsevik has 50 caps and 6 goals for Las Filipinas, but her influence goes beyond her stats. Marshalling the midfield with experience, the 28-year old has been instrumental in the Philippines’ late successes. She even got the assist for Bolden’s winning goal against New Zealand in their first World Cup victory. Eggsevik is one of the team’s primary creative figures. She plays for Norwegian club LSK Kvinner. Born and raised in Norway, she also represented them at the youth levels.
One to Watch:
24-year old defender Janae DeFazio is a rising star in the defence, plying her club trade at Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League women. She found great success prior to her professional career at UCLA, playing 37 times during college. She was signed by Kansas City Current out of college, but moved back to the Philippines to briefly play for Makati. In her first appearances for the Philippines in 2024, she recorded an assist against Jordan.
Success Would Be:
Advancing beyond the group stage would be a success for the Philippines and winning a quarterfinal would be within reach. Although they were drawn into a tough group, Torcaso and his side have high standards due to their recent success.
Prediction:
The Philippines should advance to the quarterfinals but may lose against China, Japan, or North Korea. If they manage to escape the powerhouses, they could advance, but a quarterfinal exit seems likely.
Fixtures:
1st March — Australia vs Philippines, 5pm, Perth Stadium
5th March — Philippines vs South Korea, 1pm, Gold Coast Stadium
8th March — Iran vs Philippines, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
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Above: Alex Chidiac is back in the Matildas’ squad after not being selected for a number of windows recently. Image: via A Leagues.
The much anticipated Australian squad for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup has been revealed, with a good mix of experience and youth in the 26 player squad.
On the one end of the experience scale there are eight players (Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Kahli Johnson, Jamilla Rankin, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Kaitlyn Torpey and Jada Whyman) who have never been in an Asian Cup squad before.
Meanwhile at the other end of the experience scale, captain Sam Kerr is in her fifth Asian Cup squad, while her deputies Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter are in their fourth and third respectively.
After much speculation it has been confirmed that Mary Fowler is in the squad for the tournament, less than a year after she ruptured her ACL. Jada Whyman is also in the squad after having missed the last few windows due to injury.
Alex Chidiac and Charlize Rule are also both in the squad, with the fan favourites returning to the national team set up after seeming to have fallen out of favour with national team selectors in recent times.
Reflecting on the squad selection, Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro said that “today is an important moment for the team as we name the squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
“Selecting a squad is never easy, but it is a privilege to bring together players who truly represent the identity and spirit of the CommBank Matildas, and who understand the responsibility of representing Australia.
“We have selected a strong mix of experienced leaders who understand what it means to wear the green and gold, alongside younger players who have earned their opportunity and will play a vital role in our future.
“Hosting a major home tournament is an honour we do not take lightly. The team is ready, focused and determined to make the nation proud, and we look forward to sharing this moment with fans across the country.”
Australia opens the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup against the Philippines in Perth, before taking on the Islamic Republic of Iran and then Korea Republic to round out its group stage.
Matildas Squad – 2026 Women’s Asian Cup
Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah and Jada Whyman.
Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Courtney Nevin, Jamila Rankin and Charlize Rule
Midfielders: Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Amy Sayer, Emily Van Egmond and Clare Wheeler.
Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Kahli Johnson, Sam Kerr, Holly McNamara, Hayley Raso, Remy Siemsen and Kaitlyn Torpey.
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Above: The USA will be trying to win the SheBelieves Cup for the sixth time when the 11th annual edition of the tournament kicks off next month. Image: via US Soccer.
In a big week for international squad announcements, the United States has revealed its squad for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup, set to take place across the USA next month.
The squad of 26 has gained a significant boost in experience compared to the one that faced Paraguay and Chile last month.
There are 11 players in the SheBelieves Cup squad that was not in the January squad, including some of the country’s most experienced players like Lindsey Heaps, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett.
They come into the squad in place of some of the less experienced players like Avery Patterson, but there was also no room for players like Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt.
The squad includes only 13 members of last year’s SheBelieves Cup squad, and nine players named to their first ever SheBelieves Cup squad.
In perhaps another sign of the change in thinking of Head Coach Emma Hayes, this is the first squad with no uncapped players in it since Hayes took over in 2024.
Speaking at the squad announcement, Hayes praised the format of the SheBelieves Cup as good preparation for major tournaments like next year’s World Cup.
“The SheBelieves Cup is a fantastic tournament which gives us the opportunity to replicate the group stage of a FIFA tournament,” said Hayes.
“Three quality games in quick succession also allow us to replicate conditions that will prepare us for the World Cup qualifying campaign this fall. As always, we want to keep developing our player pool to be more and more prepared. As we gain more experience, I expect our standards to keep improving.”
The USA begins its SheBelieves Cup against Argentina in Nashville in Tennessee on March 1, before playing Canada in Columbus , Ohio on March 4 and Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey on March 7.
U.S.A Women’s National Team Roster – 2026 SheBelieves Cup
Goalkeepers: Claudia Dickey, Mandy McGlynn and Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Defenders: Jordyn Bugg, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Lilly Reale, Tara Rudd, Emily Sonnett, Gisele Thompson, Kennedy Wesley and Kate Wiesner.
Midfielders: Sam Coffey, Lindsey Heaps, Claire Hutton, Riley Jackson, Rose Lavelle, Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw and Lily Yohannes.
Forwards: Maddie Dahlien, Jameese Joseph, Trinity Rodman, Emma Sears, Ally Sentnor and Alyssa Thompson.
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Above: Iran lines up for a recent game. Image: Iran Football Federation.
By Genevieve Henry (18/2/26).
The Iranian Women’s National Team, also known as Shirzanan or the Lionesses, are set to compete in Group A against Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines in their second-ever Asian Cup. With a mixed bag of performances against other Asian teams lately, Iran have shown they not only have the potential to score, but to hold top teams to tight matchups.
Without adequate training facilities and a consistent friendly schedule, Iran faces struggles in their development that a few other countries are familiar with. This team continues to improve and act as a catalyst for change even without the systems to support them. Among the current protests in Iran, the team has been unable to practice or play their scheduled friendlies.
Squad:
TBA.
Head Coach:
Above: Marziyeh Jafari on the sidelines. Image: AFC.
Marziyeh Jafari is an impressive figure in Asian women’s football. She has coached Bam Khatoon, the most successful club in the Iranian professional women’s league, since 2010. She has led the team to multiple AFC Women’s Champion’s League campaigns. Jafari is the most titled women’s coach in Iran and even won the 2025 AFC Coach of the Year. While she was appointed in 2025 to coach the national team, she currently remains at Bam Khatoon, giving her a difficult dual role. It gives her the benefit of working with a few players at both levels.
Asian Cup History:
Iran are set to make just their 2nd ever Asian Cup appearance, their first coming in 2022 where they failed to make it out of the group. They lost both matches of the group stage to China and Chinese Taipei; they did not face India who withdrew. Their goal difference of -12 tells the story of their tournament.
How They Qualified:
Iran qualified as the winners of qualification Group A. Finishing on 9 points, level with hosts Jordan, Iran advanced thanks to their head-to-head win over Jordan–the superseding qualification rule. With a goal difference of 9 (to Jordan’s 11), Iran put on impressive displays in beating Singapore 4-0, Bhutan 7-1, and Iran 2-1. They lost to Lebanon 3-1. Their goal difference was the smallest of all the qualifying nations.
Strengths:
Iran has an impressive defensive record, largely due to the goalkeeping of Zahra Khajavi. In the four games (out of 12) Iran lost in 2025, they never lost by a goal margin of more than two. They conceded nine goals in total while scoring 35. When Iran faced Australia in 2023, they caused the Matildas some struggles and allowed just two goals in a tight game. It will be interesting to see how and if they can thwart their fellow Group A teams.
Iran also are known for individual skills, many of their players being trained in futsal and therefore operating well on their own.
Development Areas:
This team faces struggles with possession. The team does not have on-ball cohesion so they struggle to be united on that front. They also lack in depth and experience of players due to the political and social implications of women’s football in Iran. Without proper and equal resources, not many players are afforded opportunities to develop at a high level. The opportunity to play in this edition and the 2022 edition of the Asian Cup are great opportunities for the players to have a consistent training environment and games.
Key Players:
Above: Zahra Ganbari strikes the ball for Iran. Image: Tehran Times.
Zahra Ganbari is Iran’s top scorer with 16 goals according to some reports. She has been a leader and advocate for women’s football in Iran. She also captains the team as one of the most experienced players, having played for nearly 20 years. She plays for Iranian club Persepolis.
Fatemeh Amineh is a defender who leads the defense through her experience. The 28-year old plays for Bam Khatoon under Jafari, giving her a unique relationship that transfers tactics from club to country. This particular aspect of her game shines through in her positioning and communication that is necessary to keep scoreline manageable.
Zahra Khajavi is Iran’s top goalkeeper. As the starting goalkeeper for seven years, she is very popular in Iran. Her work off the line is matched by none and her leadership controls the defense. As she grew up playing futsal, her foot skills are unusually good for a keeper. She plays the largest part in keeping Iran’s defense in check and stopping the goals from pouring in due to disorganization.
One to Watch:
Sana Sadeghi has racked up an impressive number of caps for her age considering the inconsistent game schedule. The 25-year old plays for Persepolis in Iran, giving her a valuable connection with a large majority of her teammates who play for the same club. Her experience helps to vitalize the midfield and bridge the gap between younger players and veterans.
Success Would Be:
Winning a game or even scoring a couple goals in a tough group would be a success for Iran. As one of the newest teams to the tournament, this will likely be a learning experience on the long road to development.
Prediction:
Group stage exit. On paper, it seems highly unlikely that Iran could make it out of Group A, let alone win a game. No matter what, even qualifying for their second Asian Cup is an impressive feat.
Fixtures:
1st March — South Korea vs Iran, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
5th March — Iran vs Australia, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
8th March — Iran vs Philippines, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
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Above: Renee Slegers in her press conference Photo: Arsenal FC
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers brushed aside the narrative that her side’s Champions League play-off was already decided after a 4-0 win last week in Belgium, suggesting that opponents OH Leuven have the freedom to go all out and that her team should prepare for different situations on the night. Frida Maanum also spoke to the media.
Arsenal faced Leuven last week and earned a convincing 4-0 win over the Belgian side and Slegers has said that there are multiple scenarios ahead of this game in the way she could go tactical wise: “there’s two answers to it and one that’s easy because we’ve beat this opponent twice, and on the other hand, it’s a different scenario now and they might do things different and we’ll have to anticipate that. But, of course, we took a result that we’re happy with away. It’s 4-0 now, so I’ll have to manage the game really well and be proud that they will come out and do something different”
Maanum then added “first and foremost, tomorrow is about getting the result, but, of course, they might go come out and do something different. The more we have the ball, the better, but we still want to be very purposeful with the way we attack them. I think us scoring goals can be very important as well for where the game goes. We have fantastic players and I think if you look at lately how we’ve been creating chances and variety of chances in a variety of places that are scoring for us and assisting, that’s really good.”
Slegers also confirmed the team news for tomorrow’s game and if Taylor Hinds who was called up to the England squad earlier on today would be in contention “so Taylor Hinds has progressed really well. She did a full session with us today, and she’ll be in squad tomorrow, Kyra wasn’t on the pitch today, She was ill, so we’ll see how she is tomorrow, the other one is Anneke Borbe – she’s done full sessions, so she will be available tomorrow
Maanum also spoke about the impact of playing with a variety of players and the connection it brings to the team “For example Stina (Blackstenius) and Alessia (Russo) are quite different in the nine position. I enjoy that challenge to play with different players, and like the last game, I connected well with Caitlin (Foord), so I think it’s a good challenge, like I said, and it’s fun.
The Dutch coach, also spoke about how her side will handle this familiar opponent “I don’t know what they are saying in their camp, what does success mean for them in this game and we’ll see if they look at their league games and they tend to be a little bit higher with higher pressure and they’re aggressive. So let’s see if they want to do that tomorrow. I think that’s one option we’ve seen. Do they go and be more direct and look for counter attacks directly? So we’ll see. There’s a couple of options for them to, explore, looking at, what do we want to bring to the game other than potential scenarios?, like we’ve been doing really well as a team. Still, there’s always an unknown going into the game, but we focus on what we know we can do.”
Last year the Gunners won the Champions League trophy in Lisbon after beating Barcelona, and Maanum has revealed that winning the trophy again is something that they speak a lot about within the training ground “, I would say we spoke about it quite a lot at the beginning of the season, and then there’s obviously a new season, new goals and we want to win that trophy again, but I think it’s always nice to reflect on it as a team together with the girls and the staff as well, look back on pictures and see what we went through last season. I think that’s a good reminder that we want to do it again this year.
This will also be one of the last games for the Australian trio of Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney- Cross and Caitlin Foord before they head off for the Australian Cup, and Slegers has explained the game plan and how many games they could potentially be missing: “of course when we plan for the season, we know that that tournament is there and that’s potential for them to miss games for us. That is what it is.”
“I think if you look at the season, we want all players available constantly, and that’s going to be important in this phase of the season where we know that 3 players are going to be gone, and then on the tournament. It’s always unpredictable, and there’s always things that happen in the season that you have to deal with, and there will be no difference I think from a recruitment perspective, if that’s part of the question.
“I think this will be hopefully a maximum of 3 games. So that’s what we’ll have to take but they’re going to be very proud of going away representing their country in a big tournament and we wish them all the best. Of course, to be with us 2 more games, we’ll be really happy and to get them back into the team, to keep on progressing and keep on. performing well and getting as many ways, of course, for the second half of the season together with them.”
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The NPLW Victoria has begun, with more games, more teams and more quality. Round One saw Melbourne City, Keilor Park, Melbourne Victory and Avondale make their debut’s, a new striker start off with a bang and some youngsters make a statement.
The opening night saw Essendon Royals travel to face the champions in Box Hill United. The two sides had contrasting pre-seasons, with Box Hill a victim of their own success. Their biggest names are currently playing across the A-League Women, while some of their best young talent are at two of the new clubs. Meanwhile, Essendon have retained much of their semi-final team, and seemingly strengthened with the signing of Kelli McGroarty and the return from injury of Ava Groba.
It was another new Royal who opened the scoring. Midfielder Bella Sewards surged forward to complete a fluid attacking move and finish across the goalkeeper.
Box Hill levelled the scores before half time through their American forward, Sydney Minarik. She raced onto a high, looping ball forward to power toward goal and finish emphatically.
Sewards was involved in Essendon’s second goal of the evening, The Royals willingness to make brave in-board passes opened up space out wide and Bronte Peel’s cross was finished on the volley by McGroarty to make it 2-1.
McGroarty sealed the three points with a thunderous long range drive in the 83rd minute. Essendon’s 3-1 win was a deserved victory, and a strong start to their latest attempt to win a trophy.
South Melbourne usually begin the NPLW season in strong form, and this year was no exception. Their 5-1 win over Bentleigh Greens was not as easy as the scoreline made it look. Although South dominated the early exchanges, but found Bentleigh hard to break.
Against the run of play, Julia Budiongo scored the opener for Bentleigh. The Congolese striker is difficult to stop, and once she gets goal side, difficult becomes impossible. She scored in typical fashion in the 23rd minute.
South Melbourne eventually found their groove and the back of the net in the second half. TJ Vlajnic’s Olimpico corner levelled the scores before Raquel Derales put South ahead just minutes later.
Francesca Iermano scored a third and soon after Alexis Pantazopoulos put the game beyond doubt. Although the result was secure, South were not finished and Nikki Furukawa scored the fifth in the 84th minute.
The third game of Friday night saw Spring Hills FC and Keilor Park SC play out an entertaining 1-1 draw. Abby Holmes scored the likely goal of the round with a first time hit from at least 20 yards. She took Jenna Ibrahim completely by surprise with a long range, curling shot to give the league’s new arrivals a surprise lead.
🚨🟣 SENOL NPLWVIC GOAL! 33:45: Keilor Park SC score to make it SHFC 0 : KPSC 1.
Roisin Murphy score the equaliser almost immediately after half time, and despite some close calls that saw Spring Hill’s defence scramble the ball away, the scores remained level up until the final whistle.
Saturdays action saw Melbourne Victory’s U23 side travel to the Veneto Club to face The Bulleen Lions. The Lions were without midfield maestro Sarah Cain and coach Caitlin Friend was serving a touchline ban following a tense semi-final at the end of last season.
Melbourne Victory were making their debut in this competition and were out to make an impact. Poppy O’Keefe pulled the strings in midfield to give Victory early control, while Emily Rutkowski was excellent at fullback.
Fiorina Iaria’s early chance skimmed just wide, but Victory broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Leyla Hussein nodded home after Alyssa Dall ‘Oste saved a close range shot from Sienna Techera.
That goal was enough to win it. Despite Bulleen spending much of the second half looking dangerous, they could not find the equaliser, only the gloves of Chloe Mckenzie and the woodwork with a late corner.
The Lions will be sure to respond and improve as players regain fitness, but this was an incredible start for Melbourne Victory’s youngsters.
At Dorothy Laver Reserve, Alamein FC only needed one goal to defeat the star studded Avondale FC. Savanna Anastasopoulos scored on the edge of half time to give the home side the perfect start to their campaign.
Zoe Houghton’s cross from the right made it all the way to the far post and Anastasopoulos was able to control then finish on the turn with excellent technique.
Melbourne City were welcomed to the NPLW by an impressive Boroondara Eagles. Sarah Brunner scored a brace for the visiting team, using her pace and strength to burst clear and beat Dali Gorr-Burchmore for the opener. A contentious and slightly confusing penalty was later awarded to The Eagles from a corner kick. Kanako Higuchi made it 2-0 from the spot.
Zoe Bennett’s corner made it 3-0 to the visitors. The goal will go down as an own goal, but there was little anybody could do to deal with the quality of the curling delivery.
City forward Mary Brown pulled on back for the hosts to score their first ever NPLW goal. Her persistent and diligent pressing caused a turnover from the goal kick in a classic case of “When Playing It Out From The Back Goes wrong”
Brunner extinguished any hopes of a comeback with an excellent solo goal in the 77th minute. after cruising into the penalty area from the right, she cut inside and finished at the near post to make it 4-1 for Boroondara.
In the final fixture of the round, premiers Heidelberg United hosted The Preston Lions at the Olympic Village. Valentine Pursey’s diving header won the day for Preston after she nodded on Rhiannon O’Looney’s cross after the winger created space for herself with some sparkling footwork.
🚨🟣 SENOL NPLWVIC GOAL! 77:11: Preston Lions FC score to make it HU 0 : PLFC 1.
New Preston goalkeeper Charlotte Hrehoresin excelled as The Lions defended their slim lead, with the single goal proving enough to earn three points.
The ladder does not mean much after one round, but South Melbourne currently occupy to spot with Boroondara scoring one goal less in their own big win. Round two will provide several intriguing clashes, with perhaps the most interesting being Bulleen and Avondale both looking to respond to losses and South and Preston facing off after wins.
In Appreciation of…Jade Tam
Screenshot
In previous seasons, this column has focussed on one main game and then recounted the big moments of the others. We are going to change things up a little with some appreciation of an individual player, moment or tactic in each round, something that stands out among all the action. The first edition of this will be Melbourne Victory’s Jade Tam.
It can sometimes be hard to write about central defenders. Except for an occasional spectacular clearance, they rarely make the highlight reel. If everything goes right, a team keeps it shape and the tactics work, they can go relatively unnoticed.
But Tam was excellent at the back for Victory as they held on to a 1-0 lead few neutrals expected them to have so early. Victory had to defend from the 15th minute against a Bulleen team with weapons on the pitch and bench, and Tam was crucial to their success on Saturday.
The clean sheet hints at everything going right for Victory, but although they were int control for the first 40 minutes, Bulleen started to work their way into the game and it felt like a goal was inevitable. Tam was able to clean up several chances before they became threats and reovered well when the likes of Maja Markovski and Ashley Jordan looked like they had broken free.
Her composure on the ball, helped Victory build from the back, and her long passing stretched the Bulleen defence, keeping them alert to Victory’s dangerous wingers.
This is not a team short on leadership, or experience despite their youthful lineup, but beating Bulleen on day one was still a big task for this team. The Lions are rarely held goalless, and Bulleen threw everything they had at Victory, but the defence held strong and Tam barely put a foot wrong under pressure at the back.
She’s a centre back that makes you feel calm and that helped Victory play some very impressive football.
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Above: FC Twente and Ajax locked in battle. Photo: Pro Shots NL.
Snow and icy pitches disrupted this weekend’s Eredivisie action. HERA United vs AZ was abandoned halfway through, after earlier cancellations of Utrecht vs Excelsior and Ajax vs NAC due to expected snowfall. In the end, only three matches reached the final whistle.
The toughest conditions were in Eindhoven, where even pitch heating couldn’t withstand the heavy snowfall. Yet PSV’s perseverance in those circumstances showed real maturity in a top clash against surprise package PEC Zwolle.
As the race tightens, it’s time to separate ambition from readiness in the battle for Champions League qualification. The snow may have frozen this round of fixtures, but the race for UWCL football is heating up.
Five teams are pushing for three UWCL qualification places: FC Twente, Ajax, Feyenoord, PEC Zwolle, and PSV.
Thanks to three years of consistent European performances from FC Twente and Ajax, the Netherlands climbed from ninth to seventh in the UEFA coefficient rankings. As a result, the Eredivisie will have three teams entering the UWCL qualifiers next season.
But which three truly deserve those spots?
Feyenoord
Feyenoord deserve credit for their honesty. After their 1-1 draw against ADO Den Haag on Sunday, head coach Jessica Torny admitted her side is not yet ready to compete for the title. I agree.
They haven’t beaten any of the other title contenders. Two draws against PSV and narrow defeats to Ajax and FC Twente show progress – but mathematically and mentally, you cannot afford dropped points against teams like ADO if you haven’t taken points from direct rivals.
Still, Feyenoord are clearly the best of the rest. Their well-embedded playing style and stability in staffing show promise for a first real European adventure. I can see them doing well in Europe.
However, if they want to survive the qualifiers, they need more quality up front. A clinical finisher like Vivianne Miedema – who has expressed interest in ending her career at Feyenoord – would transform this team. But they cannot rely on something extraordinary happening. They must act decisively in the summer transfer window.
PEC Zwolle
I wouldn’t give PEC Zwolle the benefit of the doubt – yet.
There are simply too many “firsts” to feel secure about European readiness. It’s Gert Peter de Gunst’s first season as a head coach at this level. No player in the squad has experience playing two-legged European ties. The club also lacks a UEFA-approved women’s stadium.
Their results show strong coaching and tremendous potential in a young squad. But mentally, I don’t think they’re ready for Europe. The 3-0 loss to PSV showed the difference in maturity. PSV handled the snow and the pressure; PEC looked like they just wanted the final whistle.
This season should be a foundation. They would be wise to generate transfer revenue and continue building – perhaps literally – so this surge is more than a one-season wonder.
PSV
PSV are making a serious effort to elevate their women’s team. Investment from the men’s side – currently thriving under Peter Bosz – is clearly trickling down.
Experienced signings like Cayman and Shanice van de Sanden add leadership, while the club has also retained key international talents such as Nina Nijstad, Riola Xhemaili, and Chimera Ripa. Keeping players in their early-to-mid twenties signals ambition and financial commitment.
Their European campaign this season has been bumpy – heavy defeats mixed with big wins – but those experiences matter. They’ve built resilience.
The win over PEC Zwolle in extreme weather conditions was telling. Through slippery snow and freezing temperatures, PSV kept their focus on the bigger picture: win today, and Europe comes closer. Xhemaili, Ripa, and Van de Sanden showed a mentality edge over their opponents.
Given the level of investment, PSV owe it to themselves to make Europe count. And this time, not just participate – but succeed.
FC Twente
Despite their 5-1 victory over SC Heerenveen, it was an emotional day for FC Twente.
Jaimy Ravensbergen scored a hat-trick just hours after learning of her grandmother’s passing. With her family in the stands, she dedicated her first goal to her grandmother before running to embrace her parents in tears. She chose to play – no one forced her – and she played to make her grandmother proud.
Teammate Eva Oude Elberink said afterward: “Only Jaimy can do this.”
That moment reflects what FC Twente stands for: winning – and family. Especially within the women’s team, that collective spirit is part of the culture. When they go behind, they respond together. Time and again, they’ve shown they are a force in this league.
Twente are building toward sustained European recognition. The club has spoken about developing experience cycle by cycle, and that progress is visible. If key players like Ravensbergen stay, a knockout-stage run next season feels realistic. This year, they were unlucky in crucial late moments. Next season, those margins could fall their way.
Ajax
Ajax didn’t play this weekend due to weather conditions, but their long-term situation remains crucial.
I was pleased to see they didn’t sell players in the winter transfer window. After losing more than seven key players over recent seasons, stability is essential.
It’s vital they keep striker Danique Tolhoek and midfielder Danique Noordman. Both are in their early twenties and, alongside goalkeeper Regina van Eijk, have been their most consistent performers.
Ajax can no longer rely solely on youth potential to win titles. Those talents must now be the experienced core. If they continue fielding squads filled with teenagers, inconsistency is inevitable. PSV, PEC Zwolle, and Feyenoord are improving and will punish instability.
If Ajax lose Tolhoek and Noordman, I fear a very difficult season ahead – especially given the upward trajectory of PSV and Feyenoord.
Follow Jan for all the news about Dutch Women’s Football on www.fcleeuwinnen.nl.
Above: The Republic of Ireland will be looking to continue a strong run of momentum into a very important year of matches. Image: Ireland Football Twitter.
The first squad for the Republic of Ireland for 2026 has been revealed, with not too many surprises in the 23 player squad set to take on France and the Netherlands early next month.
The squad is a settled one, with it being largely the same as the one who upset Belgium to secure promotion to League A for 2026 and the squad who played a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hungary in December.
Courtney Brosnan, Megan Connolly and Leanne Kiernan are all in this squad after missing the Belgium matches with injuries, whilst Connolly and Amber Barrett are also in the squad after not being in the squad for the Hungary game.
Ruesha Littlejohn is also in the squad but her selection has drawn criticism because of her lack of minutes for club side Crystal Palace recently. Speaking to the media after the squad announcement, head coach Carla Ward confirmed that despite the lack of game minutes Littlejohn has been training consistently and that her presence in the squad is vital because she is “critical in terms of the environment and her leadership skills.”
Tara O’Hanlon and Kelly Brady are the two faces from the squad against Hungary who are not in this squad, while there was no room for Erin Healy or Jenna Slattery despite their recent excellent form. Heather Payne also did not make the squad.
The upcoming window is the start of a huge year for the Republic of Ireland, with the world number 27s looking to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup. The Girls in Green first host France at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on March 3, before travelling to Utrecht to take on the Netherlands four days later.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE MARCH 2026
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan, Grace Moloney and Sophie Whitehouse.
Defenders: Katie McCabe, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Hayley Nolan, Aoife Mannion, Chloe Mustaki and Jessie Stapleton.
Above: The South Korean women’s national team lines up. Image: Yonhap.
By Genevieve Henry (17/2/26).
The South Korean Women’s National Team, known as Taegeuk Nangja (Taegeuk Ladies) are ready to compete in their 15th Asian Cup and will be looking to earn their first-ever trophy in the competition. Drawn into Group A, alongside Australia, Iran, and the Philippines, South Korea may not have the easiest path to victory.
One of the stronger teams in Asia, South Korea has a few prominent players and plenty of impressive history under their belt. Recent results have been a mixed bag, including a 5-0 loss to the Netherlands and 1-1 tie with Wales– but against Asian opponents they have fared quite well. South Korea held both Japan and China to draws, beat Thailand, Uzbekistan, India, and Chinese Taipei, and only lost to Australia in a two-game series in April.
In late January, members of the South Korea team sent a statement to their federation threatening to boycott the Asian Cup for “harsh and unreasonable” conditions, especially relating to travel and accommodation. The statement was sent in September and outlined that the team would not participate in the tournament if the federation didn’t respond by October 17. The issue was supposedly solved in early February.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kim Min-jeong (Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels), Ryu Ji-soo (Sejong Sportstoto), Woo Seo-bin (Seoul WFC)
Defenders: Kim Hye-ri (Suwon FC), Jang Sel-gi (Gyeongju KHNP), Choo Hyo-joo (Ottawa Rapid), Kim Jin-hui (Gyeongju KHNP), Ko Yoo-jin (Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels), Noh Jin-young (Mungyeong Sangmu), Shin Na-yeong (Brooklyn FC), Lee Min-hwa (Hwacheon KSPO)
Midfielders: Ji So-yun (Suwon FC), Choe Yu-ri (Suwon FC), Kang Chae-rim (Montreal Roses), Lee Eun-young (Gangjin Swans), Mun Eun-ju (Hwacheon KSPO), Kim Shin-ji (Rangers), Kim Min-ji (Seoul WFC), Jung Min-young (Ottawa Rapid), Park Soo-jeong (AC Milan), Song Jae-eun (Gangjin Swans), Park Hye-jeong (Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels)
Above: Shin Sang-woo speaks to the media. Image: Yonhap.
Shin Sang-woo, who took the reins as head coach in 2024, has a long history as a player and coach in South Korea. He played professionally from 1999 to 2011 before starting his journey as a coach in 2010. He coached WK League clubs Changnyeong WFC and Icheon Daekyo before its disbandment in 2017, as well as being the assistant coach at others. His most recent job was as the assistant coach for men’s K League 1 side Gimcheon Sangmu. This is his first experience in international football and certainly his most high-profile gig. He is contracted until 2028.
Asian Cup History:
Although they have racked up 14 appearances at the Asian Cup, South Korea are yet to bag a victory. They came closest in the latest edition in 2022, where they beat out Australia on their run to the final.
How They Qualified:
South Korea qualified automatically as runners-up in the 2022 edition, their best run ever.
Strengths:
South Korea has been typically strong against both lower and higher-ranked opponents with adaptable tactics. Against teams like Australia and Japan, South Korea are comfortable to sit back and defend for long stretches and prove lethal on the counter attack. However, they can also dominate less experienced teams while maintaining possession and high pressure.
Development Areas:
South Korea does not have a very deep talent pool, with few players overseas in top leagues and a domestic league still in development. Due to the WK League’s semi-pro status, many players have to juggle careers outside of football, similar to the A-League Women.
South Korea is also not known for being high-scoring, their excellence lying more in the midfield and defence. Especially against top opponents, South Korea doesn’t often score consistently or through many avenues. Significantly, they only have four players listed as forwards in their squad, which will be a concern if any are injured.
Key Players:
Above: Ji So-yun waves to fans at the World Cup. Image: Suwon FC.
South Korea’s top scorer and most capped player is Ji So-yun, who just relocated back to South Korea to compete for Suwon FC. The 35-year old has 171 caps and 74 goals for South Korea. Ji is best known for time in Chelsea colors, where she played for 8 years, scoring 37 goals and making 124 appearances. She is often regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. Notably, it was her goal that sent South Korea to the semifinals of the 2022 edition of the Asian Cup, knocking out Australia.
Choe Yu-ri anchors the midfield alongside Ji. The 31-year old is one of the most capped members of the squad and has 13 goals. Her defensive contributions are important in giving Ji the freedom to roam and attack. Choe also plays for Suwon Fc alongside Ji, making the partnership the most critical among the squad.
35-year old defender Kim Hye-ri captains South Korea, leading from the back. With 136 caps, she is one of the most experienced players in the team and maintains the side’s defense solidity with her leadership. Kim has spent the majority of her career in South Korea, playing for Seoul WFC and Hyundai Steel Red Angels, but moved to play for Wuhan Jiangda in China in 2025. In her youth career, Kim captained the U-20 team to finish third in the 2010 U-20 Women’s World Cup, becoming the first South Korean team to finish as high as third in a FIFA tournament.
One to Watch:
18-year old Casey Yu-Jin Phair burst onto the scene in 2023, becoming the youngest player to ever appear in the men’s or women’s World Cup. Her performances at the U-17 level had drawn notice, scoring 8 goals in 9 matches. The forward then signed to Angel City in 2024, where she made few appearances. Although Angel City signed her to a three-year deal, she was loaned out to Swedish club Djurgården. She is now back at Angel City. Her best performances have largely come in the South Korean kit, scoring 4 goals in 17 appearances for her country. She is also the first multiracial player to represent South Korea at a World Cup.
Success Would Be:
If South Korea makes it to the semifinals, it will be a small victory. While they are certainly one of the stronger teams in the tournament, it could be the luck of the draw that determines their fate.
Prediction:
Quarterfinal exit, but win the play-off to continue in their quest for World Cup qualification. This is a strong side, but without the level of high-profile players that the other top teams in Asia have, South Korea will need excellent tactics. There’s not much room for error in this tournament, as South Korea reminded Australia in 2023.
Fixtures:
1st March — South Korea vs Iran, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
5th March — Philippines vs South Korea, 1pm, Gold Coast Stadium
8th March — Australia vs South Korea, 8pm, Stadium Australia
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