Above: Sam Kerr and Joe Montemurro post-match. Image: Football Australia.
By Genevieve Henry (2/12/25).
After beating New Zealand 2-0 at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, Matildas captain Sam Kerr and head coach Joe Montemurro addressed the media in their post-match press conference.
Goals to Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso secured the win in what was a free-flowing and dominating victory for Australia.
“I think sometimes we lose sight of why we play football, and tonight just felt like one of those moments where I could just really go out there and enjoy it and have fun.” Kerr said.
It’s a feeling that stems from understanding Montemurro’s football ideology. “You can see that he wants to play football,” Kerr said. “It’s been all based on football, all based on the little details, and I think we’ve really needed that as a team. We all had an idea when he came in of what his philosophy was and it’s been really enjoyable and fun.”
Montemurro’s philosophy is all about proactive possession and ball control. “We got caught a couple of times on the break and we’re obviously defending one-on-one in these situations, so a lot of people sort of pulling their hair out on that sort of stuff, but I like it because it’s one of those risk-reward sort of scenarios,” Montemurro said. “The more we’re proactive, risk, keep the ball high and keep it where we want it and control it, you are going to find one or two moments where you’re going to get caught. Not a problem for me, and that’s what I’m proud of this team.”
“This team’s really just developed this idea of wanting to be in control with the ball and finding these little movements in these little spaces to break teams down.” Montemurro said.
While some players excel in those tight spaces that New Zealand forced the Matildas to play in, Kerr expressed her apprehension with that playing style. “I would have liked to have played longer, but it wasn’t to be,” Kerr said, after being taken out after playing the first 45. “The game was a little bit crowded, it’s not my strength to play in small areas, but when I did play in small areas I thought I did quite well.”
But, even when Kerr isn’t at her best, she’s still world-class. Her work in the first half in hold-up and link-up play was understated but critical in maintaining attacking momentum and creative flow.
“I think she brings this level of confidence within the group. Everyone just feels a little bit taller, stronger, better having Sam around,” Montemurro said. “She’s an amazing leader – and she’s a bit cheeky too, which is good. She’s (brings) a little bit of banter in the group, which I think is the most important thing. But as I said, obviously the footballing quality is a second to none.”
“To have her back playing at her best is what I think she really wants – and just being back on the park I think is what she really wants,” Montemurro said regarding Kerr. “I’m so proud to have her as part of this lead-up into the tournament and part of these last couple of camps.”
One player who stepped up and made the most of her opportunity was Alanna Kennedy. Kennedy played in a more advanced role and opened the scoring after finding herself out of the lineup due to red card suspension, as well as struggling for playing time at the club level. “I’ve always liked her as a more proactive defender or a player in front of the back…she has all the passing weapons. She can (play) long, short, interfere, combine and all those sorts of areas,” Montemurro said. “She just now needs to find the rhythm and confidence to do it now because she’s playing sporadically at London City.”
Even with six changes to the starting lineup, Australia still put out a side that could be considered their strongest lineup. This depth is still in development, but strengthening the side in obvious ways.
“I think we’ve now elevated the squad holistically in a big way where we’ve got a good group of players that can fit into all different areas and can come into all different situations, understanding the style and the ideas we’re trying to put in,” Montemurro said. “I’m in a privileged position to say, ‘Okay, well, I want to play a little bit more proactive in these areas or I want to be able to protect these areas.’ I can do it because we have the quality of players to do it.”
The internal competition in the squad should bring out the best in the starters and squad players – a mix becoming more and more interchangeable. The next couple of months will be critical in individual development and fitness. And while the narrative swirling has been about the Asian Cup approaching too fast for Australia’s coaching changes, Montemurro has a different perspective.
“I wish the tournament was next week, I’ll be honest with you,” Montemurro said. “The buzz that’s been in the camp this week, the energy, the football, the growth – and just the players themselves, they’re just an amazing group. They really are.”
“We’re all excited from the success of the World Cup…It was special and something that we’ll never, ever forget,” Kerr said. “We’re kind of hoping that we can replicate that feeling at the Asian Cup.”
Above:Alanna Kennedy (facing) and Sam Kerr celebrate after the former scored the opening goal tonight against New Zealand. Photo:Football Australia
The Matildas have defeated New Zealand 2-0 in Adelaide to wrap up their year, thanks to goals from Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso. The side has now played their last game for 2025 and their last game before the 2026 Asian Cup.
Kennedy made her return to the starting line-up and to the scoresheet, playing an experimental role in defence, after having served her one-game suspension for receiving a red card against England.
Kennedy was not the only change made to the squad, as head coach Joe Montemurro named Sam Kerr to start for the first time at home in 763 days, as well as including Clare Wheeler, Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Hunt, and Teagan Micah.
The Matildas’ second goal of the evening came late in the second half, when Raso pounced on a deflection from a Kiwi defender, giving her the time and space to put an impressive curling shot into the net, her second goal in as many games.
While Australia spent the majority of the game in control of the ball, maintaining 70% of possession, New Zealand still managed to find opportunities for scoring, requiring keeper Micah to make multiple saves throughout the course of the night.
One of the Ferns’ best chances came from their retiring captain Annalie Longo, who worked her way into the box before sending her defender reeling and getting off a shot.
The conclusion of this game leaves Australia with only 88 days left to prepare for their first international tournament under Montemurro, where the Matildas will open the event against the Philippines on the 1st of March.
Above: Joe Montemurro and Ellie Carpenter at Coopers Stadium. Image: Football Australia.
By Genevieve Henry (1/12/25).
Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter and head coach Joe Montemurro talked to the press ahead of their second friendly match against New Zealand in the December international window.The match will take place Tuesday night at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide.
After putting 5 past the Ferns in a rampaging performance, the Matildas are not expecting things to be quite as easy the second go around.
“(New Zealand) definitely wouldn’t be happy with their performance, and I think they can expect a totally different New Zealand tomorrow evening,” Carpenter said. “We’re prepared for that. We’re going to play our own game, our own style of play, and bring it to them again.”
Friday’s five-star showing was arguably the Matildas’ best performance under Montemurro. The beginnings of a football identity began to show to great effect. While the quality of the opponent certainly dictated how easy it was to exert their own control and style in the match, the Matildas are on the right track for the Asian Cup.
“Do we need some more continuity? Absolutely. How we’re going to find that continuity when they all go away tomorrow night might be difficult, but I think the thing that I’ve said from day one is to get some key messages on what we believe is the best way to approach games. We saw a good base the other night,” Montemurro said. “We’ve been building an idea of football because we believe it’s what we need to go ahead, not just to the Asian Cup, but as a nation, and also as an elite national team.”
Montemurro discussed an underdog complex he has seen in the side – an idea he regards as incorrect and possibly destructive.
“We think that we’re so far behind, or we’ve got this inferiority complex to the rest of the world in football, but we’ve got coaches all around the world. We’ve got top players all around the world at top clubs. So we must be doing something right, and we should be celebrating that.”
“I think what we’ve done in the last couple of months has been important,” Carpenter said. “The recent game was probably our best performance in a long while, really gelling and playing the style of play we want to play.”
Montemurro said Sam Kerr, who missed out on the first game in the series, is training well. “We just want her to be like every player. We assess their situation and we assess where they’re at. We ask the players also how they’re feeling because they know their bodies better sometimes.”
While Kerr’s progress at Chelsea has been coming in waves, Carpenter is thriving at her new club – especially with her compatriot. “It’s lovely to be in the same club team as her and also building those connections on the pitch. That’s only going to help us here, obviously, with the national team.”
“I’m really enjoying my football at the moment. It’s a new challenge for me, a new environment,” Carpenter said. “I’m just playing freely and I have a lot of confidence at the moment. I’m really happy with how I’m performing.”
Carpenter, who was named player of the match and scored her 5th goal for Australia on Friday, has been a key player for Australia for around a decade already, but her influence is growing stronger as she gains more leadership and confidence. She is one of few players who will feel as though they have a cemented spot in the Asian Cup squad. For the rest, this match against New Zealand is all-important, as well as their club form for the next few months.
“Tomorrow is another good opportunity, just before the Asian Cup, because we all go back to our clubs tomorrow night, and we come back together in March. So tomorrow night’s really important.”
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate after scoring against Perth Glory. Photo: Anita Milas
Melbourne Victory have for now jumped to the top of the A League Women’s ladder after a comfortable 3-0 win over Perth Glory. The result was won and done by half time, with first half goals from Kennedy White, Sofia Sakalis and Rhianna Pollicina getting the job done for the home side.
Initial proceedings were greeted with weather that was trying provide as much chaos as possible, and two sides that were sharing possession on pretty even terms.
For the home side it was Zoe McMeeken and Holly Furphy who were teaming up to create some promising attacking movement down the right wing, while for Glory it was Grace Johnston and Ella Lincoln doing the same thing coming back the other way.
As the early franticness started to settle the Victory started to bank some really dangerous chances, although none of them ultimately converting into goals. Furphy, White and even Alana Jancevski – who was playing in a wing back like role – were starting to sneak their way around Perth’s defensive line and get into some dangerous positions to score.
That was until about 20 minutes in, when Victory finally put one of those dangerous chances into the back of the net. White connected on the end of a well placed McMeeken cross and perfectly guided her shot into the top corner.
Perth Glory almost countered with a goal of their own seconds after the restart, but Rola Badawiya’s shot narrowly missed.
As hard as players like Johnston and Lincoln were working down the left wing for Glory, the Glory did not have anywhere near as many players in useful positions for a dangerous attack as Victory did when they went attacking up the other end.
Victory doubled their lead about 15 minutes after their first goal with a goal that was a very similar style to their first goal. However, this time it was Sakalis getting on the end of a well placed cross from Furphy.
Victory’s third goal came minutes from half time when Policina let a shot rip from outside the box that Glory keeper Alyssa Dall’Oste had little chance of stopping.
As half time drew closer Victory did not relent in their attacking pressure, but they were unable to add any more goals to their tally before the half time whistle blew.
As the skies darkened over Melbourne’s northern suburbs, there was an almost eery calm feeling to start the second half. Both sides shared a fairly even amount of possession and both sides were happy to take their time with it passing it around amongst themselves.
Both sides had moments of promise in attack and a few narrow misses, but ultimately nothing that resulted in a change to the score line.
Above:Kyra Cooney-Cross celebrates her stunning goal. Photo:Football Australia
Five different goalscorers gave Australia a comprehensive victory against New Zealand as Joe Montemurro’s Asian Cup preparations began to hit stride. Amy Sayer and Hayley Raso set the tone with two first half goals, before Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry added more in the second.
Australia’s starting lineup was experienced but slightly different than what fans have been used to. Steph Catley partnered Winonah Heatley in the centre of defence. The duo’s passing ability and pace saw them preferred over Clare Hunt and in place of the suspended Alana Kennedy. Courtney Nevin got the nod at left back.
The midfield was made up of Gorry, Cooney-Cross and Emily van Egmond. The trio seemed to rotate positions , but nominally, van Egmond was the deepest, with Gorry in a more attacking role.
With Sam Kerr sidelined as a precaution following a rumored calf concern, Amy Sayer started on the left of the attack, with Caitlin Foord as the Nine and Raso in her familiar right flank position.
Australia began confidently and aggressively. Foord’s strength and vision released Raso, but her chipped effort was off target. The Matildas had the lead soon after when Gorry’s cleverly disguised pass found Sayer completely unmarked in the 18-yard box. She took her chance well to open the scoring.
Raso made amends for the earlier miss with a composed finish after being gifted possession by the New Zealand defence. She still had plenty to do and curled her effort in from the edge of the area.
New Zealand looked nervy in defence, and hesitant in midfield, but when they got the ball into attack, they posed a threat. Indiah- Paige Riley looked dangerous and creative on the right of a three-player attack.
Australia remained dominant in possession, but chances were harder to come by for the rest of the first half. Gorry’s pass into the box missed both attackers, while Carpener blazed over from close range and Sayer hit the woodwork.
Australia persisted, and in the second 45, they were rewarded.
It took until the 70’th minute but the floodgates eventually opened. Carpenter fired home following another defensive turnover, and almost immediately from the kickoff, Cooney-Cross replicated her Marta Award nominated effort against Germany to extend the lead to four.
The tireless and creative Gorry scored a much deserved goal in added time to make it five and even a missed penalty from captain Catley could not take the gloss off the result.
5-0 is a near perfect score and a much-needed confidence boost heading into the Asian Cup, but it was not a perfect performance.
Although Australia passed the ball well through midfield and found good combinations and executed some promising counter-attacks, the majority of goals still came through defensive calamities.
Often, the final pass was slightly misplaced or the cross was misdirected. Although they scored five, this could have been a much more emphatic scoreline. Australia look more solid with Catley at centre back, but her pinpoint crossing was sorely missed. It leaves Ellie Carpenter as the most dangerous crossing player in the team with Foord more likely to cut the ball back from the byline and Raso more dangerous when shooting.
Getting Nevin into overlapping crossing position could be something they seek to improve as they work in better delivery into the box.
These are minor issues, but ones that should be resolved by the time the tournament arrives. This was still an overwhelmingly positive display from The Matildas. The starters justified their places and the substitutes made an impact with Wheeler helping set up the final goal and Holly McNamara earning the penalty.
They have one match left before the Asian Cup when they take on New Zealand again on Tuesday night. Excitement is already building around the tournament, and it has seemingly returned to this squad again.
Above:Joe Montemurro and Emily Van Egmond speaking to the media.Credit: Football Australia.
By Ella McShane(28/11/25)
With the Asian Cup fast approaching, the upcoming fixtures against New Zealand represent the Matildas final opportunity to impress, both as a team and as a collective, before the 23-player squad is announced for next March’s home soil tournament.
Speaking to the media ahead of tonight’s opener of the two match series, midfielder and vice captain Emily Van Egmond emphasised the stakes, noting “it is important for the team to put on two good performances, to push into good stead for [the Asian Cup]”.
“Anyone who gets the opportunity to come into camp is always looking to compete for a spot”
Recent camps have introduced a fresh wave of talent, that have given a new identity to the squad’s “junior members.”
Van Egmond said the transition is a natural part of sport, adding that “it’s important that we have pathways here in Australia.” She stressed that selection ultimately comes down to quality: “You pick the best players you can to represent your country and get the best result you can.”
Scepticism around head coach Joe Montemurro’s limited time with the Matildas has also been raised when considering what this international window means heading into the tournament.
Van Egmond highlighted the importance of adaptability as a professional athlete in an ever changing landscape, and backed the man in charge’s style of play; “It’s an enjoyable…I think it’s been a good refresh for us and the girls are really buying-in to what we’re trying to do…it’s an exciting brand of football”
Looking to the opposition, Van Egmond stated that the Matildas will be expecting nothing less than a “tough game. We obviously have that rivalry.”
“We are always looking to get the win, but for us I think it’s more of a complete performance. We’ve done some really good things in training this week to build.”
Anticipating the Asian Cup, Montemurro said New Zealand will provide ideal preparation He expects the opposition to challenge their approach noting that New Zealand “will press high and will put us under pressure. We expect a lot of teams in the Asian Cup to come out and try to get us first.”
Montemurro was candid when asked about his plans for the starting XI stating that “I haven’t even thought about [it] if I am honest with you.” Montemurro contextualised his delay in planning as intentional as a way of managing player loading and travel.
Sam Kerr continues to reacclimatise to the national team on a “premised plan” and is “tracking well,” according to Montemurro. Meanwhile, Mary Fowler’s return has been earmarked for the new year, as she continues her recovery from the ACL injury sustained earlier this year.
Australia v New Zealand kicks off at 7:30pm local time tonight at Polytec Stadium in Gosford and will be available to stream on Paramount +.
Above:Stephen Peters speaking to the media. Credit: Perth Glory.
By Ella McShane (27/11/25)
Perth Glory’s Stephen Peters and Georgia Cassidy preview what will is very likely to be a tough afternoon for the girls in purple against Melbourne Victory in round 5 of the Ninja A-League at the Home of the Matildas this upcoming Sunday.
It is undeniable that Glory’s season has been off to a slower start than what was initially anticipated, having conceded nine goals over the latest three rounds of the season thus far. Peters emphasised that “the manner in which we are conceding [goals], we have to fix that, quickly.”
As for the opposition, Victory head into this match following their first loss at the hands of Wellington Pheonix last weekend. Peters warned that facing a recently defeated Victory is “never going to be a good thing, you have to be ready to go to war. I think Jeff [Hopkins] will have them ‘chewing glass’ so to speak.”
Young gun Cassidy revealed that Peters’ main message to the group was “to win our battles”. She elaborated noting that “every time we verse Victory they’ve been on the front foot…we need to come away and win every duel.”
Above: Georgia Cassidy speaking to the media. Credit: Perth Glory.
To deepen the west side’s difficulties, skipper Isobel Dalton was ruled out of last week’s fixture against Canberra United as a result of a knee injury on MD -1. Peters analysed the loss of Dalton’s presence, stating “I don’t think we adapted to that as well as we possibly could have”. Dalton is predicted to be sidelined for an additional week.
Despite the season being off to less than an ideal start, Peters highlighted that there have been positive moments that have “showed [Glory’s] characteristics and principles that [Glory] want to play with” and remained hopeful for the weekend that if Glory are prepared that they can “really get into the tussle with them.”
Round 5 of the Ninja A-League will take place at 16:00 AEDT and available live and free on Channel 10 and 10Play. In the UK the game will be shown live on TNT Sports, kicking off at 5am.
Above: NWSL Champions, Gotham FC. PC. Photo: Gotham on Twitter.
The 2025 NWSL playoffs don’t often follow a predicted script. Every year, the table flattens, rhythm breaks, and teams discover quickly that November football asks different questions than the regular season. Isn’t that what we all signed-up for?
1.184m fans across the globe tuned in to watch the NWSL finals between Gotham and Washington Spirit, but the journey started before Sunday.
Quarter-finals:
The play off started on a rather brutal note; Kansas City’s control didn’t survive the first hurdle, Portland struggled stretch a game when it mattered, Orlando pushed every match to its emotional edge, and Washington looked like a side reconnecting with its identity but it was Gotham who left the fans with layers of surprise.
Kansas City: The First Proof of Gotham’s Shift
Kansas City had spent the season controlling matches with ease. They had a structure that stretched opponents, a midfield that dictated pace, and enough attacking depth to overwhelm most teams. On paper, Gotham weren’t supposed to disrupt that.
However, knock-out games are unpredictable and this played out in the first quarter-finals. Coming into the match as the underdogs, Gotham focused on organization: with tight lines, covering distance and the defence tracking KC current runs and attacks. They allowed Kansas City the ball, but not in the territory that mattered.
There was a lot of tactical movement, on the ball runs, off the ball runs with Rose Lavelle being the metronome that kept the team ticking rapidly and after a cagey sixty minutes, Gotham’s priced jewel broke the deadlock with a brilliant goal.
We thought Jayden’s Shaw 68th minute strike was going to win it but Ellis Wheeler struck an equalizer at death that moved the match to extra-time.
After 30 minutes of brilliant football from tired legs, and stunning saves from both keepers, the fans were mentally preparing for penalties until Katie Stengel fired home the winner from a Midge Purce’ assist.
A goal that defined their playoff journey.
Semi-finals.
Before Gotham reached the final, Washington put together one of the cleanest performances of the playoffs in their semi-final against Portland.
The first goal; Ivorian striker, Kouassi carrying the ball through pressure, finding Super Gift Monday, and the second goal, Monday slipping the final pass to Croix Bethune was one of the sequences etched in the fans mind. The Nigerian winger really did steal the show.
Orlando: Gotham Stay Composed in a Physical Game
The semi-final against Orlando depicted Gotham’s tactical awareness and resilience more than any other match.
Orlando pressed high. They tried to force Gotham into rushed touches and emotional decisions. But Gotham didn’t stretch themselves. They defended with compact spacing, funneled play into crowded areas, and forced Orlando to work through traffic.
The balance between Jess Carter and Emily Sonnet, the brilliant saves of Ann-Katrin Berger and Bruninha linking up with Midge Purce on the right wing of the field caused Orlando a lot of problems and neither Marta or her team-mates could solve.
While Shaw’s stoppage-time free-kick will always be the headline, what won the game was a team who was focused on getting a victory by all legal and possible means in football terms.
The Final: One Clean Action Decides It
Washington Spirit began the final with sharp rotations and more of the ball but Gotham read the match early and stifled their opponent’s attack and speed.
Their defensive management was disciplined. They kept midfield lines close, handled Kouassi’s drifting movements, and tracked Monday’s inside runs without giving up depth and kept Rodman at bay when she was subbed in.
The breakthrough arrived when Bruninha stepped out of the line with audacious intent as she had often done in previous matches. She carried the ball forward, read the movement, and delivered a brilliant pass across the box. Rose Lavelle met it with the calmness you expect from a midfielder who recognizes decisive space.
One touch. One finish. One shift in the final.
Almost a month ago, Gotham was 8th seed whose was preparing to face Kansas City, a team that had broken every possible record, but today, they are the NWSL champions, their second in three seasons.
We love the NWSL regular season, but play-off is where the shocking surprises are.
With 1.18m people tuning in to watch the finals, it was a perfect way to end an enthralling season.
Above: Caitlin Foord talking to the media. Image: Football Australia.
By Genevieve Henry (27/11/25).
Ahead of their first friendly against New Zealand, Matilda’s forward Caitlin Foord spoke to the press about the importance of this international window and what the team expects from their trans-Tasman rivals.
“I always look forward to coming into camp, putting on the green and gold.” Training in 36 degree weather, it’s an adjustment for some of the team – especially those who have been playing over in Europe for years now. “We’re most definitely not used to it like we used to be,” Foord said. “We’ve all acclimatised to the cold, I think.”
Australia will take on New Zealand on Friday evening on the Central Coast. “We enjoy being here, and love playing at [Central Coast] stadium. I think it’s one of the nicest to look at here in Australia, with the palm trees and the water in the background. It’s a great spot, and we’re looking forward to it.”
In their last two games of Asian Cup preparations, the Matildas are hoping to find identity as a team. “They’re super important for us, ” Foord said. “We want to get as much out of them as possible and that includes two wins.”
Although it doesn’t feel quite near enough yet, the coaching staff will have to be making big decisions before March. Luckily, although these may be the last international windows for a while, there’s still a lot of club football to play.
“Individually, we’ll be prepping as well to be in the best form we can coming into the tournament.”
As an attacking unit, the Matildas have a lot of options, all of whom will be pushing to be in the best form at their respective clubs.
“The more girls scoring and creating goals, the more goals for us. I think it’s nice to not have it just pressure on one player or two players,” Foord said. “Anyone in the team can score and it’s going to be super helpful going into the Asian Cup.”
On her teammate Sam Kerr – who missed a few games for Chelsea – Foord said, “she’s here and she’s been part of training. She looks fine to me. But at the end of the day, it’s Joe’s decision who steps on the field.”
Foord said she is expecting New Zealand to defend tight with man-to-man marking. Australia certainly has the historical edge over the Kiwis, but will need to find solutions in their era of rediscovering their style under a new coach.
“It will be difficult and we have to kind of create our own space,” Foord said. “We’ve seen they can score goals as well, so we have to be tight at the back and hopefully just create a lot more than what they can.”
The Matildas are looking to find the combinations, personnel, and tactics that will work going forward.“After the buzz of the World Cup and us making it to the semifinals and being so close, we do want to go that step further and to have an opportunity to do it again here in Australia.”
“We’ve gotten a bit of a second chance at it with this tournament coming up and we don’t want to leave any stone unturned,” Foord said. “The goal is to be champions at the end of it, but we’ll just be taking it game by game.”
Above: PEC Zwolle celebrate a historic victory. Photo: Martijn Bijzitter.
Last week’s Vrouwen Eredivisie action was perhaps the most shocking in history. Up-and-coming PEC Zwolle beat title contenders Ajax by a whopping seven goals to one, and there were 30 goals scored across five games. Even Netherlands topscorer Vivianne Miedema has discussed the big results.
In her column for the AD newspaper, the Manchester City player said: “Speaking of development: in the Dutch league this weekend, PSV won 6-0 against SC Heerenveen, and AZ beat NAC Breda 8-1…“
She went on to question if these results suggest a reason for the Oranje national team often overlooking talent from the Netherlands’ own league:
“The Dutch national team coaches are sometimes asked why they select few, if any, players from the Eredivisie,” she pondered. “Not that this weekend will necessarily be the answer, but these results do indicate that there’s still room for improvement in the domestic league.”
Miedema was more surprised by the result in Zwolle, suggesting that such a big surprise might actually be good for the league. It prevents everything from becoming too predictable. Although I think the Ajax players feel differently about that.”
PEC Zwolle 7-1 Ajax
Ajax Women suffered a painful defeat in their away match against PEC Zwolle. Just days after their European elimination by Hammarby, Anouk Bruil’s team went down 7–1. It was Ajax’s first loss of the Women’s Eredivisie season and their biggest ever league defeat, and PEC Zwolle’s biggest win, putting them level with PSV and Feyenoord in the standings.
After ten minutes, PEC took the lead. The ball fell to Chihiro Ishida, who struck it cleanly and put the 1-0 on the scoreboard. Not long after, the home side doubled the lead: Judith Roosjen was left unmarked to head in from a corner. Ajax lacked the desire and energy needed to defend properly.
In the 20th minute, Hanna Huizinga had a huge chance to make it 3-0, but thanks to quick reflexes from goalkeeper Regina van Eijk, Ajax stayed in the game — at least temporarily. Van Eijk, wearing the captain’s armband in Spitse’s absence, showed a decent level, but the entire defence and midfield acted like passive cones that Zwolle could easily play through.
Bruil also made a remarkable decision just before halftime, substituting Isa Colin for Daniëlle Noordermeer. That moment marked the beginning of the true collapse, as Noordermeer’s first involvement was a misplaced pass straight into the feet of Sophie van Vugt, who went one-on-one with the keeper and finished for 3–0.
The snowfall intensified, and the cold certainly affected the already tired bodies still recovering from Thursday’s European away match. But the lack of fight and the passive attitude from players like Van Hensbergen, Van Egmond, Noordman, and even the experienced Smits was unacceptable. None of them tracked back or showed any urgency. This would never have happened if Sherida Spitse had been on the pitch — she would’ve roared across the field like a polar bear, putting everyone in their place.
During halftime, coach Anouk Bruil made two substitutions: Ilayah Dostmohamed and Ranneke Derks came on for former Zwolle players Bo van Egmond and Danique Noordman. Shortly after the restart, Van Vugt scored her second of the afternoon, making it 4-0. Van Eijk kept having to pick the ball out of her net, glancing helplessly toward the bench where her coach also seemed powerless. The inexperienced captain, meanwhile, never took the initiative to organise the team or call them together. No one took responsibility.
Ajax managed to pull one back through Danique Tolhoek, who made it 5-1. The striker continued to carry out her task by pressing PEC’s defenders, but when no one else around her followed, it was pointless. PEC Zwolle responded immediately: two minutes later, the ball was in the net again for 6–1. Van Vugt then completed her hat-trick with the 7-1. Joëlle Smits came close to 7–2, but her effort hit the crossbar. The match ended 7-1, marking PEC Zwolle’s first win over Ajax in a long time — and firmly putting them into the title race. Ajax remain on 19 points, while PSV, Feyenoord, and PEC Zwolle now sit on 18.
AZ Alkmaar 8-1 NAC Breda
NAC Breda have come crashing down from their pink cloud after their first Eredivisie win last week. They returned humiliated from their trip to AZ. AZ won with 8 – 1 in their homematch and wrote history with their biggest result ever, with four goals from the international Desiree van Lunteren.
AZ Women started strongly and immediately put NAC Women under pressure. In just the third minute, Nikki de Haan had to make a crucial save to prevent an early deficit. NAC Women responded right away: Emely van der Vliet struck from the edge of the box, but her effort was impressively stopped by goalkeeper Trinette Booms.
Above: NAC Breda v AZ. Photo: NAC.nl.
After fifteen minutes, AZ Women took the lead. Desiree van Lunteren capitalised on sloppy possession and slotted in the 1–0. NAC Women tried to create danger through quick counterattacks, but they produced little threat on AZ’s half.
AZ Women kept pushing, extended their lead, and seemed to grow into a real flow, while NAC Breda lost their grip. Shanique Dessing finished off a beautiful attack to make it 2–0, after which Fieke Kroese headed in the 3–0 from a corner. The striker celebrated almost sheepishly because it had been so easy to score. An unfortunate own goal by Lynn Verhoef made it 4–0, and just before halftime Van Lunteren added the 5–0.
NAC Breda were a shadow of themselves when they weren’t playing at the Rat Verlegh Stadium. The 2,200 spectators had given the inexperienced team wings last week, but the three NAC scarves in the stands at AZ were a stark contrast. One thing was clear: this would never have happened at the NAC Breda Stadium!
In the second half, NAC Women did everything they could to limit the damage. The team came out of the dressing room with energy and tried to keep the score down. AZ Women, however, remained the superior side, and van Lunteren showed she still possessed that international class. After all those years, she simply got into her groove again and smashed in the 6-0 and 7-0!
Goalkeeper Booms must have been disappointed that she couldn’t keep a clean sheet. In the 68th minute, NAC Women finally had a bright moment. Yentl van Goch took a free kick from thirty metres and struck the ball beautifully via the crossbar into the roof of the net. It was, strangely enough, the most impressive goal of the match. AZ Women remained dangerous and sealed the final score with an eighth goal, making it 8-1. A historic win for AZ women, who must benefit from this high since the top half of the table is still in touching distance. NAC Women get another chance to redeem themselves: the home match against sc Heerenveen Women. The crowd will have to stand behind the bruised team!
Feyenoord Rotterdam 3-0 HERA United
Feyenoord concluded the first period of the Eurojackpot Women’s Eredivisie with a 3–0 victory over HERA United. It didn’t come easily. Feyenoord, a team full of international quality, had expected a simple ‘walk in the park’. The goals came from Ella Van Kerkhoven, Mao Itamura, and an own goal by the visitors.
On a cold and rainy afternoon at Varkenoord, Feyenoord struck within the opening fifteen minutes. Belgian international Ella van Kerkhoven delivered the opening goal. It briefly looked like offside, but a classic case of optical illusion later showed that Van Kerkhoven had scored in a perfectly legitimate manner.
Just before and after halftime, Kirsten van de Westeringh seemed to double the lead twice, but the flag went up for offside on both occasions. The narrow 1-0 advantage must have made Feyenoord sweat, as HERA proved far more organised defensively than earlier this season.
Just over an hour into the match, Mao Itamura finally provided the relieving 2-0. A special substitution took place fifteen minutes from time. The goalless Van de Westeringh was taken off, and although she was understandably disappointed, her expression quickly turned into a smile when she saw her teammate waiting on the sideline. Talia DellaPeruta, who signed with Feyenoord in 2024 but had yet to feature due to injury, made her debut for the Rotterdam club!
Above: Feyenoord after the match. Photo: Feyenoord website.
With DellaPeruta on the pitch, Esmee de Graaf delivered the final blow deep into stoppage time. Her effort deflected off a HERA defender and ended up in the net for 3–0.
The positive takeaway for HERA lies in limiting the damage compared to other relegation candidates. Feyenoord, meanwhile, continue to position themselves as one of the strong contenders capable of preventing top clubs Ajax, FC Twente, and PSV from securing European football.
PSV 6-0 SC Heerenveen
PSV Women comfortably defeated sc Heerenveen and proved that European elimination doesn’t have to interfere with their Eredivisie level. Heerenveen offered little resistance, leaving absurd gaps at times for PSV to exploit.
In the seventh minute, a brilliant pass from Riola Xhemaili set up the opening goal. She sent Lore Jacobs through, who cut past her defender beautifully and finished with composure — a very mature goal from the stand-in for the still-injured Fenna Kalma. Less than ten minutes later, Chimera Ripa made it 2-0. She appeared in acres of space and immediately used her creativity to exploit it, leaving experienced player Inessa Kaagman looking at her teammates in disbelief, wondering why Ripa had been left unmarked.
Above: Ripa for PSV against Heerenveen. Photo: KNVB.
The one-way traffic continued, but thanks to excellent goalkeeping from Brenda Badenhop, sc Heerenveen managed to stay in the match. Badenhop, who played for Jong PSV last year, did an excellent job filling in for Heerenveen’s first-choice goalkeeper Jasmijn Reesink.
In the second half, the visitors created a few chances, but Nicky Evrard was alert and never looked likely to be beaten. On the other end, a strong corner from Renate Jansen finally paid off. Substitute Liz Rijsbergen quite literally ran into the ball to make it 3-0. A few minutes later, Liz provided the assist for Nina Nijstad’s 4-0. Nina then sent in the cross for Chimera Ripa’s 5-0, who again was poorly defended in front of goal. In added time, Sisca Folkertsma — back from injury — scored the final goal of the evening.It was a sweet victory for PSV, and with Ajax losing, they are now breathing down the necks of the competition, just one point behind.
Nina Nijstad scored and assisted in this match. Read here why she’s one of the brightest upcoming midfielders for The Netherlands this season.
Excelsior Rotterdam 1-3 FC Twente
FC Twente Women have been crowned period champions in the Eredivisie! With a 1-3 victory at Stadion Woudestein, they secured an automatic spot in the semi-finals of the Eredivisie Cup. But Corina Dekker’s side did not have an easy sunday since they’ve had a busy schedule this season.
FC Twente Women were without key players Sophie Proost and Jill Roord in the starting lineup due to injuries. The European schedule had taken its toll. Still, Twente took an early lead. Striker Jaimy Ravensbergen headed in a corner to make it 0-1. Excelsior dropped deep with a highly structured defensive setup, waiting to counter through Katelyn Hendriks, which forced FC Twente to keep searching for openings. For a moment, Excelsior’s game plan seemed to work. Shortly after, they equalised. A corner bounced off captain Danique van Ginkel and into her own net (1-1).
The pattern remained the same in the second half. A major chance for Lynn Groenewegen went unused as the midfielder shot straight at the goalkeeper’s legs. Coach Corina Dekker made two substitutions in search of the lead. Precision and first touches were not at their best for Twente. The fresher Eva Oude Elberink, who had lost her starting spot due to the return of Rose Ivens, came on — and it turned out to be a masterstroke. With fifteen minutes remaining, Oude Elberink fired the 1-2 high into the net with a composed finish. Deep in stoppage time, the player from Oldenzaal struck again, this time with a brilliant left-footed shot for 1-3.
With the win, FC Twente Women have secured the period title (for the side first in the league heading into the winter break), granting them a place in the Eredivisie Cup later this season. After eight matches, Corina Dekker’s side sit on 22 points. The gap to second-placed Ajax — who suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat to PEC Zwolle on Sunday evening — is three points.
Above: Twente celebrate their ‘period title’. Photo: FC Twente.
FC Utrecht had to cancel the match against ADO The Hague because of the snow. This might be an advantage to ADO who had to regroup after the headcoach Marten Glotzbach was fired with just one point on the board.
Firing the headcoach might spark some bounce back from ADO under the interim coach, but the real bounce back needs to be done in the boardroom. There just doesn’t seem to be much financial support for ADO, with new players coming to the team through the academy and more experienced players leaving the club. With only one point they’re at the bottom of the table. The club needs to do more to prolong the history of the Eredivisie winning club.
impetusfootball.org 