Mead brace & Cooney-Cross masterclass seals Arsenal win

Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United

by Aimee Logan at Meadow Park for Impetus (27/11/23).

Above: Beth Mead is swamped by Arsenal team mates after scoring her first goal since returning from her ACL injury yesterday. Photo: Arsenal Women.

Arsenal took all three points in a home win over West Ham in the WSL whilst keeping a critical clean sheet.  

Jonas Eidevall’s side went into their final fixture before the international break as clear favourites. The biggest shock on the team sheets was the absence of West Ham captainand goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold who was out of the fixture due to an arm injury that has also ruled her out of the Matildas squad for their two games in Canada.  

Arsenal dominated from kick-off and it was inevitable that the visitors were going to have a tough day. A sublime wave of play conducted by Kyra Cooney-Cross led to a pass to Frida Maanum who was waiting to strike a shot across the goal from just outside the area. Two minutes in, the home team were already ahead of the visitors. 

The Gunners continued on the offensive, with the midfield pairing of Pelova and Cooney-Cross showing off their immense quality while they’re in possession. 

A second goal for Arsenal was inevitable and it came as an almost carbon copy of the first. Cooney-Cross fired a ball across the field to a waiting Mead who impressively chipped the keeper with her left boot. Her teammates flooded around her in celebration of her first goal since her injury, 428 days since she last scored for the Gunners. Mead also became only the second player in the WSL to reach 100 goal involvements, 57 goals, and 43 assists, her teammate Vivianne Miedema the only other to hold that achievement. 

Above: Beth Mead dedicates her goal to her late mother June yesterday. Photo: Arsenal Women.

Every single player in the Gunners’ team was in top form. Alessia Russo was persistent on the attack and had some close chances one-on-one with West Ham keeper Megan Walsh.  

Russo’s determination didn’t go unnoticed as her impressive run along the back line set up Mead to score her second goal of the day. The home team were 3-0 up going into halftime.

At the start of the second half, The Hammers came out fighting and put slightly more pressure on The Gunners’ back line, but nothing was able to test Zinsberger between the posts. The game finished in a 3-0 win for Arsenal, taking all 3 vital points ahead of their top-of-the-table fixture against Chelsea at the Emirates after international break.  

Unsurprisingly, Mead was chosen as the player of the match for her outstanding performance in the front line. However, many fans were eager to draw attention to Cooney-Cross who was sublime pulling the strings in the midfield. The young talent played the full 90 minutes and consistently dominated the opposition. Fans have been eager to see her make her mark on the WSL, and she definitely showed her quality on the field in this fixture.  

Above: Kyra Cooney-Cross (centre) – a sublime performance. Photo: Ava-Marianne Elliott.

Speaking to the press after the game, Amanda Ilestedt spoke on the importance of their second consecutive clean sheet in the WSL: ‘’Yes, it is important…we really want to have that clean sheet every game and to have had that now two games in a row, it’s good.’’

Ilestedt also spoke about how her partnership with Wubben-Moy was building at the back considering the absence of Leah Williamson due to her injury: ‘’It’s not a relationship you can build on two games. It takes a while to do that, and I think it’s getting better and better. It’s great to play next to Lotte, she’s had a great season so far, so she makes it easy for me to play with her. We are building something really good.’’ 

Jonas Eidevall reflected on the influence of Beth Mead’s impressive performance saying: ‘’I think she had a very good performance. I think her details in defence, you could see she was so switched on in the counter defence moments. When she reacts so quickly when we lose the ball and she stays forward, I had the feeling, that’s Beth Mead, that’s what she can bring.’’ Mead is going into the international break on a high as she returns to the Lionesses camp for the first time since her injury. 

West Ham manager, Rehanne Skinner, emphasised how her squad is full of ‘’young players’’ and in comparison to the home side that has ‘’An experienced bench with players who have over 100 caps for their country.” The Hammers boss also expressed how she believed Arsenal are the ‘’toughest opponent in the WSL’’ so ultimately, she knew that ‘’no one thought we (West Ham) would win this game’’. 

Whilst the WSL now breaks for the international window, anticipation is growing for the encounter between Arsenal and Chelsea in a fortnight’s time – a match that has already seen over 50,000 tickets sold.

Teams: ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Zinsberger, McCabe (Maritz 64’), Ilestedt, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Pelova (Walti 75’), Cooney-Cross, Mead (Lacasse 64’), Maanum (Miedema 82’), Foord, Russo (Little 82’). Substitutes: Beattie, D’Angelo, Kuhl, Codina.  

Scorers: Maanum 2′. Mead 18′, 41′.

WEST HAM UNITED (5-3-2): Walsh, Evans, Shimizu, Tysiak, Cissoko, Smith, Harries, Stringer, Hayashi, Asseyi, Ueki. Substitutes: Denton, Cooke, Stapleton, Ademiluyi, Flannery 

Referee: Lisa Benn.

Attendance: 3,686.

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Everton profit to gain vital win over below par Villa

Aston Villa 1-2 Everton

Report by Emily Brown, exclusive photography from Suvadeep Biswas, both at Villa Park for Impetus (27/11/23).

Above: Aston Villa’s Ebony Salmon (facing away from camera) looks to beat her marker. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.

Aston Villa’s mistakes led to a physical Everton gaining reward, securing them the win at Villa Park. 

Before the game commenced, the Toffees already found themselves in an unfortunate position, with their Italian striker, Martina Piemonte, absent from the matchday squad. Heather Payne coming in as her replacement. 

It was revealed mid-week that the 26-year-old (who scored her first goal for her new club last week) would serve a three-match suspension after being charged with violent conduct following an ‘off-the-ball incident’ that occurred during Everton’s game against Bristol City last week. 

Everton boss Brian Sørensen was further forced to leave out the side’s second Italian international, Aurora Galli, following a knock she picked up mid-week affecting a “ligament in her foot”, as the Toffees’ head coach confirmed post-match. 

In the Blue’s midfield, a slight change was made. Australian midfielder, Clare Wheeler took a central midfield position in comparison to her wing-back role seen so far this season.  

The only change Aston Villa manager Carla Ward made to the squad that beat West Ham was swapping out young midfield maestro Laura Blindkilde-Brown for the experienced Jordan Nobbs.  

The first half ended with a tie between both sides. As the game progressed it revealed to be a tight physical battle. Both sides drew good chances but couldn’t connect with the net, with many shots on goal being spectacularly saved on either end. 

Villa defender Sarah Mayling looked very positive in the first half, facing a tough physical duel against Everton’s Sara Holmgaard who wasn’t afraid to wrestle for possession. However, it was Villa who came out on top with the most possession overall. Mayling connected well with both Jordan Nobbs and Adriana Leon, leading to progressive runs forward. 

Everton had two early chances with Katja Snoeijs’ strike reaching the hands of Villa’s dependable Daphne van Domselaar. Hanna Bennison also looked in good form despite her set pieces falling to the same fate. 

Above: Aston Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar yesterday. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.

The partnership between Nicoline Sørensen and Sara Holmgaard proved difficult to overcome with Holmgaard having a very determined first half, looking exceedingly dangerous on the left-hand side. 

However, Everton had a close call when Villains’ winger Kirsty Hanson ran away with the ball, driving a cross into the Toffee’s side netting. 

Frustrations built up fairly quickly with emotions boiling over following an off-the-ball incident between Villa defender Maz Pacheco and Everton’s Justine Vanhaevermaet. A shortly followed yellow card was shown to the Toffees for a bad foul on Kirsty Hanson by Karen Holmgaard. 

For Villa, it became more and more apparent that Everton’s hunger for their first win since the Merseyside derby earlier this season came at a detriment to the West-Midlands side, that even Rachel Daly couldn’t counter.  

It wasn’t long before a second yellow card was shown to the Merseyside team after Snoeijs tugged on the shirt of Kenza Dali, just after Snoeijs had had a strike on goal punched out by van Domselaar. 

Coming into the second half, a substitution for Everton meant that Nathalie Björn took the place of Karen Holmgaard who is still only able to play 60 minutes due to her recovering injury. 

Unfortunately for Villa, the opening goal of the match was an own goal, conceded by defender Anna Patten. Previous to this mistake she’d made some excellent blocks in the first half denying Everton’s efforts goalward.  

However, it wasn’t long before the equaliser from Rachel Daly actualised. From Dali to Hanson, the hard work along the right side finally connected in the final stages of play. 

Villa’s movement along both sides of the touchline proved relentless. However, a penalty conceded by Hanson saw Everton substitute, Björn, convert the opportunity, sending Villa’s goalkeeper in the opposite direction. 

It looked promising for the hosts as substitute Ebony Salmon quickly strove towards goal causing Everton’s defence to blunder before regaining composure, resetting the phase of play. 

Everton came back with the same energy as Sørensen made an exciting run forward, leaving Villa in the dust. However, once again, the Dutch number one made a heroic save. 

Above: Celebration time for Everton. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.

With just short of five minutes to go before full time Villa’s desperation couldn’t outweigh their tiredness. It looked at one point that Northern Irish striker Simone Magill would save the day for Villa. The forward having made her return to the WSL this match since missing out through injury the past couple of weeks.  

Nevertheless, her shot was denied by goalkeeper Sarah Brosnan who was tested in quick succession during the last few moments of the game. The last chance for Villa stood with a Dali corner. An exciting passage of play followed between substitutes Alisha Lehmann and Lucy Staniforth, with Lehmann going goalward. Brosnan remained focused, coming off her line to grab it, keeping the score line in her favour.  

Speaking at the post-match media conference, Villa manager Carla Ward said her team’s performance was: “Disappointing. I don’t think we played with any sort of intensity or any rhythm… Ultimately, we lost the game rather than (Everton winning) the game…  

“It’s an own goal and a penalty that’s won them the game, but did we do enough to win it? Absolutely not. Did we deserve to lose it? Probably not…. we’ve got to be better than that.” 

The away side’s manager Brian Sørensen’s thoughts on his team’s performance were as follows: “… we knew that we really (needed) to stick together, work hard, and yeah I think we did that.  

“I’m really happy for the win of course and then also the performance that we put behind it… Everybody chipped in despite us having many… key players (out).” 

Above: Rachel Daly ((hand raised) may have been on the score sheet once more for Villa, but it was not enough. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.

Teams: ASTON VILLA (4-3 -3): van Domselaar; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Pacheco; Dali, Corsie, Nobbs; Leon, Daly, Hanson. Substitutes: Staniforth, Lehmann, Magill, Salmon. 

Scorers:  Daly (55’). 

EVERTON (3-4-1-2): Brosnan; K. Holmgaard, Finnigan, Veje; Vanhaevermaet, Bennison, Wheeler, S. Holmgaard; Snoeijs, Sørensen, Payne. Substitutes: Björn, Olesen, Campbell, Bissell. 

Scorers: Patten OG 54‘, Björn (pen) 74’. 

Referee: Stacey Pearson. 

Attendance: 4,203. 

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A-League Women Weekly Awards

Impetus’ team of contributors covering the competition reveal their choices for player, coach, and event of the week. Every vote for player and coach of the week is kept and tallied up just ahead of Finals when our Player and Coach of the season will be announced (27/11/23).

Player of the week:
Above: Emily van Egmond, seen here in action for Newcastle Jets in 2021, gained two votes this week for her influential display for the Jets at Canberra United. Photo: Ashley Feder/Getty Images.

BEN GILBY: Emily van Egmond. A hugely influential performance once more as Newcastle Jets got a fantastic win at McKellar Park.

KIERAN YAP: Sarina Bolden. Surprise signing, instant impact. The Philippines international scored within minutes of her return to the league and was a menace throughout the match. She finished the round with a brace, and after just 90 minutes looks set to be one of the signings of the season.

BEN CAREY: Emily van Egmond. Her goal and assist were crucial in getting the Jets over the line in an absolutely thrilling game against Canberra United. Van Egmond’s impact since returning to the Jets has been absolutely immense. They’ll be sad to see her go in a few week’s time.

Coach of the week:
Above: Paul Temple – a full house of votes this week. Image: Wellington Phoenix.

BEN GILBY: Paul Temple. Another superb performance and win for Wellington Phoenix, as they became the first team to defeat Perth Glory this season. Temple got his tactics spot on – reduce the influence on Susan Phonsongkham and force Perth’s other creative forces Hana Lowry and Georgia Cassidy to play longer balls under a rapid press. Both of these tactics reduced the amount of ball that Millie Farrow and Grace Jale saw and, combined sparkling attack play, got a brilliant win.

KIERAN YAP: Paul Temple. Wellington have genuine belief in themselves and the game plan this season. To some extent, Temple is building on the foundations laid by the two coaches before him, but he is excelling and so are The Nix. They are hard to beat. 

BEN CAREY: Paul Temple. His side, Wellington Phoenix, put in a sensational performance to dispatch the league leaders, Perth Glory, and earn their biggest victory of the season so far. Temple and the Phoenix are truly proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

Event of the week:
Above: Emina Ekic (11) celebrating for Melbourne City with her team mates at Sydney FC yesterday. Photo: Melbourne City.

BEN GILBY: Emina Ekic hitting an Olympico as Melbourne City gained a superb win over Sydney FC to hit the top of the ladder.

KIERAN YAP: Kurea Okino’s goal. More specifically the celebration by her and the rest of Melbourne Victory. The Japanese striker has finally broken her goal drought with a confident close-range finish, but the way she was mobbed by teammates and the jubilation (and dancing)  of those on the bench was a delight to see.

BEN CAREY: Emina Ekic’s fabulous Olympico goal in the 31st minute against Sydney FC. What a banger!

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Corbin equaliser lights up Suncorp Stadium

Brisbane Roar 1–1 Adelaide United

By Ben Carey

Above: Brisbane Roar’s Mia Corbin celebrates her game equalising goal. Photo: Brisbane Roar.

Brisbane Roar played out a scrappy 1-1 draw with Adelaide United on Sunday evening in front of a healthy crowd at Suncorp stadium, the site of the now infamous Matildas penalty shootout against France at this year’s Women’s World Cup. It was a historic occasion, because it was the first time the Roar women had played at Suncorp in almost five years. The match was the second in a double header, with the men pulling off a tight win over Perth Glory beforehand. In other words, the men’s match warmed up the crowd nicely for the main event.

It was a scrappy first 10 minutes, neither side being particularly efficient with their possession of the ball. In the 13th minute, a clever forward flick from the newly re-signed Chelsea Dawbercaught the Brisbane Roar defence sleeping. The ball skipped past the Roar defenders and was picked up by US international,Mariah Lee, who outmanoeuvred the Roar’s keeper, Jordan Silkowitz, and tucked it in the back of the goals from a fairly tight angle. 

Adelaide’s goal sucked the air out of the stadium for a moment, but the Brisbane Roar fans bounced back quickly. In the 38thminute, as Hollie Palmer was preparing to take a corner kick, there was a huge surge of enthusiasm from the home crowd. The majority of the stadium was chanting, clapping, or banging their seats to show their undying support for their team. It seemed to have worked. Palmer’s high, floating cross was headed away from the box, but Ayesha Norrie quickly passed out to US international Leah Scarpelli, who whipped in a wicked cross to find her countrywoman, Mia Corbin, in the box. Corbin’s finish was exquisite. Brisbane Roar now had the equaliser.

The Roar definitely had the better of the chances in the second half. They came out firing, creating a number of excellentopportunities, mostly through Sharn Freier, Norrie, and Corbin. However, the Adelaide keeper, Annalee Grove, was always equal to their efforts. Adelaide had their chances as well, butSilkowitz smothered their every attempt. The game wrapped up as a 1-1 draw after a lengthy stoppage time.

Brisbane Roar played a decent match, but they were often too slow, and their positioning was too disjointed to make a consistent impact on Adelaide’s defensive line. There were moments of individual brilliance, but rarely did it look like they were playing as one, cohesive team. The goal they did scorecame about from an excellent piece of teamwork: quickintentional passes, good positioning, and clinical finishing. If the newly appointed head coach, Alex Smith, can find a way to reproduce that over 90 minutes, he will have built a winning team. Scarpelli put in a great shift in the backline, defending well, and also bagging an assist. Further up the pitch, Corbin and Freier had a great day at the office too, both causing Grove a lot of headaches. Corbin’s energy and physicality and Freier’s speed and tricky footwork both made for some very entertaining build up play.

Adelaide United also played a reasonable game, but their passing accuracy was fairly low, and they also lacked clinical finishes in the final third. Grove played a fabulous game between the sticks, asserting her authority inside the box and shutting down a number of dangerous Roar attacks. Dawber played an exceptional first match back after spending the last eight months playing for IFK Norrköping in Sweden. Dawber create several big chances and bagged a crucial assist. Lee also had a great game, showing her speed and technical ability to score the goal that ensured that her team didn’t walk away empty handed.

Both teams will now have a two-week break during the international window. Adelaide United will next play Western United on Saturday, December 9. The next day, Brisbane Roar will face Canberra United.

BRISBANE ROAR (4-1-4-1): Silkowitz, Scarpelli, McCormick, McQueen, Thompson, Brodigan, Norrie, Palmer, Freier, Yallop, Corbin. Substitutes: Richards, Kirkup, Holgersen, Levin, Stephenson.

Scorers: Lee 13’

Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Grove, I. Hodgson, Tonkin, Waldus, E. Hodgson, Holmes, Sasaki, Dawber, Morgan, Jancevski, Lee. Substitutes: Condon, Holtz, Jenkins, Panagaris, Taylor.

Scorers: Corbin 38’.

Referee: Isabella Libri.

Attendance: 3278

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City hold on against Sydney resurgence

Sydney FC 2-3 Melbourne City

By Emma Burke 26/11/23

Above: Daniela Galic (left), Emina Ekic (11) and Taylor Otto (right) for Melbourne City. Photo: Melbourne City.

In what was truly a game of two halves, Melbourne City held out against Sydney FC to win 3-2, securing their pole position on the ladder and leaving them three points clear.

Despite losing young star Holly McNamara to an ACL injury, City dominated the opening 45 minutes, scoring three times to all but run away with the game. 

Julia Grosso found City’s first of the afternoon, collecting a deflected shot and shooting while spinning to face goal. The shot was driven low to the far post, with Sydney FC goalkeeper Jada Mathyssen-Whyman unable to do more than dive in the general direction of the ball. 

The second goal to come for Melbourne was one of complete individual brilliance by Emina Ekic. A corner won after a shot from Leticia McKenna was deflected over the goal line, saw Ekic score a stunning Olimpico from the corner flag. This marks Ekic’s first goal for City after ending her season last year early due to injury.

Rhianna Pollicina came close being the third City scorer, but Sydney FC defender Tori Tumeth made an incredible goal-line save to deny her after she had initially lured Mathyssen-Whyman off her line. Tumeth’s clearance landed right at the feet of Daniela Galic, who made absolutely no mistake lifting the ball into the corner of the net, out of Mathyssen-Whyman’s reach, and over Tumeth who was lying in the goal having just made the clearance.

While the first half was all Melbourne City, the second half saw Sydney FC wrestle back the reins and deliver an entertaining half of football for their home fans. 

A shot from outside the crowded City box by Taylor Ray caught a needed deflection off defender Jordan Thompson, scoring her first goal in the A-League Women’s, after only having been in the country for a week.

While it looked like Sky Blue was readying to launch a comeback, the Sydney skies had another idea entirely, as a lightning storm meant the game had to be delayed for about half an hour. 

After the lightning had passed, and a gorgeous double rainbow too, play was able to resume, and Sydney FC were raring to go.

The second Sydney goal came again from a long shot, this time from Charlotte Mclean (which may have been helped on by a slight deflection from Aideen Keane inside the box), with City keeper Lysianne Proulx rushing low in the correct direction, but ultimately unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Unfortunately for Sydney FC, they were unable to find an equaliser in the remaining 10 minutes of regular time, nor in the extra five minutes of stoppage time.

Melbourne City are now the only team left in the A-League Women’s 2023/24 season that are yet to record a loss.

Now heading into another international break, Melbourne City return to the pitch on the 9th of December facing Perth Glory at home, while Sydney FC travel to face Newcastle Jets on Sunday 10th of December.

Sydney FC (4-3-3): Mathyssen-Whyman, Tumeth, Mclean, Seaman, Lemon (46’ Thompson), Ray, I. Dos Santos (46’ Saveska), Hollman (56’ Kruger), Connors (67’ Keane), Worts, Ibini-Isei

Scorers: Grosso 23’ Ekic 31’ Galic, 45+3’

Melbourne City (4-4-2): Proulx, Chinnama, Otto, Stott, Grosso, Galic (55’ Wilkinson), Hughes, L. McKenna (67’ Davidson), Torpey, Ekic (76’ T. McKenna), Pollicina

Scorers: Thompson 74’ Mclean 80’

Referee: Rebecca Durcau

Attendance: 3,937

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Millwall Lionesses comfortably beat Bromley Women in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup

By Myles Thornton (26/11/2).

Above: Emma Whitter, Millwall’s top goalscorer this season. Photo: Tom West.

Myles Thornton reports from St Paul’s Sports Ground as Emma Whitter and Shannan Drewe help Millwall progress into the Adobe Women’s FA Cup third round.

Millwall had beaten Denham United ladies 3-2 in the last round to get to the second round whereas Bromley had beaten AFC Portchester 3-2.

Millwall had a great chance to take the lead after 13 minutes, with Drewe beating 2 Bromley defenders before hitting it with power off the crossbar, being cleared away by the Bromley defence before Millwall could pounce.

After dominant pressure in the first half, Millwall finally broke the deadlock around the 30-minute mark. Poppy Payne played it to Drewe, who found Whitter who tapped home.

Some good chances for both sides throughout the first half, with Bromley unable to convert for an equaliser and Millwall unable to get a double.

With 8 minutes left of the first 45, Bromley’s goalkeeper Megan Taylor made an excellent save to stop Ellen Napper from doubling Millwall’s lead.

A strong start to the second half by Millwall as only 2 minutes in, Chloe Burr came close to doubling Millwall’s lead as her shot went just over the bar.

Whitter then came close with 30 minutes left of the game. She ran straight through the Bromley defence but Taylor in goal said no to a Millwall second. Another great save was added to Bromley’s goalkeeper’s record as she stopped Drewe from finding the back of the net just a few minutes later.

Just into 8 minutes of added on time, Drewe sealed Millwall’s place in the third round, finding the ball at her feet on the edge of the area, striding through the Bromley defence, and hitting the back of the net.

Millwall have won the women’s FA Cup twice in their history and now they head into the third round, where they could potentially face off against a Championship side.

Teams: MILLWALL (4-3-3): Wiggins, Welsh, Huseyin, Bailey, Chapman, Payne, Napper, Seely, Whitter, Drewe, Burr. Substitutes: Butler, Jones, Joyce, Giordani, Bennett, James, Edwards.

Scorers: Whitter 28’, Drewe 90+1’

BROMLEY (4-3-3): Taylor, Paige, Gilmour, Bromfield, Danso, Davenport, Bovill, Bilal, Hull, Hart, Lee. Substitutes: Glover, Mardon, Washington, German, Woolacott, Bennett, Rix.

Referee: TBC

Attendance: TBC

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Jets beat Canberra in seven-goal thriller

Canberra United 3-4 Newcastle Jets

By Kieran Yap (26/11/23).

Above: Sarina Bolden (right) and Libby Copus-Brown (left) for Newcastle Jets. Photo: Newcastle Jets Twitter.

The Newcastle Jets won an entertaining match against Canberra United and showed that they are more than just the Emily van Egmond show.

Newcastle went into this game buoyed by the announcement of a new signing. Prior to kickoff, fans were treated with the news that Philippines international Sarina Bolden had arrived at the club and would make her debut. For a team that scored twice against Melbourne City last week and were still missing Melina Ayres through injury, this was a huge coup and one that had the potential for immediate impact.

It was Canberra United who started off on the front foot and barely five minutes had passes before Michelle Heyman muscled her way goal side and produced a composed finish past Izzy Nino.

Newcastle responded almost immediately through after Bolden raced clear at the other end and beat a stranded Chloe Lincoln in the one one-on-one.

The Jets were looking confident and soon had the lead. Emily van Egmond lifted the ball over Lincoln from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 with a touch of trademark class.

Canberra were behind on the scoreboard but not on their heels. Sasha Grove and Mary Stanic-Floody started to impose themselves on the midfield. The two youngsters began creating chances with quick passing and fast feet and Grove’s surging run was almost finished by Vesna Milivojevic, who was denied by Nino.

Milivojevic levelled the scores in the 58th minute with a classy free kick. But Bolden restored the Jets lead almost instantly with a similar goal to her first. Cass Davis supplied the pass for Bolden to finish with a brilliant chip, and the Jets legend almost scored one herself as the game became increasingly open.

Lauren Allan made it 4-2 with a well-struck effort across goal in the 81st minute and it looked like that was enough to settle the result, but Milivojevic forced a mistake from Nino with an effort from 18 yards that slipped through the keeper’s hands.

The arrival of stoppage time did nothing to slow down events. Both teams continued to attack and Bolden almost scored a third but her shot was hit over the bar. Canberra may have been lacking the presence of Michelle Heyman who had gone off injured but were not lacking belief as they continued to look for an equaliser.

The game eventually ended after an unbelievable seven goals. The Jets have three points, but perhaps more importantly, they have a striker that will give them belief that they can compete against any opposition even after van Egmond’s guest stint ends.

Teams: CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): Lincoln, Bertolissio, Clough, Ilijoski, Grove, Christopherson, Murray, Stanic-Floody, Flannery, Heyman, Milivojevic. Substitutes: Mckenzie, Nathan, Jackson, McNulty, Majstorovic.

Scorers: Heyman 2’ Milivojevic 58’ 90’

NEWCASTLE JETS (4-4-1-1): Nino, Cicco, Prior, Karipidis, Baumann, Allan, Copus-Brown, Davis, Gooch, van Egmond, Bolden. Substitutes: Wilson, Barbieri, Huyn, Hoban, Rochaix.

Scorers: Bolden 5’, 61’. van Egmond 13’, Allan 81’

Referee: Caitlin Williams

Attendance: TBC

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Weinert wins it late for Victory

Melbourne Victory 2-1 Central Coast Mariners

By Kieran Yap (26/11/23).

Above: Kurea Okino, left celebrates after scoring her first goal for Melbourne Victory. Photo: MVFC Twitter.

A late goal from Mackenzie Weinert has secured Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win against the Central Coast Mariners in a close contest at The Home of The Matildas.

The subplot to this encounter was the return of Casey Dumont to the A-League Women. The Victory legend signed for Central Coast following a stint in the AFLW and has spoken in the media about her exit from Melbourne being less than acrimonious. That she is back in The Dub once again is great news for Australian football, that it was against her former team was an occasion with the potential to make headlines.

Of the two keepers, Dumont had the quieter first half, but her defence was busier. Lydia Williams was forced into two good but comfortable saves from Izzy Gomez and Wurigumula. Victory were moving the ball marginally better out of the two teams but looked hesitant in the final third. Rachel Lowe looked the most likely but had her shots blocked by a deep-sitting Mariners defence.

The Mariners have looked right at home immediately in this league and were up to the task organizationally and physically against Victory. However, the combination of Elise Kellond-Knight and Alana Murphy grew more comfortable through the first half and Jess Nash found lots of space on the right, as the home side started to probe.

It took until the 60th minute for Victory to break through the stubborn Mariner defence. Murphy hit her corner deep to the back post where Tori Hansen nodded toward goal. The Mariners were well positioned to block it but Kurea Okino turned well to lash the ball into the goal from close range.

Okino arrived at Victory amid much hype following an NPLW Victoria season where she scored more than 30 goals. She has taken a few weeks to adapt to the next level, but this was a goal that showed to rest of the competition that her instincts remain undiminished. The goal capped off one of her best displays for her new club. Okino was mobile in attack and excellent in linking play from central areas.

She created Victory’s best chance of the game in the first half with a good cross that Weinert almost turned in.

The celebrations were buoyant but short-lived. The Mariners hit back just over 10 minutes later. Wurigulmula turned Hansen skilfully and played a through ball into the path of Faye Bryson who took it in her stride and finished off the slick move with a side-footed finish past Lydia Williams to make it 1-1.

With the game in the balance, Victory made changes. Ella O’Grady entered the game and Paige Zois was brought on with 10 minutes to play. Despite this, Victory still struggled to create clear-cut chances. The Mariners centre-back pairing of Taren King and Ashley Irwin were rarely found out of position. They stayed goal side of any Victory players and it was always going to take something special to find a winner.

Weinert delivered that in the first minute of added time. The ball into her path was cut off, but the ricochet bounced up between her and the onrushing Dumont. Weinert combined a delicate touch with her trademark tenacity to get to the ball and loft it into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Victory sat deeper for the remaining minutes, content to launch long balls to nowhere and run down the clock. When the whistle blew it was enough to push them into the top four and it may be turning point in their season.

With a starting 11 featuring six new faces, and a bench with an average age of 19, this was an important win. The two goals were scored by new signings in attack, and the young substitutes were able to close the game out professionally. Okino played perhaps her most complete and confident game since arriving from the Boroondara-Carey Eagles and the goal has silenced some of the creeping doubts about if she could deliver in the A-League Women.

Central Coast were as competitive as always. There is a lot to admire about this team, but currently not enough to fear. They looked dangerous on the counterattack for most of this match, but if they can start to control parts of the game as they did against Adelaide United, they will be a much more challenging side.

They were beaten by a moment of class late in this game but frustrated Victory for the majority of it, this was a strong performance from the visitors.

In the end, the day belonged to Victory. They started the season slowly, but are now unbeaten in their last four matches. There is still plenty of football left in this season, and Jeff Hopkin’s team is just getting started.

Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Williams, Nash, Morrison, Hansen, Rankin, Kellond-Knight, Murphy, Lowe, Goad, Okino, Weinert. Substitutes: Templeman, D’Appolonia, Zois, Briedis, O’Grady.

Scorers: Okino 60’, Weinert 90+1′.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-4-2): Dumont, Wardlow, King, Irwin, Martin, Galic, Trimis, Gomez, Bryson, Wurigumula, Badawiya. Substitutes: Hayward, Newbon (GK), Lobo, Karrys-Stahl, Rasmussen.

Scorer: Bryson 71’.

Referee: Asaka Koizumi.

Attendance: TBC.

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Nix’s comeback sends Glory to first defeat

Wellington Phoenix 2-1 Perth Glory

by Ben Gilby (25/11/23).

Above: Chloe Knott, Wellington Phoenix’s match winner. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.

Wellington Phoenix produced a sparkling performance as they came from behind to become the first team defeat A-League Women leaders Perth Glory this season to win the Distance Derby in Auckland.

Paul Temple’s side played some excellent football and used a rapid-paced angled passing game to break through the Perth defence. This, combined with an ability to keep the visitors’ key creators quiet for much of the night, ensured that the Kiwi outfit maintained their outstanding start to the campaign.

Wellington Phoenix welcomed Annalie Longo back into the starting line-up from a long-term injury with Perth fielding a familiar line-up.

Chloe Knott won the first corner in the opening 20 seconds which flew into the far post and caused a bout of head tennis followed by a playground-style scramble that the referee finally brought to a halt with a Perth free-kick. Seconds later, the Nix were pushing once more as Manaia Elliott ran through the right of centre, cut in, and let fly with a rocket that went over the top.

Elliott was at the heart of much of what was good about the hosts in the early stages, combining well with her fellow attackers Mariana Speckmaier and Hope Breslin as Phoenix played some beautiful angled passing to dissect the Glory defence in a high-quality opening to the encounter.

As the game inched past the quarter-hour mark, Glory gradually began to settle, but it was still the Nix who were the stronger of the sides. Yet, as has been one of the key aspects of Perth’s development this season, when chances come, they are put away.

That was the case in the 21st minute as a square ball from Michaela Foster as the Nix played out from the back was picked up by Sofia Sakalis who played through a well-weighted pass to Millie Farrow in the box who directed the ball over the line despite losing her balance.

The goal rocked Wellington in the immediate aftermath, but they would regain their focus. Paul Temple’s side were working hard to nullify the impact of key Perth creator Susan Phonsongkham, with the additional consequence that the dangerous wider attacking threat of the Western Australian side was reduced more than at any previous time this season so far.

With seven minutes left in the opening half, the Nix were on the front foot again. Longo turned and shot, blocked brilliantly on the line by Lowry, it rebounded out to Elliott at a rapid pace giving the youngster no time to prepare and her resulting shot went over the top.

Within seconds of the half-time whistle, Phoenix got free and Breslin got a pacey ball across the six-yard box which couldn’t quite be reached by the diving Speckmaier.

However, within three minutes of the re-start, Wellington were level. Elliott dispossessed Perth’s New Zealand international Liz Anton on the right-hand touchline and played a pass inside for Knott to supply a perfectly angled pass for Hope Breslin to sweep home inside the box.

Phoenix responded by sitting deep in a bid to reduce the space available to Perth’s attackers. Whilst this reduced the percentage of possession that the hosts had during the middle third of the second half, it forced the likes of Hana Lowry and Georgia Cassidy to look for longer-range passes in a bid to free Jale and Farrow. With the traffic heavy, it was a tactic that largely worked for the hosts.

It also allowed the Nix to get players further up the pitch rapidly when they gained possession, and the excellent Elliott looked to benefit when she was able to launch a long-range effort that Perth keeper Morgan Aquino had to push over the top.

Moments later, just after the hour mark, Wellington hit the front. Mackenzie Barry’s high ball into the box from just inside the Perth half was flicked on under pressure by Lowry with Knott heading against the bar, but the rebound fell perfectly for the same player to head home.

Just over 20 minutes before the end, a Nix break along the right saw Knott feed Speckmaier who hit a powerful angled drive across the box that needed Aquino to fly across her goal to ensure it stayed out.

Five minutes later, it was Perth’s turn to come close. Jale played a pass back to Izzy Dalton to hit a powerful drive from the edge of the box that Foster pushed over the top spectacularly.

Despite eight minutes being added on at the end of 90, there was no real opportunity for the Glory to emulate their late heroics of last weekend when they hit back to earn a point at home to Melbourne Victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Wellington Phoenix were able to keep the visitors at arm’s length to record an excellent victory and keep their grip on third place on the ladder.

Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-3-3): Foster, Davidson, Barry, van der Meer, Foster, Longo, Taylor, Knott, Breslin, Speckmaier, Elliott. Substitutes: Brown, Edwards, Lake, Main, McMeeken.

Scorers: Breslin 48′, Knott 61′.

PERTH GLORY (4-4-2): Aquino, Anton, Cowart, Mihocic, Rigby, Sakalis, Lowry, Cassidy, Phonsongkham, Farrow, Jale. Substitutes: Bailey (GK), Quezada, Dalton, Johnston, Stonehill.

Scorers: Farrow 21′.

Referee: Bec Mackie.

Attendance: 5,532.

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Wanderers grab season’s maiden win at Western United

Western United 0-2 Western Sydney Wanderers

by Ryan Miller-Woods (25/11/23).

Above: Sophie Harding celebrates her opening goal for Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: A-Leagues.

Despite only having had 38.7% possession come the end of the match, Western Sydney Wanderers achieved their first win of the season against Western United with goals from Sophie Harding and Cushla Rue late in the second half. With this result, the Wanderers have climbed off of the foot of the table.

United were the ones that created chances early in the match as their style of play and build-ups with the ball kept the Wanderers on alert – but they defended well and grew into the game the longer the half went on. Yet Western United had the control.

Seven minutes into the second half, United had a very good opportunity to open the when Jaclyn Sawicki made an interception before setting up a shot towards the goal that just went out of play.

In the 65th minute, Western Sydney came close in front of goal as Harding made a great run on the wing as she cut into the box but unfortunately, her pass that was intended for Rue was blocked by United’s Alana Cerne.

It may have taken 81 minutes for a goal to be scored but it was Western Sydney who finally did so. It came via an unfortunate mistake by United keeper Hillary Beall took too long to clear Alana Cerne’s backpass, and Harding pounced on it to slotted into the back of the net for her third goal of the season.

Three minutes into stoppage time, Holly Caspers provided a beautiful through ball with the outside of her boot that found Rue on the break. Her pace allowed a rapid approach on goal to shoot into the top left corner. It was Rue’s first goal in the A-League Women and Western Sydney’s sealer.

As Wanderers celebrated their first win of the season at the sixth attempt, last year’s Grand Finalists Western United have work to do, having lost three of their opening six games.

Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-2-3-1): Beall, Papadopoulos, Cerne, Maher, Sardo, M. Taranto, Sawicki, Johnson, A. Taranto, Logarzo, Keane. Substitutes: Dall’Oste, Robers, Richards, Prakash, Hieda.

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (3-4-1-2): S.Khamis, Bruce, Harrison, McComasky, Matos, Gordon, Price, Apostolakis, Younis, Rue, Harding. Substitutes: Collins, Ferris, Brooking, Abdul-Massih, Caspers.

Scorers: Harding 81’, Rue 90+3’.

Referee: Azusa Sugino.

Attendance: 925.

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