Above:Perth Glory’s hat-trick hero Millie Farrow (right) celebrates with Susan Phonsongkham today. Photo: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory produced a gritty and ruthless performance to make the most of their chances when they came. Despite having significantly less possession and opportunities on goal, Alex Epakis’ side defeated Melbourne City in the battle of the top two in wet conditions at Genis Steel Stadium.
The home side had to make a number of changes in their squad after late returns from players who were away with national teams. Leia Varley was called in for her City debut, Keira Meyers and Tijan McKenna made their first starts in a sky blue shirt, and Karly Røstbakken came in for her first game of the season.
For the Glory, Grace Jale moved down to the bench with Sofia Sakalis moved up front with Millie Farrow.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Farrow had possession along the right before linking with Sofia Sakalis, centrally positioned on the edge of the box who laid off for Izzy Dalton to offload with a rocket that needed to be pushed over the top by City goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx.
Above: Leticia McKenna leaps on goal scorer Hannah Wilkinson with Karly Røstbakken (left) and Rhianna Pollicina also celebrating as City went ahead. Photo: Melbourne City.
However, within a minute it was City who went ahead. Kiera Meyers, positioned near the by-line laid the ball back for Western Australian and former Glory player Tijan McKenna to lift in a centimetre-perfect cross from the right wing for Hannah Wilkinson to rise between two defenders in the box to direct a header into the far corner of the net.
The home side’s lead lasted for 15 minutes as Laura Hughes’ lost possession to Hana Lowry who played in Quinley Quezada to thread through a perfectly weighted pass which took City’s Taylor Otto out of the game for Farrow to enter the box, round Proulx, and calmly direct the ball home from an increasingly acute angle.
There was still time for Perth to have claims for a penalty as Farrow went down under the attentions from former Glory star Leticia McKenna on the left hand edge of the box, but referee Kate Jacewicz was non plussed.
With the scoreline remaining locked at 1-1 into the break, it was Perth who grabbed the momentum in the early period of the second half of this showdown between the A-League Women’s top two.
Six minutes in, Dalton played a looped pass from the centre out to take Meyers out of the play for Liz Anton on the left flank. The Football Fern then turned the teenager and made for the byline to play a low ball to the feet of Farrow who sidefooted in first time from 10 metres in a classic poacher’s finish.
Above: Perth Glory’s hat-trick hero Millie Farrow celebrates once more today. Photo: Liberty A-League.
City would look to press, and with 65 on the clock, Perth goalkeeper Morgan Aquino’s less-than-perfect clearance eventually came to Daniela Galic on the edge of the box who played in Emina Ekić to hit a powerful curling shot from around 15 metres out that Aquino did well to get a hand out to save.
The visitors’ ruthless form this season was seen once more, as within four minutes of Ekić’s opportunity, a City attack involving Wilkinson was broken up and Farrow released. The English striker comfortably won the footrace with Karly Røstbakken to burst through the City half, round Proulx in the home side’s goal, and direct the ball into the net with ease.
Melbourne City conjured up one remaining half-chance in the dying embers as Ekić escaped along the right to play in a low cross for Wilkinson to direct goalwards, but Aquino got down to make a comfortable save.
Time and again this campaign Perth have taken chances at crucial times of matches – and this was the most prominent example thus far. They had less than 40% possession, 14 fewer shots on goal, and six fewer on target, yet they still won 3-1.
This was the most prominent example of their ability to do so. That is the sign of a team who are potential champions. Whilst we are still only in round seven, this was a statement-making win by Alex Epakis’ side.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (4-1-4-1): Proulx, Meyers, Røstbakken, Otto, Varley, Hughes, L. McKenna, T. McKenna, Pollicina, Torpey, Wilkinson. Substitutes: Barbieri (GK), Davidson, Ekić, Galic, Thomas-Chinnama.
Impetus had writers in five WSL media conferences this week ahead of another vital weekend of action. Their club-by-club reports of who said what is below (8/12/23)
Arsenal
By Liberty Simons
Above: Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall. Photo: Arsenal Women.
Jonas Eidevall repeatedly highlighted the impact of his staff, the players, and the supporters of Arsenal Women in the lead-up to Sunday’s London Derby against Chelsea.
Eidevall spoke about the game ahead and how everyone involved at Arsenal has helped to nearly sell out the Emirates for the game, starting by commenting that the club has to “push and make it a sell-out.” He spoke highly of the two main supporter groups of the team’s, the Red and White and Arsenal Women’s Supporter Club, and how their continued support and noise helps bring in the crowds.
He highlighted how the players drive the excitement for the matches at the club’s stadium and continued this praise of the collection of people at Arsenal. He gave mention towards the communications and commercial departments at the club for their work towards selling crowds out and making the most of the games at the Emirates, saying it “can’t only be driven by a few, it has to be driven by many.”
He also spoke about winning Manager of the Month from Sky Sports this week saying it was a “reflection of a really good month” and “credit should go to the wider staff group and the players.” Likewise, he commented on Frida Leonhardsen Maanum’s recent success in winning the Football Supporters’ Association Women’s Player of the Year award, commenting how happy he has been to see her progression since joining Arsenal from the Damallsvenskan.
Eidevall emphasised the dynamics of Arsenal as a club as a whole and the effects that positive results for both first teams are rubbing off across the club. He also commented that apart from the known injury to Lina Hurtig during the international window, the full team is fit and training for Sunday.
He once again returned to the praise of the trio of fans, players, and backroom staff when asked if other clubs could learn from Arsenal’s success in bringing the crowds to the club’s stadium, saying he can’t comment purely because he has “no knowledge of other teams” but Arsenal’s success lies in the triad.
The Arsenal manager also commented that playing all games at the Emirates is not as easy as people would like, due to restrictions outside of the club’s control as well as things like pitch maintenance. He did, however, highlight the fact that Arsenal are playing more games every season at the Emirates, but playing additional matches at the venue is something that is reviewed before the start of every season.
Touching on this weekend’s opponents Chelsea, Eidevall views them as “not unbeatable.”
Aston Villa
By Emily Brown
Above: Carla Ward taking part in Aston Villa’s media conference on Zoom this week. Image: Aston Villa.
This Saturday, Aston Villa will travel to Manchester City’s Joie Stadium ready to kick off the first WSL match following the international break.
Villa’s last match before ended in despair as Everton took the win at Villa Park, putting a stop to the Villans’ winning run.
Not only will Ward have to pick her players up from the Everton defeat, but she will also have to manage the differing emotions that are circulating within her team due to events unfolding over the break.
With England, Scotland, and the Netherlands all being in Group A1 in the Nations League it meant that many Villans battled it out against each other in a feat for Olympic qualification.
The dramatic game that played out at Hampden Park earlier this week saw England face an already relegated Scotland, putting six goals past the Scottish, accompanied by a clean sheet. However, this mighty victory was just not enough for England and their Olympic dream, with the Netherlands topping the group by a single goal.
On Rachel Daly’s return after missing out on qualification, Ward said: “I’ve picked up with Rach this morning, she’s obviously gutted, she’s a passionate person that takes a lot of pride in playing for her country and yeah of course it’s gonna hurt…”
She went on to recognise other emotions following the massive hit on Scotland’s Rachel Corsie and Kirsty Hanson, as well as the gritty win from the Netherlands:
“…but there’s not just Rach…You always have to manage when you come back (with) different emotions, and this is probably the biggest one because of the fact that…. some people have obviously come out of their nations group (with Scotland being relegated), some people are on the back of Olympic qualification (with goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and the Netherlands scoring a playoff spot) …
“…there’s different scenarios so there’s a lot of emotion that we’ve got to manage…”
Due to players only just beginning to arrive back from their respective countries, it is unclear who will be fit to play come Sunday. Ward claims player fitness will “really depend on how people have come back… so we’ll have to (assess) that.”
On having so little time to prepare, Ward claimed: “You have to plan effectively… myself and Gareth (Taylor) will be in the same boat, so we can’t make excuses… we’re used to it in the women’s game, we’re used to having them for one day…It’s a sad reality of the women’s game, it’s what you’re used to but it’s definitely no excuse…”
With the form that City have built up from performances so far this season, it certainly bodes for a tough match for Villa. Gareth Taylor’s side is proving to be a threat on both ends of the pitch, with 19-year-old goalkeeper, Khiara Keating starting all eight matches and achieving the most clean sheets in the WSL so far this season, keeping four clean sheets in total.
Up at the opposite end of the pitch, Jamaican striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has scored the most goals so far (joint with Chelsea’s Lauren James), putting six shots into the back of the net in the run-up to international duty.
After Villa’s defeat against Everton, Ward recognised: “We have to try and take points from both (upcoming matches against City and Brighton) … City’s a difficult place to go and I think they play some unbelievable football, so that’s going to be tough…”
This week she reiterated that Man City manager, Gareth Taylor, “doesn’t get enough credit…”
“….I think he’s done an unbelievable job… they had a big turnover of players last summer and I think what he’s done has been brilliant…. (he) deserves an awful lot of credit, they’re an unbelievable team, they play with a lot of freedom, they play with a lot of quality… it’s going to be a tough game. They’re a team that you don’t want to face on the back of their last two fixtures…”
She further commends City’s position and believes in them going far this season: “… I think they’ll be title contenders… I think for sure, come the end of the season, I think they’ll be up there.”
Brighton and Hove Albion
by Aimee-Lou Caldecourt
Above: Brighton and Hove Albion boss Mel Phillips speaking at today’s media conference. Image: Brighton and Hove Albion.
Mel Phillips’ Seagulls take on Leicester City at Broadfield Stadium on Sunday, a win would see Brighton soar above the Foxes in the WSL table.
The team news ahead of the game was rather positive after this international break. There is only one concern, and that surrounds the fitness of goalkeeper Nicky Evrard as she came off with an injury in the final minutes, which is currently still being assessed by the Sussex side and her parent club Chelsea.
Phillips praises the ‘’focus levels and professionalism’’ of her squad on their return from international duty after ‘’a really short turnaround.’’
‘’The Liverpool performance was far from our best performance and we’re very clear about the areas that we need to be better in and things that we can manage differently.’’ Some deep reflection of the last game before the break.
Before the international break, Brighton had a tough run of games against the top four. Now focus is fully forward on the upcoming games. Similarly with Leicester, ‘’they score and concede a lot coming towards the end of the first half and beginning of the second half.’’
Charlize Rule was awarded her first cap for Australia over the recent international break, and Phillips was full of praise for her young Matilda. ‘’Charlie’s a fantastic young professional. She’s made a big jump to come across into one of the top leagues in the world and she’s just continued to grow from day one up until now, and I think that the opportunities of the national team are very deserved and show that she’s been very committed.’’
‘’She’s an exceptional technician on the ball, she has real quality under pressure.’’ Overall a lot of high praise from Phillips’ about Rule, ‘’she’s got a massively bright future ahead.’’
Katie Robinson has had success in the England U23s during the break. Phillips’ says that the call up to the U23s rather than the senior squad has ‘’taken a lot of pressure off of her.’’ She often ‘’ has a very different role [in the senior squad] than maybe what she has in our Brighton team.’’ Phillips’ believe she’s on the upward path and that she’s excelled in the U23 setup. ‘’It’s the journey that she’s on.’’
‘’We’re really excited about the likes of Maisie Symonds getting her first call in back to the 23s since a long period away with injury.’’ Symonds was side-lined through illness and injury for most of last season and is now finding some quality form and looks like a really promising young player for Brighton and England.
Usually, the matchups between Brighton and Leicester are close with three of the four meetings between them being won 1-0. This game should be tight and very entertaining for fans and neutrals alike.
Chelsea
by Ava-Marianne Elliott
Above: Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, who spoke to the media this afternoon ahead of Sunday’s huge showdown with Arsenal. Photo: Sky Sports.
With their fixture at a packed-out Emirates in front of a WSL record crowd this Sunday rapidly approaching, Chelsea’s manager Emma Hayes’ addressed the media to discuss how her team would face the challenge.
The questions opened with queries about how her side were readjusting after the international break, especially the players like Lauren James, Niamh Charles, and Jess Carter who were fresh off the back of their last-minute UEFA Nations League heartbreak. “Listen these players are professionals and they have had a couple of days to digest it and get it out of their system, and I had no concerns going into training today.”
On Sunday, the battle between the two London sides could be an early factor contributing to the outcome of the season, but Hayes’ focus was insistent that this game was just another match to be played. She iterated that “we’re in December, we’re not even halfway yet, we’re miles away from all that stuff” when asked about the title race, and her role isn’t to treat one fixture differently to the next, as each match is an opportunity for three points. Not one game is to be taken as less serious than another, and mentality played a huge role in the results her side have seen so far.
Their opponents, Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal who are in flying form, but she further added that her players are used to the pressure, particularly from the Champions League or international football. They know how to remain cool under the eyes of opposition fans, and games where the stadium is packed out with spectators are more enjoyable.
A credit she gave to the Arsenal team is their ability on the counter-attack, and how they can cut teams open of two or three passes. Especially with their squad depth, Hayes commented that the Gunners “have a lot of experience, but they also have a lot of new players that I think are adding different qualities to their team.” It’s something that the Blues will have to be prepared for tactically, especially without Millie Bright’s expertise in the back line.
When the big question of selection rolled around, the Blues boss mentioned that two of her players would not be available for this weekend’s fixture. England’s Millie Bright is still out due to a prolonged knee injury and Serbia’s Jelena Čanković is still recovering from a calf injury that has seen her sidelined for two weeks now. Despite the injury to the side’s captain, Guro Reiten and Melanie Leupolz are available for selection this Sunday. After the news she recently suffered a rupture to her ACL on international duty, Aniek Nouwen is set for a long road of recovery.
Hayes’ was insistent that everything was business as usual for the Chelsea team. The fixture may be a big one in many people’s eyes, but she personally doesn’t see it that way, and nothing has changed because Arsenal always was going to be a huge presence in their chase for the title.
“I understand that to get anybody to perform you can’t think too far in the future and you can’t talk about the past.”
Although the scoreline for this Sunday is unpredictable and this fixture is a big one in the eyes of many, Emma Hayes’ is sure her side will play to the best of their ability and focus on moving forwards regardless of the result.
Manchester United
By Emily Brownand Holly Wright
Above: Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner, who spoke to the media this morning. Photo: Matthew Appleby for Impetus.
This Sunday, Marc Skinner’s Manchester United will make the journey down south ready to face Tottenham Hotspur.
Heading into this weekend the Reds are sat just outside the top three in the table with a single point separating them and their fierce rivals Manchester City. Spurs sit in at sixth with 12 points with still a lot more time for them to regain their promising start to the season.
The Lilywhites will be determined to threaten Skinner’s United this weekend, with the side’s last match before the international break ending in despair with a defeat of seven goals to nil against Manchester City.
Regarding team news, whilst away on international duty, Japanese midfielder, Hinata Miyazawa has suffered an injury. On her expected return to the squad, Skinner explained: “Hini (Miyazawa) will probably be out until after Christmas. We are waiting on an assessment. It looks like she will miss these three games.”
United’s manager hopes she will be able to make her return following the next international camp.
Another player who, in November, joined the increasing list of United’s injured is Irene Guerrero, who remains “still in training” and will hopefully make her return after Christmas with her being “likely to miss these three games.”
Looking towards their matchup against Spurs, Skinner outlined that will make no mistake in underestimating the side. In their previous match against Manchester City, the United boss felt his team’s “attacking play was pretty bright” and felt the level of the defeat was unjust in some ways.
“You could see what they were trying to do… I think they will do the same again and I think that they will mark that as something they will not want to experience again… We need to make sure they don’t get chances.”
United will focus on nullifying the chances Spurs create with their clinical attacking players, especially with the potential for striker Beth England to make her return from injury this weekend.
“Beth (England) has a chance to be back, and we all know how good she is….it is going to be a tough game and we have to be at our very best.”
United’s player on loan to Spurs, Grace Clinton will be unavailable this weekend due to her being unable to play against her parent club. Domestically, Clinton has been performing excellently and has recently been rewarded with her first call-up to senior national camp with the Lionesses.
On the 20-year-old Skinner commented: “I think the way Grace performed I’m really really happy with and I’m watching closely… I’m really happy where she’s at and I’m really pleased…”
However, someone who will hope to pose a threat to United this weekend will be former Red Devil, Martha Thomas. On the striker’s recent performances, Skinner stated: “I hope she doesn’t do it against us, but I hope she continues to do it in the league… I’ve been really impressed with her, especially (her) goals against Villa that I thought were… excellent…We’ve got to, have to be, very good against her to keep her quiet for sure.”
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Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0 Central Coast Mariners
by Jamie Spangher (8/12/23).
Above:Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate a goal in their statement victory over the Mariners Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers showed impressive dominance in their 3-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners at Wanderers Football Park.
The fixture kicked off with an impressively even scrap, both sides remaining poised in defense despite the persistent press from both attacking frontlines. An arm wrestle from the outset, neither team were able to create an opening chance in the opening seven minutes as a result.
A searching strike from the Mariners forward Rola Badawinya opened up the action, though just flying wide of the right side despite a stretching effort from Shamiran Khamis. Khamis was tested again just minutes later, as she managed to palm away an unanswered cross from Annabel Martin.
Holding a majority of possession during the opening fifteen minutes, the Mariners continued to push forward in a threatening manner. Despite controlling the tempo from the outset, the side lacked conviction when it came to providing the final delivery inside the 18-yard box.
Tensions began to rise as a late challenge from Ash Irwin on Olivia Price saw her receive a yellow card, providing the Wanderers with a golden opportunity just outside of the 18 yard box. Though Price’s right-footed effort saw the free-kick land in the safe hands of Casey Dumont, the Mariners goalkeeper.
The Wanderers came again, with Cushla Rue evading the Mariners’ defence with precision, cutting past the yellow shirts before Dumont saved her shot on goal at the near post. An end-to-end transition saw Khamis put back to work, as Paige Hayward’s searching cross was left unanswered, Annalise Rasmussen’s late arrival leaving the open goal begging.
It was the opening minute of first-half stoppage time that saw an unmarked Sophie Harding head home Western Sydney’s first of the fixture, opening the evening’s scoresheet in what would be her fourth goal in three consecutive appearances for the Wanderers.
Above: Sophie Harding (9) celebrates on a brilliant night for her personally and her club. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Despite holding the smaller side of the possession in the opening half (39%), Western Sydney headed into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The half-time break saw Rasmussen make way for Peta Trimis, fresh from Young Matildas duty in China. Trimis was looking to offer a dynamic quality to the Mariners’ frontline come the second half of play.
As the second half commenced, an experienced challenge by Martin saw Talia Younis denied on the edge of the box, the 15-year-old attempting to generate a chance for the Wanderers in the opening minutes.
Beginning to control the tempo despite their lack of possession in the first half, Western Sydney began to dictate the field of play with authority. A looping ball launched from the right-foot of Price saw a consequential deflection from Mariners captain Taren King amidst the goal line scuffle, allowing Western Sydney to double their advantage in the 53rd minute of play.
Despite trailing by two goals, Central Coast refused to roll over. The side continued to press with aggressive determination, earning a free-kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. Bianca Galic’s searching effort forced a crucial save from Khamis, the Wanderers goalkeeper having to provide an impressive stretching effort in order to push the strike out for a left-side corner.
Though the attacking prowess of the Wanderers proved far too overwhelming for the Mariners side. With Harding’s stellar form continuing to take exponential rise, the young forward flew the ball through the hands of Dumont to settle into the bottom right corner. Adding a brace to her evening account, and giving the Wanderers a 3-0 advantage heading into the game’s final stages.
Despite last-minute attempts to generate an attacking presence, the Mariners were unable to respond to the three-goal deficit provided by the home side.
Above: It was a memorable night for the Wanderers. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (3-2-3-2): Khamis, Bruce, Harrison, McComasky, Gordon, Price, Younis, Rue, Mates, Caspers, Harding. Substitutes: Feris, Keir, Morris, Abdul Massih, Collins.
Above: Melbourne City manager Dario Vidosic Photo: Melbourne City.
Melbourne City Women’s head coach Dario Vidosic sat down with media this morning to discuss his team’s return to the park after a two week break for an international window.
City remain the only team in the Liberty A-League yet to lose a match and now they host Perth Glory at B.T. Connor Reserve in round seven, which was initially meant to be played at their permanent home of Casey Fields, moved due to building delays on site.
“We want to dictate the game, and we go out to win, nothing changes, we don’t look at the table,” said Vidosic.
Perth Glory are currently seated at second on the ladder, just underneath City, who currently have a three point clearance.
“We respect Perth, we know they’ve had a good season and I’m sure they’ve used the two weeks to prepare for us.”
“If we dominate the ball like we usually do, then we take away their attacking threat.”
Perth’s attacking threats consist of players such as New Zealand international Grace Jale, and Susan Phonsongkham, who both have three goals apiece so far this season.
Alongside focussing on getting their next three points, City will also be looking to see how their international and youth national team players have returned from their time with their respective teams.
“Once they’re away then we let them concentrate on their national team duties, the only time we tell them to reach out is to let us know if they’re injured,” said Vidosic on his national team players.
“The fact that my phone has been quiet for those two weeks is good news.”
One player on the return is Captain and New Zealand defender Rebekah Stott, who has been crucial to City’s defensive performance this season. Stott played a full 90 minutes in their first game against Colombia but was not named to the team sheet for the second meeting.
“When we saw that she wasn’t in we were a little bit concerned but we got news pretty quickly that there was a bit of illness, that’s why they gave her the rest,” he said regarding his Captain.
“We’ll assess her, and all the others and make a decision for tomorrow.
Melbourne City take on Perth Glory at B.T. Reserve on Saturday 9 November, kicking off at 4pm.
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Above: Chelsea’s Sam Kerr will be a key player in Sunday’s huge game with Arsenal, where she will come up against three of her national side team-mates.Photo: Mariella Prew for Impetus.
Chelsea have made a stunning start to the season with 28 goals scored, a +21 goal difference (GD), and 22 points accumulated. However, after a sticky start to the campaign, Arsenal are just three points behind as the two prepare to face off this coming Sunday at The Emirates.
This time last season, in comparison, Chelsea had just scored 20 goals with 14 GD and 21 points, occupying the second position on the table behind Manchester United. The Blues additionally set a WSL record for the highest number of consecutive home wins (20) with their victory against Leicester City before the international window.
After Arsenal’s shocking opening day loss to Liverpool and a dramatic draw to Manchester United, Jonas Eidevall’s side have now won six matches in a row, scoring sixteen goals during the process. They have achieved this feat with different approaches; sometimes they grind out victory at the very end like they did against Aston Villa, some other times, they come from behind to score barrage of goals like they did against Leicester City, or, like they did against West Ham United before the international break they come out red hot from the very start.
However, facing Emma Hayes’ versatile team might be the real test of their recent run. The season is still to reach its halfway mark, but in a timeline of 22 matches, any point dropped matters a lot which is why all eyes will be at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Beth Mead’s brace against West Ham just before the international window saw her become only the second player with 100 goals/assists in the WSL and other attackers like Australia’s Caitlin Foord and England’s Alessia Russo have been sharing the responsibilities of scoring goals when required with help from defenders like Steph Catley coming in handy when required.
The return of Beth Mead and Vivian Miedema have been great additions to Eidevall’s team and if there is a perfect time to challenge the current champions to make the title race more exciting, it is now. Do note; that it won’t be an easy feat.
Above: Beth Mead dedicates one of her goals for Arsenal before the international window to her late mother. She is hitting her best form once more after a year on the sidelines. Photo: Arsenal Women.
Despite playing in Europe and plagued with a few injuries, Chelsea’s squad depth is intriguing and everyone is turning up when called upon. You could talk about the starlight stealing the spotlight – Aggie Beever Jones who has scored five goals in as many matches or Lauren James who has scored five goals in her last two club games, and has already surpassed her tally for last season. You could also make reference to the ever-commanding presence of the Australian captain, Sam Kerr who is still delivering when required despite not being at 100% fitness yet, or Mia Fishel who has been a reliable second striker when beckoned upon.
The Blues’ ability to create goals from any part of the pitch is one of the dangers that Arsenal will be wary of when they meet on Sunday as the outcome of this match could affect how competitive this year’s title race will be.
A victory for Chelsea will mean they are six points clear of their closest rivals while a victory for Arsenal will throw the title race wide open – a result either side of Manchester will hope for.
A draw will be an almost perfect outcome for any neutral as it keeps the race exciting for the Christmas season knowing that Chelsea’s WSL first match in January is against last season’s runners-up, Manchester United.
International breaks often come with different dynamics but this match-up is exactly what you want to watch after an international break. The exciting news is that there is a derby on December 10th that could be a title decider.
Mark your calendars, get your sweaters, it’s about to be an enthralling winter.
This is the third part of our series previewing Sunday’s big game with detailed coverage from tomorrow’s media conferences to come:
TOMORROW:Liberty Simons reports from Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall’s media conference and Ava-Marianne Elliott from Chelsea boss Emma Hayes’ media conference.
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook.
Impetus’ Ryan Miller-Woods and Ben Gilby report on three of this week’s media conferences to date ahead of the A-League Women’s return after the international window (7/12/23).
Canberra United
Above: Holly Murray speaking to the media this week ahead of Canberra United’s return to action. Image: Canberra United.
by Ryan Miller-Woods
Canberra United go into the weekend’s match away to Brisbane Roar bottom of the A-League Women’s ladder but do have two games in hand compared to some teams that are ahead of them.
Despite only having one point from their first four matches of the season the capital city club have scored the equal fourth-most goals with 10 but have conceded the second-most goals with 13. The quality they have in attack and midfield with players such as Michelle Heyman, Nicki Flannery and Vesna Milivojevic who have been pivotal in that regard with an average of 2.5 goals scored so far this season, Canberra just need to reduce the amount conceded to stay competitive in games.
Ahead of the game with the Roar, Holly Murray reflected: “(We’re) a new team getting used to each other’s playing styles. It’s going to take time but one thing that we’ve really stuck to as a team is just to know that what we are doing (as a side) is going to help. Just sticking to our own game and hopefully, that will pan out well (by doing that).”
Conversely, Brisbane Roar have had a good start to the season with two wins, two draws and two defeats which has them in fifth position on the A-League Women’s ladder.
When asked what she is expecting from Brisbane on Sunday, Murray said: “Well, we know that it’s going to be hot (temperature-wise), so they’re used to that, we can’t use that as an excuse. I think Brisbane like any other team (in this league) is going to be a difficult one and we’ve just got to stick to what we’re good at and what we know.”
Central Coast Mariners
Above: Central Coast Mariners head coach Emily Husbane addressing the media today. Image: Central Coast Mariners.
by Ryan Miller-Woods
The Mariners will be going into tomorrow’s match against Western Sydney Wanderers knowing that a victory will solidify their position within the top six on the A-League Women’s ladder regardless of results elsewhere this round.
Head coach Emily Husband said outlined the threat she believes Wanderers will pose. “They’ve got a far bit of pace up top, so I’ve got no doubt they’ll be looking to play in behind and that’s something we’re preparing for. Obviously, they’ve got their first win (of the season), so they’ll be looking to build on that and that’s something that we want to make sure we don’t allow them to do (against us).”
Central Coast’s last match in the league against Melbourne Victory saw the league’s newest club come close to securing a point after being denied a draw by Victory’s McKenzie Weinert in the 91st minute after the Mariners levelled the scoring 20 minutes prior with a maiden goal in the league for defender Faye Bryson.
When asked about her thoughts on the performance against Victory last round despite the result, Husband said: “Our biggest thing at the moment is just being a little bit more consistent and we didn’t (do that against Victory), we dropped off during certain parts of the game and they managed to capitalise on that. I think one of our strengths is coming into that last 20 minutes and we do sort of put the pressure back onto teams, which is great to see but again we have got to make that more consistent (going forward).”
Above: Casey Dumont reflects on her Mariners debut and looks ahead to tomorrow night’s clash with Western Sydney Wanderers. Image: Central Coast Mariners.
Fresh from facing her old club Melbourne Victory in that last encounter before the international window, Casey Dumont put in a respectable debut display in between the sticks for the Mariners. Reviewing her performance, the goalkeeper told the media: “Yeah! It was phenomenal to even just get back on the park. It’s been seven months away doing a different code (AFL) and then to come back and get a full 90 was a great feeling within. It’s a shame we (just walked away with the result that we didn’t want.”
When asked how the squad is feeling ahead of the match against the Wanderers, Dumont said: “I think the whole team has a really high vibe, (we’re) ready to take on a Western Sydney team. I think too just with the result from last week, we really want to bounce back and make sure that we get those three points and cement it because last week there was a lot of positives we should have come away with maybe a point. I think the girls are really out there to prove (themselves), so we’re very excited.”
Perth Glory
Above: Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s big game at Melbourne City. Image: Perth Glory.
by Ben Gilby
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis is confident that his team will bounce back from their first defeat of the season when they travel to Melbourne City on Saturday in a battle of the teams placed first and second on the ladder.
Glory’s reverse to Wellington Phoenix after making world football’s longest journey for a domestic club match prior to the international window cost them the leadership of the A-League Women, but Epakis believes his team are ready to get back to winning ways.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of time to look at the performance (against Wellington) and it certainly wasn’t one of our best outings. We acknowledge we did a few things well, but, as a whole, there were a number of things that we need to do better.
“It’s important that we do progress after a result like that, and I’m completely confident going forward that is the case on this occasion…the response from the players has been really good.”
After making the 5,346 km to and from New Zealand to face the Nix, Perth benefited from having the international window to help recovery. However, some of the Glory’s stars have been overseas on international duty, notably some of their young guns with the Young Matildas in China. Epakis doesn’t see that as being detrimental to the big test on Saturday.
“The international break after a long trip to Auckland really helped us. The players are fresh mentally and physically…We’ve got a very deep squad and it’s for situations like this. I’m comfortable with however the squad looks, and how it takes shape – we’ll have the quality to compete whatever.”
With Perth about to make the trip to Victoria for the first versus second battle, the Western Australian side’s head coach has a lot of respect for Dario Vidosic’s team. “City have a really good squad, they’re well structured and have a clear playing style with and without the ball. On a personal front, I’m really excited about what that challenge will look like (for us) as a team…credit to City because they are where they are because they have been consistent and it’s a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against a team who are sitting top.”
Epakis has seen so much growth in his charges this season that he knows his side are ready to go toe-to-toe with the Sky Blues and are capable of gaining the result that will see the Glory return to the A-League Women’s summit on Saturday evening.
“Internally, we have so much focus and intent on what we want to do. I’m focused on helping the players to have an improved performance, and if we can do that, then we can go up against anyone.
“We’re in a position now where we are competing with the best teams. Doing it week-in-week-out going in with that confidence that if we’re really focused and committed to our performance, it can excite us. It excites me and that’s what I’m really looking to see at the weekend.”
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Above: Teagan Micah for Australia. Photo: Caroline Charruyer / Football Australia
The Matildas final games of 2023 were not ones to remember from an Australian perspective, but contrary to the loudest voices, that does not mean that there were no lessons to be learned from the games.
After we remove the hyperbole and separate the concerns of the broadcaster over which big names are going to attract the most eyeballs, this could still be a valuable window, even if the results were meaningless.
Australia lost two consecutive games against Canada, in Christine Sinclair’s farewell games, and on artificial turf.
These games took place in the middle of the English and French season and at the end of the NWSL, Damallsvenskan and Mexican Liga. This is important context, as is the fact that 2023 has been a year that Australia has planned towards for years, and these matches were sandwiched between important Olympic qualifiers.
But let’s get the criticism out of the way first, because it is important to point out the actual failings, and to some degree satisfy those in the comments who will claim outdatedly that “women’s football is never criticised.”
First up, the team selection was not ideal. Not in the personnel, these are all professional players with big game experience, not “cannon fodder” as some they’ve been referred to.
The issue was that the team is set up to press in attack, and defend in numbers. Without a striker noted for their pace, or any out and out wingers, Canada were able to play the ball out from the back under minimal pressure.
Tameka Yallop and Alex Chidiac both are excellent players when cutting into the middle of the pitch and they prefer to play that way. Canada’s fullbacks and wingers took full advantage of the gaps out wide, that were able to be found from deep with ease.
Secondly, the defenders were too deep, and the forwards not deep enough. This is one of those issues that arises from a team that has not played much together, but to put it simply, the side was stretched.
Polkinghorne’s error to concede the opening goal was when she received the ball deep in the 18 yard box. This feels unusual for Australia who’s centre backs are often found closer to the half way line without possession. The midfielders could not relieve the pressure with Remy Siemsen isolated further ahead.
Amy Sayer did move deeper to link play and find the ball, but this might have been helped had Holly Mcnamara been fit. A player who can take possession around half way and take the ball forward is rare. When McNamara recovers she will hopefully make resting Caitlin Foord or Mary Fowler seem like less of an issue.
Third, there was not enough pace in the 11 that started in the first game. This may have been unavoidable, but Canada likely looked faster because they were. It’s not a complicated issue. injuries to Charli Grant and Cortnee Vine limited the options without Hayley Raso, Steph Catley or Ellie Carpenter.
But moving on to what was learned, because there was plenty, and quite frankly it is hard to understand how any professional analyst could honestly say they could find no practical, usable lessons from the first game in particular.
There is a positive spin to what follows, but the way that The Matildas use friendly games is to try and gain something out of each match, the cost in non-tournament fixtures is not seen as important.
4-4-2 depends alot on available players.
This was touched on above, but Australia’s turnaround in form in late 2022 was on the back of as switch to an old fashioned 4-4-2 formation. They do switch it around when needed, especially in the World Cup, but it seems to be the default preferred setup.
Without fast fullbacks and specialist wingers, this system leaves Australia vulnerable. The gaps that appeared in the centre of the park did so because the midfielders turned it over. The ones that appeared out wide did so because on an absence of players, similar to Australia’s loss to Nigeria at the World Cup.
Both in possession and in defensive shape, The Matildas ideal formation only works best against minor opposition, or with the right players to fill the roles. They are building depth, but this game showed it remains a work in progress.
It’s not as simple as “start Chidiac!”
With good reason Alex Chidiac is one of the most popular players in the Matildas setup. Without going too much into her CV she has abilities that few others do. During the World Cup, it became a common refrain to demand Chidiac start or play more. This window, and to some extend the one before it shows that it is more complicated than that.
Chidiac should be played in a role that suits her remarkable talents. Melbourne Victory unleashed her in a free-roaming playmaking role, where she could run amok in the final third of the pitch. Overseas club coaches, and the national team managers have found it harder to accommodate this.
She is often pushed out wide where her close control and combination passing are not as useful. I doubt that a line will be put through her name on the back of the last two windows, but like many of the great playmakers of the sport, she is at her best when the playing system is tailored to bring out her qualities.
We all want to start Chidiac, but how she is used, and how that impacts other players is a more important and nuanced discussion. It is in the best interests of the national team to solve this riddle, because she is a dynamite footballer.
Micah has still got it.
This was hugely important and worth celebrating. Teagan Micah has had a long road back to starting for The Matildas. Since a concussion sustained in 2022, she has barely featured at club or national team level.
Suddenly, Australia’s wealth of goalkeeping options looked slightly less bountiful. When World Cup icon Mackenzie Arnold withdrew through injury Micah had to step up, and she did.
Despite conceding six goals in two games, she was excellent while under siege. In the first game, she kept the score from tipping over into disaster areas, and in the second Canada could only score with Micah on the ground and out of the contest. Her positioning to stop a Nichelle Prince breakaway was perfect in its timing and execution. she closed down the angle after Clare Hunt’s lung busting run to stop an almost certain goal.
Her hands were as strong as always, overhead she is composed, and her reflexes cannot be faulted. Micah took a major step for herself and the team. She should have every confidence of repeating her Tokyo form in the upcoming Olympics.
Sarah Hunter and Charli Rule will return to this level.
Although both teenagers took some adjusting to the pace of full senior international football, they did not hide from the game, did not shirk responsibility, and kept trying to back their abilities and experience. In exhibition games, coaches look for more than just stats. These two showed the right mentality, and Rule was rarely out of position, even if she was often isolated.
Consternation of Hunter’s elevation sometimes betrays a lack of understanding of how she got there. She was the best player at Australia’s Under 20 World Cup in Costa Rica, was Australia’s dominant midfielder with the Under 23’s in the AFF Championships that same year, was the best young player in 2022/23’s A-League Women season, and was Sydney FC’s midfield pivot as the team won the league and Grand Final.
Since then she has left her comfort zone and signed for Paris FC. In short, she has done everything to be selected, and earned her chance. She will want more, because everything she has achieved so far indicates that she is a winner who is willing to go through hard times to achieve.
If there is a lesson to be taken from the performance of some players it is that there is still a gap between being a great A-League Women player and being a capable international footballer against top opposition.
Too often we hear calls for in-form but very young Dub players to be chosen for The Matildas. The ease in which Emily van Egmond has dominated for The Jets demonstrates that we cannot be too hasty and immediately hype up players for the very top level. When they take their first steps, we must be patient with them as fans.
Clare Wheeler pretty much stamped her ticket for Paris (if we make it)
It is easy to forget that coaches often look for different things in a player than fans. Anybody watching the first game could see that Clare Wheeler is at ease at any level, and in a variety of roles.
In the win against The Philippines, Wheeler was pretty much allowed to do as she pleased. She was under minimal pressure in midfield as free to move around behind the ball to support and create. Against Canada she was under considerably more pressure and space was much more limited.
Wheeler was still able to receive the ball and turn to face goal in attempts to move Australia forward. The Everton player was Australia’s best player, and looked at home in a senior role in that midfield. Wheeler is often described as a “six” and started almost every 2021 Asian Cup match as a defensive midfielder but is more than a stopper.
She can carry the ball, play quick passes and intercept attacks. There would have been some temptation to bring on the big names at half time, but there was value in letting the same lineup start the second half. It was worth seeing who responded to the situation and if anybody would try to step up and influence the match from there.
Wheeler seemed spurred on by the deficit, all the more determined to change the circumstances. We saw Clare Wheeler: Matildas leader emerge in this game. She is surely a shoe in for an 18 player Olympics squad.
Learning to play out from the back is worth pursuing.
At the start of this international window, Tony Gustavsson made it clear that Australia needed to learn to build attacks from the backline. Alana Kennedy and Steph Catley’s long passes have always yielded results, and Ellie Carpenter or Clare Polkinghorne’s ability to charge up the field has offered other outlets to start attacks. However, an issue that arose from the World Cup semi final against England was that Sarina Weigmann’s team had adapted and prepared for the quick counter attack.
Australia need to perfect multiple ways of creating chances. Gustavsson pointed out that The Matildas were in the top three World Cup sides for breaking down the last line of defence, but were among the bottom sides at the tournament for breaking the first line, or opposition press.
If we assume that the World Cup starting XI spent the first week in training for this tactic, with the plan to try it in Game Two, then there is still much work to do. There were signs of it bearing fruit, but it was infrequently successful over the 90 minutes.
This is not a reason to give up on it. It will be required to win a medal in Paris, and may be needed to get past Uzbekistan to qualify. It may require a change in formation, or having fullbacks inverted, but despite the issues in the execution, it is something that The Matildas need to be able to turn to when necessary.
An available Sam Kerr might create more space by stretching the opposition team, and Charli Grant’s ambidextrous passing might help them reach their goal. It will take some tinkering, and probably will cost some more goals in exhibition games, but this was not a wasted opportunity. The coaching staff would have learned some of what they need to know to make it happen.
It is a certainty that the coaches would have learned more about this game than anybody watching on, but almost all of the focus has been on the lineup in the first game. Very little discussion has gone towards the tangible and fixable issues that occurred against Canada.
But there were lessons to be learned, and a few deep breathes and an attempt to watch it from an unbiased, non-brand concerned perspective revealed that these games, although hard to watch and impossible to enjoy, were not a waste of time from an Australian perspective.
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Above: Victoria Pelova (21), Beth Mead, and Alessia Russo celebrate against Aston Villa earlier this season. They will be hoping for more good times against Chelsea on Sunday. Photo: Ben Phillips for Impetus.
As they went into the international break, Arsenal racked up their sixth straight WSL win with a 3-0 victory over West Ham United.
Further signs of Jonas Eidevall side’s growth as the campaign has gone on can be seen with the stats that Manuela Zinsberger kept a second successive clean sheet in a row with the additional boost of Beth Mead’s brace. This was a milestone that the club’s fans have been waiting for since November last year after Mead suffered an ACL injury. She also joins Vivianne Miedema in becoming the second Arsenal player to reach 100 involvements (57 goals, 43 assists) in the WSL.
The first game after this international break, on Sunday, brings a thrilling top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea at the Emirates. More than 50,000 tickets have been sold and the club are looking to set a record attendance in the WSL.
Arsenal are currently second in the league with nineteen points, just behind Chelsea who are three points ahead. Both sides go into the game having won at least their last five games, making this upcoming fixture crucial. With Mead and Miedema back from injury, Eideval will have a tricky decision in naming which one of Arsenal’s forwards will be in the starting lineup.
Above: Kyra Cooney-Cross has been hugely influential for Arsenal in recent weeks. Photo: Mariella Prew for Impetus.
The North London side’s summer signings have made a brilliant impact in recent games, with all three of Amanda Ilestedt, Cloe Lacasse, and Alessia Russo getting their names on the scoresheet. Kyra Cooney-Cross earned her first WSL start in the game that arguably marked Arsenal’s most impressive moment so far this season. Their second-half performance against Leicester City.
The Gunners found themselves 2-0 down at half-time, but fans only had to wait four minutes into the second half until Lacasse sparked their comeback. Russo, Foord, Pelova, Blackstenius. and Hurtig soon followed leaving the final score at 6-2. Cooney-Cross went into the international break on the back of a hugely influential performance for the club.
Both sides are in top form – something has to give on Sunday. It’s going to be some spectacle.
This is the second in our three-part preview of Sunday’s Arsenal v Chelsea game in the WSL.
EXCLUSIVE pitchside photography from Impetus’ Arwen Mosesat Hampden Park.
Report by Ben Phillips (6/12/23).
Above: Spectacular action as Alessia Russo gets a shot in on goal. Photo: Arwen Moses for Impetus.
The stakes could not have been any higher going into the final fixture of the UEFA Nations League for England, with the Lionesses needing to secure a win against old rivals Scotland at Hampden Park and bettering the Netherlands result against Belgium if they stood a chance of automatic qualification for the final stages of the Nations League and keep the Olympic hopes alive.
Coach Sarina Wiegman made two changes to her Lionesses starting line up giving a first start to Manchester City defender Esme Morgan, and Arsenal’s Beth Mead also got her first start for England in 12 months since recovering from her ACL injury. Scotland Manager Pedro Martinez Losa made four changes to his side that drew their last game against Belgium.
England started the game brightly with a similar attacking mentality to how they finished Friday’s fixture against the Netherlands. Lionesses’ fans did not have to wait long to witness the first goal when Beth Mead executed a perfect cross from a corner that allowed Alex Greenwood to break the deadlock rising above the Scottish defence and glancing a header past the stranded Lee Gibson in the Scotland goal on 12 minutes.
Above: England’s Alex Greenwood, who opened the scoring in Glasgow last night. Photo: Arwen Moses for Impetus.
Shouts for a penalty rang out around Hampden Park shortly after the restart when Lucy Bronze made minimal contact in the England box on Scotland’s Lisa Evans, but the referee waved off the appeals from the Scottish players.
Lauren Hemp should have doubled England’s lead in the 30th minute of the game when Lauren James placed a pass through to Hemp unmarked, and from two yards out her side-footed chance hit the post. Both sides created plenty of chances in the first half hour or so making it an exciting and entertaining fixture to watch. England piled on the pressure and their build-up play was a pleasure to watch.
James doubled England’s advantage in the 37th minute and it took a slice of luck with the Chelsea star hitting a shot that took a deflection as it went past Scotland’s Gibson after the hosts failed to clear their lines after another England corner. Straight after the restart with Scotland rocked after conceding again, Niamh Charles ran at the Scottish defence before feeding the ball across shortly after for James’s second goal when she ran at the Scottish defence before feeding the edge of the box to an unmarked Chelsea and Lionesses team mate to finish superbly into the far corner of the net.
Above: Lauren James fires in a shot last night. Photo: Arwen Moses for Impetus.
Beth Mead found the net with a well-placed goal, from a James cross with her first Lionesses goal in 15 months on the stroke of halftime which was a fantastic way to bring the first half to a close. The Lionesses were clinical and were a delight to watch.
Shortly after the restart, brilliant play down the right-hand side from Stanway allowed Fran Kirby to capitalise on the Scottish defence napping by scoring a well-placed tap-in from within the six-yard box for England’s fifth.
A melee in the Scottish box on 58 minutes saw the Lionesses nearly score again, with Kirby rattling the crossbar with a great effort after Charles and Mead had chances and were denied.
Above: Fran Kirby, who scored the Lionesses’ fifth goal. Photo: Arwen Moses for Impetus.
A poor back pass in the 70th minute allowed Hanson to pounce for Scotland, who attempted to pass round Mary Earps in the England goal but Earps stood big and made a vital interception to deny Scotland a goal.
The visitors still pushed for more as the second half progressed and their attacking play, intensity, and determination to get the job done was impressive throughout the game. Despite this, they still needed Earps to produce a world-class save in injury time to deny Thomas from scoring.
Lucy Bronze scored a hugely important goal for England late in injury time with a well-placed header in the 93rd minute which was the last action of the game at Hampden Park.
Above: It was another impressive night for Lauren Hemp. Photo: Arwen Moses for Impetus.
Wiegman’s team had a nervous wait at the final whistle as they had to wait for the result in Belgium to determine their own outcome on qualification. It was a night of incredible drama, but it was not to be England’s lucky night as the Netherlands won 4-0 against Belgium to top the group on goal difference meaning the Lionesses would out of the running for the semi-finals of the competition, and with it the end of the Olympic qualification dream.
Beth Mead said after the match when asked to sum up her emotions, “We are devasted and done everything we possibly could on the pitch tonight. The team was incredible but unfortunately, it wasn’t in our hands, and yes the Netherlands got the four goals, and fair play to them.” Mead went on to say it was “Devastating to miss out by such small margins, but that’s football and it wasn’t meant to be.”
It proved a night to forget for Scotland fans, despite recently signing a new contract extension the Scottish fans will be asking questions of head coach Martinez Losa, who got his tactics wrong. The hosts were lucky that it was not more than six goals conceded against a dominant England side. Martinez Losa said shortly after the match to BBC Scotland, “Very frustrated and disappointed, I want to apologise to the fans. This is not the level we expected, especially in the first half, we totally lost concentration. It was a tough night for our players, and I take full responsibility.”
Above: Georgia Stanway’s disappointment after the final whistle is clear. Photo: Arwen Moses for Impetus.
England have finished their 2023 international campaign strong, playing exciting attacking football, and can hold their heads high. Mistakes in earlier fixtures in the tournament are what has cost them a place in the semi-finals overall. However, one thing is sure when the disappointment fades and the dust settles is that Wiegman’s Lionesses will bounce back and come back hungry for more success in 2024.
More of Arwen Moses’ EXCLUSIVE photos from Hampden Park for Impetus:
Teams: SCOTLAND (3-4-1-2): Gibson, Corsie, Clark, Mukandi, McLauchlan, Cuthbert, Kerr, Docherty, Evans, Hanson, Emslie. Substitutes used: Howard (for Clark 45′), Brown (for Mukandi 45′), Lee Napier (for McLauchlan 45′), Harrison (for Hanson 79′), Thomas (for Emslie 64′).
Above: Sasha Grove was exceptional for Australia in both games. Photo: Football Australia.
Despite the scoreline, Australia’s Under 20 side left fans and observers with plenty to be excited about in their last game of 2023.
A late Alexia Apostolakis goal was not enough to prevent the Young Matildas finishing their year with a 3-1 defeat. Australia’s Under 20 side faced China in the second game of the international break having defeated them by the same score on the weekend. With an eye on next year’s Under 20 Asian Cup, manager Leah Blayney rotated the squad in midfield and attack to give players an opportunity to push for a place on the plane.
Zara Kruger, Milan Hammond, Grace Johnston, Zoe Karipidis Lara Gooch and Indiana Dos Santos all came into the starting 11. Naomi Chinnama, Jessika Nash and Apostolakis all retained their placed anchoring the team in defence.
Australia started the brighter of the two sides, attacking with pace down the flanks, but the killer touch that was present in the opening game was missing at the goal mouth. China’s opening goal was a well struck effort from a corner kick, and although not exactly against the run of play, did feel like it signaled a shift in momentum.
Australia’s midfield was not as dominant as they were in game one. China looked much more comfortable in possession, but the trio of Aussie centre backs were able to repel most attacks. With China defending deeper and quick to get into formation, it was difficult for Australia to break them down.
The second goal was an unfortunate one to concede. A hopeful effort from the wide area squirmed past Chloe Lincoln who otherwise had another solid game between the sticks. China’s third left the Canberra United keeper with no chance, as the striker stole possession near halfway and powered into the box before firing into the net from close range.
Australia were not cowed by the scoreline, and did not look panicky or rushed in their attacks. Sasha Grove and Peta Trimis were introduced and had immediate impacts. Grove was busy across both flanks, and Trimis certainly enhanced her reputation as an international prospect.
Apostolakis’s goal came in the 89th minute. Kruger’s well hit corner was headed towards goal by Chinnama and the Western Sydney Wanderer slammed home the rebound with the poise of a veteran striker. It gave Australia some hope, and a reward for the persistence shown in despite the deficit.
Despite the identical but mirrored scorelines, Australia probably had the better of the series. It might sound strange, but they played better in their 3-1 loss than China did on Saturday.
They still created chances, and found different avenues to goal when it became apparent that China was not going to let them get behind as easily as they did in game one. Grace Johnston very nearly levelled the scores after a well worked set piece, but her header glanced wide of the far post.
The Young Matildas left the field looking disappointed, as is to be expected of a team aiming for silverware, but for fans there was plenty to like about this performance, even if the scoreline didn’t reflect that.
The Young Matildas have only four months to prepare for the Asian Cup, but they were a match for China over these two games, in another solid window for this exciting group of footballers.
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