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@DandalBs brings us up to date with the goings on in Swedish women’s football over the past seven days. This week, there’s UEFA Women’s Champions League and Swedish Cup action, plus more significant transfer news. With additional reporting by Ben Gilby.
Above: Action from FC Rosengård’s UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg tie away to Bayern Munich. Photo: @FCRosengard.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:
FC Rosengård came away from their UEFA Women‘s Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg tie away to Bayern Munich with a 3-0 defeat in what was always going to be a tough match. It took Bayern only nine minutes of constant domination to take the lead, thanks to a goal from Linda Dallman. The second goal came just after the Swedes forced a corner, but the Germans launched a counter attack with Lineth Beerensteyn who played in Klara Bühl who easily made it 2-0 after just under half an hour. Beerensteyn completed the scoring with twenty-five minutes to go when she got past Glodis Viggosdottir in the Rosengård defence to slot the ball home by Ben Gilby.
SWEDISH CUP NEWS:
Above: Eskilstuna United’s heroes in their win over Hammarby in the Swedish Cup last weekend – Emma Holmgren, left who saved a penalty and Loreta Kullashi. Photo: @EskilstunUnited.
Group A:
Linköpings FC defeated Växjö 1-0 thanks to a goal from Kanu. BK Häcken demolished Lidkopings FK away from home 8-1 with Hammarlund (2), Zigiotti-Olme, Blackstenius (3), Angeldahl and Zomers on the scoresheet.It sets up a group decider between the two winners this weekend.
Group B:
Alingsås FC United were crushed 7-0 at home by FC Rosengård. On the mark were Seger, Schough, Cankovic (2), Brown, Viggosdottir, Larsson. Kristianstads DFF edged out Vittsjö GIK 2-1 thanks to goals from Welin and Rantala with Markstedt getting on the scoresheet for Vittsjö GIK. The loss for Vittsjö means that they are no longer a contender. Kristianstad’s second win in a row ensures that they play Rosengård this weekend to decide who wins the group and goes through to the semi-final.
Group C:
Eskilstuna United DFF gained an impressive 1-0 win over Hammarby to take them to the top of the group table ahead of the final round of group matches. Kullashi scored the decisive goal. That and a stoppage time penalty save from Emma Holmgren saved the day for Eskilstuna. The result condemned Hammarby for a first loss after six straight pre-season wins. Sundsvalls DFF are out of the running for the next stage of the competition after a comprehensive 6-0 loss at home to KIF Örebro DFF. Dupuy, Wickenheiser (2), Lundin (2), Scarpa were on the mark. Eskilstuna United will qualify for the semi-finals if they avoid defeat to KIF Örebro DFF this weekend.
Above: Vilma Koivisto scorer of two goals for Umeå IK FF in the Swedish Cup last weekend. Photo: @UmeaKFF
Group D: Umeå IK FF defeated IK Uppsala Football 3-0. Two free-kicks from Koivisto and one from Honkanen was the difference. Morön BK suffered a 5-1 home defeat to Djurgårdens IF FF. Arnadottir, Ekengren, Lindwall, Lång and Olai were all on target. The two winners from last weekend’s matches will face off this weekend to decide the semi-final spot.
NEWS ROUND-UP:
Above: Emily Gielnik, has been in outstanding form with Brisbane Roar in the W-League this season. Photo: @WLeague.
Emily Gielnik, who had an impressive stay with Vittsjö last season, returns to the club. Gielnik has been in outstanding form for Brisbane Roar in Australia’s W-League and there is a transfer fee involved which Brisbane describe as “significant”.
The thirty-one cap Matilda will join her Roar and Matildas team mate Clare Polkinghorne at the club after playing her final game for the Queenslanders this weekend, meaning she will miss their upcoming Finals campaign. Gielnik has been in outstanding form in the W-League this season and, added to the loss of Polkinghorne, will majorly impact Brisbane’s hopes of winning the W-League Grand Final this season.
Speaking to brisbaneroar.com.au about the move, Gielnik said: “I wanted to finish out the season with the Roar and that was my intention, but in terms of what’s best for me, I had no choice but to sign in Sweden so that I didn’t miss that transfer window. It’s just a really unfortunate circumstance.
With regard to the impact of the move of Roar’s Finals hopes, she went on to say: “Everyone is replaceable to some degree. We most definitely have the capabilities within the team.”
Brisbane Roar’s chief executive David Pourre told the club website: “It’s never easy to lose a player of Emily’s quality, but when a situation like this arises we have a responsibility to achieve the best outcome. Financially, this is a strong result for Brisbane Roar. That’s important. Emily’s form over the past few months speaks for itself and we are comfortable with the fee as compensation for enabling this move to happen at a complex time” by Ben Gilby.
Above: FC Rosengård’s Hanna Bennison pictured with her NXGN 2021 award with FC Barcelona’s Ansu Fati, who won the men’s award. Photo: @goal.
FC Rosengård’s midfielder Hanna Bennison has been voted as the best female player on the planet in the NXGN 2021 awards. The 18-year-old has been a regular in the Rosengård midfield since the age of 16, and scored her first Champions League goal in December. She is also a full Sweden international, having made her debut in November 2019 against world champions, the United States. The club have also announced the signing of Stefanie Sanders, a 22 year-old forward from Freiburg in Frauen Bundesliga. Sanders is a proven goal scorer.
Chilean 30 year-old forward Daniela Zamora joins Djurgården, to replace Olivia Schough. Zamora played in Chile’s World Cup campaign and also captained Universidad de Chile on their run to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals.
Above: Djurgården;s new signing, Chilean international Daniela Zamora. Photo: Expressen
We’ve had some fantastic Friday articles from the youngsters at our partner club Bure Valley Youth FC over the past few weeks. This time, two of the club’s youngest players, cousins Autumn and Ella tell us why they love playing at Bure Valley FC.
Hello, I am Autumn. I am 5 years old and am in reception class. I go to football at Bure Valley FC. I am a Mini Kitten. I like going to football to see all my friends like my friend Ellie from school. I have made lots of new friends too. The best thing is I get to see and play with my cousin Ella. My Mummy and my Auntie Rosanna are my coaches and sometimes my sisters Gracie and Poppy help too. I like playing lots of different games. My favourite game is the numbers game. At football I have lots of fun and I love seeing my friends enjoy it too. When I play football, I am like my Mummy as she plays for a team too! My favourite football team is Everton because my Daddy likes them, and I also like Norwich City.
Above: Two of Bure Valley YFC’s youngest players Autumn and Ella share their love of the game. Photo via: Ted McCarter.
Hi, my name is Ella, I am 5 and in reception class. I like playing football at Bure Valley Mini Kittens as I get to see my cousin Autumn and my Auntie Victoria. I love playing football and practising new skills. The best thing too is my Mummy is my football coach and my Auntie, that’s great as they are really nice and fun. I have lots of new friends there too. I’m left footed but my right foot is nearly as good as my left now. Over lockdown I’ve practised every day in my lounge. My favourite ball mastery skills are toe taps, tic toks and sole roles, I can do toe taps really fast now! I also love practising my step overs and scissors and lately I’ve worked on my turns; I find my step over turn and drag back the easiest but need to practise my Cruyff turn more as I find that one really tricky. My favourite football player is Teemu Pukki who plays for Norwich City FC and my favourite England player is Harry Kane.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset reports on the UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg game between Paris St. Germain and Olympique Lyonnais.
Above: About 20 OL ANG’ELLES fans were at the Groupama OL Training Centre to cheer for Olympique Lyonnais’ Women team on March 12, 2021. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset.
Olympique Lyonnais gained an important 1-0 win away from home in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter-Final against Paris St. Germain.
As an OL fan, it is difficult for me to say it, but Paris St. Germain deserved to win this game especially in the first half when they could have scored several times. Additionally, Lyon’s midfielders were not able to keep the ball which prevented them from putting their strikers in good positions to be able to threaten the PSG goal.
Lyon’s all important goal came from the penalty spot from Wendie Renard with four minutes left. It was awarded despite not being earned by a Lyon player.
Nothing is decided and the return game in Lyon on Wednesday March 31 will be interesting to watch. Even with one away goal, Lyon will have to step up to progress into the semi-finals.
Ben Gilbyspoke to Inga Schlegel, the deputy head of women’s football at FC St. Pauli about how a club with a huge reputation for social inclusion are progressing in the third tier of German league system.
Above: FC St. Pauli pictured at the iconic Millerntor Stadium. Photo: Stefan Groenveld.
Inga opened our conversation by detailing the history of women’s football at the Hamburg based club: “Our department was founded in 1990 by female St. Pauli fans who wanted to play football for THEIR club. In the beginning, the club had to get used to the idea of women playing football but eventually the acceptance was there. Only around 2001 the first girls’ team started to play for St. Pauli. In 2008, the women’s team was split into two teams. The first team was supposed to play more performance-related football while the second team was playing more or less “for fun”.
With the German league having one of the highest profiles in Europe thanks to the Champions League exploits of VfL Wolfsburg and the growth of Bayern Munich, Inga explained how FC St. Pauli fit into the pyramid system: “There are two national leagues throughout Germany which are the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Then you have five regional leagues which are split into different areas (North, North East, South, South West and West). This is the third highest level in Germany for women. Our first team plays in the Regionalliga Nord which covers the northern area of Germany. All our other women teams play locally on different levels in Hamburg.”
Whilst Schlegel hinted earlier that it took the men’s club a while to get used to the idea of having a women’s team at the beginning, I asked her how the relationship was now: “Women’s and girls’ football is completely independent from the men’s part. Nevertheless, there is a good exchange with the club in general and they are taking good care of their amateurs who are an important part of the club’s identity and supporters.”
Above: Goalmouth action involving FC St. Pauli in their famous brown kit. Photo: Stefan Groenveld.
The club’s identity is very much the biggest strength. For a 2. Bundesliga men’s club, FC St. Pauli have a huge profile completely out of sync with their standing in German football. This is due to their overt policy of support for social inclusion for all. Inga expanded upon how the women’s team support this: “We absolutely live and support the values of the club. Normally, if you come to St. Pauli – no matter if you are playing football, Rugby or table tennis – it is because you share the same values and want to meet people that have a similar mind set. It’s not any different in our department and we have seen it quite often that people started to live and breathe this club and its values once they had joined – even if before they weren’t overtly politically or socially active.”
That group of people playing girls’ and women’s football at FC St. Pauli is an ever growing one and once more, social inclusion is a key part of the set-up. Inga explained: “We have four girls’ teams and five women’s teams. Fortunately, we have teams on almost every level so that every girl has the possibility to join a women’s team once they are old enough – no matter their skills. Of course, the goal for a lot of girls is to join the first team and play on a really decent level. However, to immediately make that step is not always easy and we are trying to build an environment where young and talented players can grow slowly to find their way into the first team one day.”
That large number of girls and women pulling on the famous brown shirt has challenges of its own. “We want to grow and give more girls and women the opportunity to play football in our club,” says Schlegel, “Unfortunately, for that you need free and available training grounds – which are really difficult to find in Hamburg for anyone. The second challenge is to find qualified coaches that are able and willing to stay longer and really develop something with you. We are all volunteers and do this in our free time which sometimes is a big challenge.”
The league season for FC St. Pauli’s senior side has seen a win and a loss. I asked Inga how she saw the division this year and the club’s aims: “The loss was very unlucky but in general the start was really okay. The quality of all teams is very similar and from the results so far you can see that anyone can beat anyone. We would like to keep all teams in their leagues this season. However, the most important thing this season definitely is that people are staying healthy!
Above: Action from an FC St. Pauli game in the Regionalliga Nord. Photo: Stefan Groenveld.
In terms of where FC St. Pauli would like to be in five years’ time, Inga said: “In general, we would like to have a women’s team on every level – from the lowest up to the third league (which would be five teams in five different leagues). The first team should have stabilized further in the third league, ideally being placed under the top three on a regular basis. We would like to have more girls’ teams and give them an even better opportunity to play performance-related football. Nevertheless, we still want to have women and girls who want to play “just for fun” and make sure that they have a home in our department – and always will have.”
For our latest #MidweekDub feature, Ben Gilby spoke to Claire Taylor, Amanda Wetzel, Bekki Spratford, and JessKolbas of W-Jets Active, the Newcastle Jets W-League supporters group about their passion for the club, what’s been going on in Newcastle in recent times and how they view this current campaign.
Amanda, Claire, Bekki, and Jess all met at the last Newcastle Jets W-League home game of the 2018/19 season. The group got chatting in the stands after the game realised that they were all going to France to follow the Matildas’ Women’s World Cup journey.
They take up the story: “In France, we all became involved in the Matildas Active Support. It was an electrifying and unifying experience that we wanted to bring home to Newcastle. We set up the W-Jets Active in the weeks before the 2019/2020 season began and within the first week, we’d hit the 100+ mark, and the community was already forming. The momentum that followed showed us there was an enthusiasm for support specifically for the Jets’ W-League side, especially for our home-grown heroes.”
“We approached the club, and they were incredibly supportive. They’ve offered their services whenever needed, made sure we could be visible and noisy at home games and even the away games that we could get to, and have helped us keep the community connected to the players in so many ways that go unnoticed.”
“This is our second official season on Active Duty, and we’re loving how broad and diverse this community has become. Not everyone wants to be on the front line chanting, but there is a depth of support from home and afar. Our mission is simply to make sure the team knows that and to make the game day experience enjoyable for everyone, regardless of the final score.”
That brought us perfectly on to the topic of what a typical match day for the W-Jets Active looks like.
“Great question! It’s a busy day for us. It usually kicks off on game day eve, where we make sure our socials are pointing everyone in the right direction for tickets and pre-game meetups. This is followed up on the morning of the game with info about where and how to watch – in the stands or at home. We also like to get a bit of banter and buzz going on the player’s own game day posts or through our stories.”
“It’s tradition to meet up in a pub nearby pre-game, and we can’t ignore the hospitality that the Commonwealth Hotel and Sunnyside Tavern have always provided before and after home games at Number Two Sportsground and McDonald Jones Stadium, respectively. These tend to range between ten and twenty-five people, depending on several factors. Everyone is welcome – we can’t stress that enough.”
“As soon as the gates open, we’re there setting up our banners, flags, scarves, and the drum. This year, the club has given us designated Active Support bays at both Number Two Sportsground and McDonald Jones Stadium. We like to warm up with the team, with a few pre-game drumming and chanting to lift the energy.”
Above: Newcastle Jets photographed with some of the W-Jets Active Group this season. Photo: Sproule Sports Focus.
“From kick-off we live the game with the team – the highs and lows, the ins and outs – right until the final whistle blows. It’s not our aim to make 90 minutes of non-stop noise. Rather, we try to build on the energy and bring the crowd with us when the team needs it most.”
“After the game, we always stick around while the players warm down. This usually gives us a chance to chat with them, and for the little ones to get signatures on their hats and jerseys. Our team are very generous with their time. And, quite often, then we’ll head back to the pub to celebrate or commiserate, depending on the outcome.”
The W-League this season is very different from recent years with fewer internationals, lots of young stars and many new players coming in. I asked the W-Jets Active group how things were from their perspective.
“For us, it’s kind of business as usual. We’ve had a few well-loved internationals in recent seasons but have really relied on our home-grown talent. In some ways, we’re actually the W-League’s feeder team – with younger emerging players often signing for other teams or heading over overseas after a season or two. You saw that very clearly before the start of this season with so many departures from our squad making up deficits in teams that had previously relied on players from overseas.”
“This has definitely opened up opportunities for younger talent to step up into the W-League. So far, it’s proven to make for a much more competitive league – anything could happen on any given game day. I think, over time, this can only add to the depth on offer for our Matildas squad.”
“In terms of new faces ourselves, we had a lot of new players joining our existing legends this season. It was definitely an establishment phase feeling to the start of the campaign, with several new players making their W-League debut and a new-but-well-known-to-us coach, Ash Wilson. It was clear by game two that we could ask a lot of questions of our opponents, and it’s been great watching the team dynamics really shine.”
“We’ve played some excellent football this season but haven’t got the points or ladder position to show for it, but it has to be said, there’s a buzz about the team this year. Ash recruited well, and every new player ‘fits’ the club’s brand of football – staying connected to the community and bringing a never-give-up attitude to each game. That’s what makes them so easy to support through ups and downs. They don’t give up, so neither do we.”
The group’s assertion that the Jets’ performances have not earned the results that that it could have done is one we at Impetus would certainly agree with having seen the majority of the team’s games this season. I wondered who in particular had stood out for the fans this season?
“Every player has had a standout moment so far this season.
Above: The W-Jets Active Support Logo. Photo: @ActiveJets
Tara Andrews’ four goals in the first four games was exhilarating, and we loved being able to celebrate her hundredth game with the club at Cromer Park away to Sydney FC. She’s Newcastle through-and-through, a role model to so many of those coming up through the ranks, and absolute asset to the team.”
“Lauren Allan’s brace in Round Five against Western Sydney Wanderers was an absolutely joyous moment as well. She’s such a quiet achiever. She exudes a team mentality – poised to strike when needed but also ready to assist or elevate others when that’s right, too.”
“Sunny ‘Sunnybadger’ Franco and Rhianna ‘Mini’ Pollicina are both a joy to watch on the ball. Their hunger and drive make for such entertaining football. We were delighted to see Mini bag her first goal in Round Seven, staying so composed as she chipped it over the head of Gaby Garton. We were delighted to Sunny break her drought against Perth Glory. She deserved to finally be rewarded for all the great chances she creates.”
Jets’ start to the season came with the backdrop of growing uncertainty over the ownership of the club. In early January, the club CEO Lawrie McKinna announced that owner Martin Lee had not put any money into the club for at least fourteen months. Consequently the club appeared to be in debt and a group of A-League (Australian men’s top tier) investors had taken over the running of the club for the short term. I asked the supporters group how this had impacted on the club.
“The impact of the uncertainty around our ownership, and the lack of investment in the club from its owner, really can’t be underestimated. It shook every level of the club, all the way through to the players. We started our season running on the smell of an oily rag, and a lot of people were certain we simply wouldn’t have a season at all.”
“The commitment of those within the Jets, especially those behind the scenes, really needs to be applauded. They held the club together with support from the community at large, several loyal sponsors, and their own blood and tears.”
“The stability provided by this interim ownership model was such a relief. With the Women’s World Cup coming in 2023, it’s critical that we continue to have a W-League to showcase what we have to offer. This guarantees that the Jets will be able to maintain those pathways for our region. We have such a rich football history, which deserves to be recognised at the professional level.”
On top of everything else the club has had to deal with, there has also been the coronavirus pandemic. Australia’s international borders have been closed for over a year now and that does not look like changing for a long time to come. Ever changing state border restrictions have also had a major impact on signings and match schedules. I asked the group how the situation had specifically impacted on Newcastle Jets.
Above: The Jets players and W-Jets Active group pictured together this season. Photo: Sproule Sports Focus.
“Let’s not overlook the impact of the fixture changes – we’re on version ten of our season calendar now! It is inconvenient from a fan perspective, but it’s been close to unmanageable for the players. Despite being professional footballers, W-League players typically have primary jobs or study commitments. Juggling these is hard enough in a predictable season, but the last-minute leave requests, possibility of unexpected quarantine, uncertainty around accepting shifts, or missing classes is a tough and unreasonable ask. This highlights the need for policies to move us into a fully professional league.”
“In the stands, it has definitely changed attendance. Not only in numbers, but in the whole fan experience. The club bent over backwards to make sure that we could still come together as an Active group with distanced seat allocations in the same bay, so we did what we could to provide a visible presence. But we couldn’t make the same level of noise at the start of the season because chanting and drumming were banned and masks had to be worn in the stands. We were just incredibly grateful to be able to attend home games!”
“That said, it feels like more people tuned in from home, and as a result started to demand a lot more in terms of the quality of broadcasting for W-League games. This is definitely the season where W-League fans took to their socials to call out the inequalities and demand better. We still have a long way to go, but the more people involved in the movement for change, the better.”
As our discussion moved towards its conclusion, I wanted to discover what the W-Jets Active group think the short term future is like for the W-League.
“Football Australia obviously have a lot of work to do before 2023. That’s going to require investment in the women’s game before and after the World Cup. This event will shine a light on Australia’s women’s football league from around the world, so it’s time to really live the values we’ve hearing about for years.”
“A full home and away season has been talked about for too long – it’s time for action. Along with a clear plan to make the W-League fully professional. There also needs to be investment at grassroots level, with clearer pathways for girls to progress into the professional league domestically.”
“Stepping up the supporter experience also needs to be a part of this. That means easier access to accurate information about how to attend games or watch from home. Designated home grounds for W-League teams! We know how much our W-Jets prefers playing at Number Two Sportsground, and the atmosphere it allows can be a game changer. And quality broadcasting, with pre-game commentary, replays, half-time analysis, and commentators who can pronounce our player’s names should be on the agenda immediately (we got you, Coehlo!)”
Impetus’ coverage of Australian Women’s Football is supported by The Chicken Salt Co. They are offering every Impetus reader 5% off all orders of Chicken Salt from their website. Go to https://www.chickensalt.co.uk/?mate=impetus and place your order – 5% will automatically be taken off of the cost. The coupon code is impetus.
Above: Isabel Hodgson celebrates her equalising goal for Adelaide United. Photo: @AUFCWomen
In front of W-League record 5,159 fans, Adelaide United faced Western Sydney with plenty to play for, to keep their finals hopes alive they needed a win and to hope Canberra drop points against Sydney FC next week. For the Wanderers, this season is ending a little too soon having enjoyed some of their best form in recent weeks.
All of the pressure was on the Reds and in the early stages it showed, the home side began nervously, unable to maintain possession and seemed to lack composure defensively and they were punished by Oliva Price who hit her shot home low and hard after a corner kick spilled to her on the edge of the box. Although Sian Fryer-McLaren in goal was able to react and get a hand to the ball, it had enough power to roll past her and into the net. It was not the start Adelaide would have wanted but if there was a silver lining it was that it had happened early.
The recovery began immediately and in the eighteenth minute, Isabel Hodgson delighted the crowd with fantastic equalizer. Mallory Weber was fed the ball out wide and accelerated past her opponent to make room for a cross to the back post. Hodgson met the ball and calmly took it down before side footing it into the bottom corner to level the scores. She celebrated as emphatically as she’d scored, this was a final for Adelaide in anything but name.
Above: In a season of records being broken by Adelaide United, they also claimed a record breaking W-League crowd today. Photo: @AdelaideUnited
The Reds had gone into the game without the departed Dylan Holmes and the injured Chelsie Dawber and half way through the half things got even tougher for the home side. The electrifying fullback Charlotte Grant pulled up while racing Teigan Collister for a loose ball, she collapsed to the ground holding her hamstring and in visible distress. Laura Johns replaced her off the bench, but in the form Grant has been in recently, this was a potential blow to Adelaide.
While Collister was proving the biggest threat to Adelaide with her direct style and dangerous crossing, Maria Jose Rojas was putting on a show in typical style, delighting the crowd with the familiar tricks, flicks and sidesteps even if the final ball for both was sometimes agonizingly short of perfect.
As the half came to a close Adelaide looked to be in the ascendancy, Emily Hodgson stormed forward from right back, bursting into the area and sending in a low cross toward two Adelaide players, Sarah Willacy cut it off with a sure handed save to ensure the Wanderers went into the break level.
When the game resumed, Adelaide continued their assault on the Wanderers defence, buoyed by the possibility of finals and encouraged by the carnival-like atmosphere the crowd provided they went in search of a winner.
Lauren Jones who had deputized well for Grant, combined down the flank with Weber to once again set up Isabel Hodgson at the back post, this time the short missed the target.
Weber threatened the score line again minutes later when Willacy rushed a clearance under pressure from Fiona Worts. The ball fell to the Reds captain who struck it on target and forced Willacy to tip it wide.
Adelaide were rewarded for their repeated attacks when they took the lead through their centre-back Maruscka Waldus. An Emily Condon corner found her unmarked in the six yard box and she buried the header before sprinting in a celebration that included every outfield player and the entire Adelaide bench.
Above: Maruschka Waldus (red/navy kit) heads Adelaide United into the lead. Photo: @AUFCWomen
It was a well-placed corner kick, too far away for the goalkeeper to claim easily and close enough that Waldus only needed to direct it home, Western Sydney will be unhappy that she was unmarked but it was a fine goal nonetheless.
In response, the Wanderers sent on their experienced striker Leena Khamis, her impact was instantly noticeable after she beat Matilda McNamara to a long ball and lifted it over Fryer-McLaren, unfortunately it bounced off the top of the goal harmlessly, but it was a warning to Adelaide that the game was not yet over.
With less than 30 minutes to play Fiona Worts extended the lead for The Reds. A intelligently taken free kick was played low to the edge of the box, Waldus met the ball and hooked it towards goal the shot bobbled against players packed into the defence but fell kindly to Worts who picked her spot and buried it home to make it 3-1.
Both sides were unlucky not to add to the score line as the match wore on. Weber somehow crashed a shot off the inside off the post and Isabel Hodgson looked stunned not too have extended the lead after shooting from point blank range, only to be denied by a terrific reflex save from Willacy. Up the other end Sarah Hunter nearly provided a spectacular reply when she hooked the ball over her shoulder in a sort of standing bicycle kick that only just flew wide.
Fryer-McLaren kept any Wanderers attacks at back, coming out to cleanly and confidently collect some dangerous balls in, particularly from Copus-Brown’s consistently impressive set piece ability. It was a great way to end the match from a goalkeeper who had begun the afternoon in near-nightmare fashion and she had recovered well to play a major part in the win.
Adelaide have done all they can at this point to qualify for finals, they have had their best season by any measure and recorded the biggest W-League crowd in history. Their contributions to the competition for the regular season have been wonderful and coach Adrian Stenta may have even unearthed a few future Matildas, if their season continues beyond next week, they will have made history with their first finals appearance.
This is the last we will see of Western Sydney for the 2020/21 campaign and after a rocky start due to an almost entirely new squad, they eventually found their groove and began to play some exciting football. Coach Dean Heffernan put his faith in young players and prioritized developing new talent over grinding out results, the emergence of Sarah Hunter and Bryleeh Henry as rising talents will be particularly memorable for fans of the club as both teenagers announced themselves with braces and performances that bode well for the future. The move of Libby Copus-Brown into a deep lying playmaker role got the best out of her and some of her sharp turns and long raking passes were top class. Hopefully Heffernan can keep the core of this side together, the class of ’21 is an exciting bunch.
Above: Adelaide United’s final home game of their greatest ever season ended with the greatest ever crowd for a W-League game. Photo: @WLeague
Its goodbye and thank you to Western Sydney for now and maybe a “see ya soon?” to Adelaide United. What a wonderful end to their regular season.
Top four sides qualify for the finals at the end of the regular season.
Impetus’ coverage of Australian Women’s Football is supported by The Chicken Salt Co. They are offering every Impetus reader 5% off all orders of Chicken Salt from their website. Go to https://www.chickensalt.co.uk/?mate=impetus and place your order – 5% will automatically be taken off of the cost. The coupon code is impetus.
Above: Michelle Heyman celebrates her winner for Canberra United with team-mate Grace Maher. Photo: @CanberraUnited
Canberra United kept their Finals hopes alive going into the last week of the regular season after earning a 1-0 win in the rain at the Number Two Sportsground.
Despite the huge amount of rain that had fallen in New South Wales in the lead up to the game, the pitch was in outstanding condition.
The Jets went into the game without Tara Andrews who rolled an ankle in the week building up to the game. Coming in was Sophie Harding, who had an outstanding record in NPLW football last season.
It only took four minutes to see just what Harding adds to the Newcastle side. She showed her incredible pace down the right to speed away from the Canberra defence and play a ball across towards Sunny Franco in the box but the danger passed.
Harding got in again just before the ten minute mark when she comprehensively won a one on one against Emma Ilijoski to further emphasise just how dangerous she can be.
Shortly afterwards, Canberra came the closest yet of the two sides to breaking the deadlock. Keeley Richards’ clearance from the back found Laura Keir who in turn passed to Michelle Heyman. A quick ball out to the right into the feet of Nikki Flannery saw a raid down the wing which ended with a ball squared to Paige Satchell who slid in with Jets keeper Claire Coelho making a wonderful point blank save to deny the Kiwi.
Satchell was involved in the next major action with sixteen minutes played when, following a corner, she turned and got a shot away on the left hand side of the box which Coelho held.
Above: Sophie Harding had some great opportunities for Newcastle Jets in the early exchanges. Photo: @NewcastleJetsFC
With twenty-two minutes played, the Jets won their first corner, but all it led to was woe. Canberra cleared and broke away down the right with Satchell getting past two Jets before Tessa Tamplin momentarily forced the ball away. It came straight back from Laura Hughes to Kendall Fletcher before a nice pass to Grace Maher who delivered an inch perfect ball into the path of Heyman who had made yet another magnificent run into space before slotting it comfortably past Coelho to ensure Canberra hit the front.
United controlled the possession and territory as they aimed to turn the screw despite the best efforts of the W Jets Active support to get behind the home side.
With half an hour played, Heyman again found space and got a shot away which was over the bar. Just two minutes later she danced her way through the entire midfield before Taren King blocked her effort on goal.
The Jets desperately needed to get a foothold in the game, but despite their best efforts, which included a shot from Hannah Brewer from over 35 yards, Canberra were able to keep the home side at arm’s length pretty comfortably in the period up to half-time.
Indeed the visitors could have extended their lead on three occasions in the last two minutes of the half. First, when Hughes’ dangerous cross to the back post was met by a sliding Flannery who couldn’t quite direct her effort on goal. Just before the break they had another chance when Flannery got away from several challenges and laid off a pass to begin a move which ended with Ilijoski’s wonderful ball into the box for Hughes get a shot away which Coelho saved at the expense of a corner. The flag kick was met by Heyman who struck the post. The rebound fell to Flannery whose effort came crashing back off of the crossbar before Coelho dived on the ball just ahead of the half-time whistle.
Just ninety seconds into the second half, Canberra were denied by Coelho yet again. The razor sharp Heyman released Flannery who was clean through until the Jets custodian saved her team.
With fifty-three minutes on the clock, the Jets finally fashioned a chance, and what a great effort it was. From a throw in down the left just in line with the eighteen yard box, Rhianna Pollicina took possession, turned and unleashed first time a wonderful strike that only just went over the bar.
Above: Canberra United’s Bianca Galic battles it out with Alicia Bass of Newcastle Jets in the rain. Photo: @CanberraUnited.
Chances were few and far between over the next ten minutes or so. The Jets support were creating a fantastic atmosphere in the rain, but try as they might, their team could not produce a serious threat on goal.
Instead, it was the visitors who continued to threaten. Claire Coelho kept her team in it with another outstanding save. A low ball in found Nikki Flannery who hit an effort which the Jets keeper tipped magnificently onto the bar from point blank range.
Shortly afterwards, Heyman got another fierce effort away which Coelho, diving to the right managed to hold on to. With sixty-five minutes played, Bianca Galic was set free by Heyman and she fired in powerful angled drive which was just over the bar.
Panagiota Petratos came on as sub for the Jets and was quickly involved when slipping a ball in towards Franco who got a pacy effort away from a tight angle on the right hand side, but Richards was alive to the danger in the Canberra goal.
With six minutes left, teenage sub Hayley Taylor-Young used her immense pace to get clear and fired in a shot which Coelho saved with her legs at the cost of a corner.
Into stoppage time with the rain now reaching biblical proportions, Jemma House had one final chance to equalise for Newcastle which was just scrambled wide.
Canberra United’s win now sets up a monumental final game of the season for them next weekend at home to likely table-toppers Sydney FC. A victory will guarantee the capital city side will play finals football. Anything less makes it highly unlikely.
CANBERRA UNITED: Richards, Keir, Ilijoski, Nash, Fletcher, Galic, Maher, Hughes, Heyman, Flannery, Satchell. Substitutes: James (GK), Grove, Rasschaert, Koulizakis, Taylor-Young.
Scorers: Heyman 22.
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
Attendance: 437.
Impetus’ coverage of Australian Women’s Football is supported by The Chicken Salt Co. They are offering every Impetus reader 5% off all orders of Chicken Salt from their website. Go to https://www.chickensalt.co.uk/?mate=impetus and place your order – 5% will automatically be taken off of the cost. The coupon code is impetus.
Photos supplied from Dorrien Gardens by Tom McCarthy.
Above: Rhali Dobson turns away after scoring the only goal of the match. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Reigning champions Melbourne City gained an important victory in their battle at the bottom of the W-League against Perth Glory at Dorrien Gardens.
In a game played in 30o heat despite the early evening kick-off, the W-League’s heat policy came into play with drinks breaks.
Going into the game, Melbourne City’s Emma Checker was celebrating her hundredth game in the W-League after starting out as a 15 year-old with Adelaide United in 2011.
With two minutes played, Rhali Dobson’s chip through towards Chinatsu Kira needed Glory skipper Tash Rigby to head away at the expense of a corner. From Kira’s flag kick, Jenna McCormick headed over.
Vlajnic won a second corner for City with less than four minutes played as the Victorian side continued to dominate possession in the early exchanges. Despite this, the Sky Blues never came close to seriously troubling the Perth defence.
The Glory came in to this game on the back of a record equalling six consecutive defeats, a run which doesn’t quite tell the story of the quality of their performances and efforts. Their build-up play, usually intricate and skilful was noticeably less accurate than usual early on.
Above: Caitlin Doeglas was full of running once more for Perth Glory. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
The home side fashioned their first opportunity twelve minutes in when Caitlin Doeglas went charging down the left and unleashed a powerful shot which went into the side netting.
A period of poor quality passing hampered the game and underlined the league position of the two teams at the foot of the table with no further opportunities for scoring coming until the twenty-fifth minute when Doeglas got a shot away which Melissa Barbieri held with ease.
With just over half an hour gone, Tyla-Jay Vlajnic won a free kick for City down the left hand side after a hand in the back from Jamie-Lee Gale, but once more the free-kick was cleared with ease. The ball quickly returned when Jenna McCormick combined brilliantly with Dobson who played a low ball in, but Chidiac badly scuffed her shot wide when it looked easier to score.
Above: Alexia Moreno, who had an impressive night for Perth Glory. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Perth fashioned a half chance with ten minutes of the opening half left. Creditable work from Alexia Moreno down the right saw the nineteen year-old hold off several City defenders to win a corner. Deborah-Ann De La Harpe’s subsequent high teasing ball in was met by fellow teen Isabella Wallhead, whose effort went over the bar.
Above: Isabella Wallhead – sent an effort over the bar for Perth Glory. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Before the break, Melbourne City’s Naomi Thomas-Chinnama was hurt when trying to clear a fantastic ball in towards Doeglas by the increasingly dangerous Moreno and had to leave the field.
Shortly afterwards, Malia Steinmetz almost caused disaster in the Glory backline with a high pass back to Lily Alfeld which saw the home keeper forced to try and clear with her head. City remained on the front foot and Hana Lowry’s foul on Dobson just outside the box on the left hand side resulted in a free kick, but Kira’s free kick was disappointing to say the least.
The physical battle continued from the resulting goal kick when Vlajnic was yellow carded for jumping into the back of Alexia Moreno.
Above: Melbourne City’s Tyla-Jay Vlajnic goes in on Caitlin Doeglas. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
As the game entered stoppage time at the end of the first half, Perth had a glorious opportunity. Rigby combined with Steinmetz and Gale to play in Doeglas down the right wing. After producing an outrageous Cruyff turn, the Glory star played in a great cross which Steinmetz couldn’t quite control successfully enough to get a shot away.
Given the general low quality of the opening period, it was no surprise that the score remained 0-0 at half-time.
The opening to the second half was scrappy again, but with five minutes gone, Melbourne City had a golden opportunity when Deborah-Ann De La Harpe fouled Alex Chidiac right outside the penalty area in a central position. Kira’s effort was high again but a poor clearance from Isabella Wallhead allowed Noor Hoelsbreken-Eckhoff in but the Norwegian player’s effort was disappointing.
Above: Perth Glory keeper Lily Alfeld (pink shirt) punches clear despite being under huge pressure. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Perth responded with more great play from Caitlin Doeglas who went on a dangerous run down the left and played in Sarah Morgan but to the loud consternation of the home support, referee Kelly Jones ruled that Doeglas had fouled Samantha Johnson earlier in the move.
The next opportunity went Melbourne City’s way with Johnson’s effort from a corner being dealt with well by Alfeld.
Another free-kick came City’s way on the edge of the box when Chidiac broke through menacingly and Lowry brought her down at the additional cost of a yellow card for the seventeen year-old. Chidiac’s resulting effort went over the bar.
Above: Alexia Moreno and Jenna McCormick get in a tangle. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Shortly afterwards, and with sixty-seven minutes on the clock, the deadlock was finally broken. Leah Davidson won possession just before the ‘D’ in a central position and the ball eventually found its way to Chidiac who played a clever ball inside Glory defender Liz Anton which meant that Rhali Dobson was in acres of space to slot home calmly into the far left hand corner of the net.
Perth responded brilliantly with Doeglas getting away down the left again. She squared to Lowry who unleashed a fantastic shot which looked destined for the far corner, but Barbieri pulled off a fine save.
Tori Tumeth worked well with seven minutes left to escape the clutches of De La Harpe to get a well worked effort away which was narrowly wide.
Perth’s teenagers combined well to create an opportunity for Caitlin Doeglas when De La Harpe strode forward from the back purposefully and found Tijan McKenna. An exquisite ball through from the 16 year-old found Doeglas who was adjudged to be offside.
Above: Tijan McKenna combined brilliantly with Deborah-Ann De La Harpe and Caitlin Doeglas. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Melbourne City controlled the last ten minutes, keeping possession well as they homed in on a much needed three points.
Impetus’ coverage of Australian Women’s Football is supported by The Chicken Salt Co. They are offering every Impetus reader 5% off all orders of Chicken Salt from their website. Go to https://www.chickensalt.co.uk/?mate=impetus and place your order – 5% will automatically be taken off of the cost. The coupon code is impetus.
Michelle Heyman has just overtaken Sam Kerr to become the W-League’s all-time record goal scorer. After missing the competition last year, the 32 year-old has come back better than ever at her spiritual home of Canberra United this season – and the possibility of a Matildas recall grows.Ben Gilby profiles her stellar career.
Above: Michelle Heyman in full-flight for the Matildas. Photo: Paul Kane.
Michelle Heyman has been there, done it all and got the T-shirt to tell the tale. The 32 year-old is enjoying an outstanding season in the W-League which has culminated in her becoming the league’s all-time record goal-scorer.
Born in the Shellharbour, New South Wales, 53 miles south of Sydney, Heyman left the small town with a population of around 3,000 to represent her country all over the world and play club football in the USA as well as winning countless honours in the domestic club game in Australia.
Heyman played Rugby Union and touch football first before going to play the round ball at local side Warilla Wanderers and she told one of her sponsors in the past how she remembers well “playing in a boys competition and I was the only girl. When I first started playing, I was a little intimidated because I was the only girl in the league. I just remember being very competitive growing up, I always wanted to be a winner and beat the boys!”
Speaking in 2009 about this part of her career, she said: “I have never been a strong football background. I have never been in the Young Matildas and what I have learnt was from growing up and playing with the boys. I never really had the high level training and coaching.”
Above: Michelle in action for Illawarra Stingrays. Photo: Football NSW.
She moved on to represent Port Kembla and Shellharbour City before joining Illawarra Stingrays in NSW State Women’s Super League (now NPLW). The Stingrays have been a club that Heyman has returned to several times from 2008 and 2018 between W-League seasons.
In 2008, at the age of 20, ahead of the first W-League season, Heyman was invited to a trial at Sydney FC where, out of 120 triallists, she was one of only ten to be signed. Playing opportunities in her debut season with the harbour city club were restricted to just three games due to the highly competitive squad that the Sky Blues had put together, so she moved to Central Coast Mariners, who at that period were running a W-League outfit.
Her single season in Gosford was hugely successful. Eleven goals in eleven games saw her become the first striker in the league’s infancy to score more than ten goals in a campaign. At the time, she told The Women’s Game: “I am glad that I swapped over and played for the Mariners. I wasn’t too sure if I would be starting this season because of what happened last season (lack of games with Sydney). Steve Roach (coach) gave me the opportunity to start so I didn’t want to let him down.”
With little senior experience at this time, Heyman pointed to how her team-mates at Central Coast Mariners helped to develop her as a player: “The experienced girls talked to me a lot more. Where I can do better. What I can do to make my runs a lot easier and not to waste my energy during the game. With the experience of the girls having played at higher levels, it has just helped me a lot and I have learnt so much this year at the Mariners.”
The successes of this season saw the Mariners finish as runners-up in the W-League before bowing out of the Finals series at the first hurdle to Brisbane Roar. On a personal level, Heyman win the Julie Dolan Medal as the W-League’s player of the year and the Golden Boot as top scorer.
Above: A young Michelle Heyman celebrating a goal for Central Coast Mariners. Photo: goal.com.
However, Central Coast Mariners’ parent A-League (men’s) club withdrew funding for the women’s team at the end of the campaign and Heyman moved to Canberra United – a club she would be associated with over the next eleven years.
The 2011/12 season was, once more hugely successful for Heyman as Canberra finished top of the W-League at the end of the regular season, going unbeaten. She netted fifteen times to finish six goals clear at the top of the scorers charts. Of these fifteen goals, three came in the finals as Canberra United went on to win the Grand Final. She scored the only goal of the semi-final at home to Melbourne Victory with seven minutes to go. A brace came in the Grand Final at United’s McKellar Park home as Brisbane Roar were defeated 3-2 in front of a crowd of 2,512.
In this period, Heyman was called up for the Matildas for the first time and represented the team in the 2014 Asian Women’s Football Championships where she claimed a runners-up medal and then went on to play all five matches for Australia at the 2015 World Cup. A year later she made her country’s squad for the Olympic Games and scored twice in a 6-1 win over Zimbabwe in Brazil.
Above: Michelle in her early days at Canberra United. Photo: Wikipedia
Heyman’s stellar form for Canberra United led to a five month contract with Brøndby IF in Denmark. Speaking at the time, she said: “I don’t know much about Denmark but I know it’s cold over there, like -5 degrees. I was told that it hasn’t started snowing yet, but it’s windy and I need to buy gloves and beanies and stuff… I just want to go over there and enjoy it.”
She returned to Canberra United for another six seasons where she clocked up a total of 93 appearance and fifty-six goals. A further W-League Grand Final success followed in 2014 when the side from the nation’s capital came from third place on the table to win both finals away from home. A win in the semis at Melbourne Victory on penalties set up a Grand Final in Western Australia against table toppers Perth Glory, who had won eleven of their thirteen games. In front of 2,671, Canberra United scored two goals in a three minute spell to claim a stunning 3-1 win.
Above: Michelle (centre) after Canberra United’s outstanding Grand Final win away to Perth Glory. Photo: W-League.
Another spell abroad in the USA with Western New York Flash saw Heyman score once in nine games as the team finished seventh.
After eight hugely successful years in Canberra, she departed for South Australia and Adelaide United. Speaking at the time to the club’s website, Heyman said: “I believe that we can definitely make finals and with the experience that Adelaide have already with the likes of Emma Checker and now with myself adding more experience, I think we can definitely be a successful team.”
Above: Michelle Heyman at Adelaide United. Photo: Zimbio.
Unfortunately, despite those experienced heads in the squad, Adelaide narrowly failed to make a maiden finals appearance – missing out by just a point. A disappointing loss at home to a Newcastle Jets side five points in arrears of them in the penultimate week of the season eventually ended those hopes of making the final four. Heyman played in every game that season, but only managed one goal.
After taking a season out of the W-League last time round, Heyman played for the University of Sydney in the NSW NPLW (State League) under Alex Epakis, now head coach at Perth Glory. A series of great performances and goals prompted her to make a W-League return for 2020/21 with Canberra United.
Above: In action for Sydney University in the 2020 NSW NPLW season. Photo: Sports Pix by Izhar.
She was unveiled back in the lime green in November 2020. “If you were to ask me a year ago if this was something that could happen, to be honest, this comeback was something I didn’t think was going to happen,” Heyman told the club website.
“I am so excited to get back to the roots of Canberra United. Canberra United has been a part of my life and helped shape my career.
“I’ve always loved this club and feel very grateful to get the opportunity to come back and play for the Green family,” she continued.
Above: The Lime Green of Canberra United – Michelle Heyman’s spiritual club shirt. Photo: Ben Gilby
This season it has been a joy back to see Heyman playing at the club. Her positioning sense and deadly accuracy in front of goal have been rewarded by reclaiming her status as the league’s record goal scorer. All the fairy tale needs now is for her to go back on her 2019 announcement retiring from international football.
New Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson recently told Impetus: “Too many Matildas stop playing international football too early. I want to extend these players’ careers. Players can still play really well at 35 or 40.” Michelle Heyman, at the age of 32 certainly would qualify as being worthy of extending her international career.
Impetus’ coverage of Australian Women’s Football is supported by The Chicken Salt Co. They are offering every Impetus reader 5% off all orders of Chicken Salt from their website. Go to https://www.chickensalt.co.uk/?mate=impetus and place your order – 5% will automatically be taken off of the cost. The coupon code is impetus.
In our weekly Saturday wrap of all the week’s goings on in the Swedish women’s game, @DandalBs updates us on last weekend’s Swedish Cup action and a plethora of transfer news.
Above: Renée Slegers, newly appointed as Swedish U23 coach Photo: @svenskfotboll.
Renée Slegers, who coaches Rosengård‘s second team in the third tier of the game, has been appointed head coach of Sweden U23s.
SWEDISH CUP NEWS:
Hammarby won 3-0 at Örebro thanks to a second half hat trick by Emilia Larsson. Djurgården demolished Uppsala 4-0 thanks to strikes from Dowd, Ekengren, Bloznalis and Motlhalo.
Above: Hammarby’s Hat-trick hero Emilia Larsson (hand out) in an earlier pre-season game. Photo: Andreas L. Eriksson/Bildbyran.
BK Häcken defeated Växjö 1-0 with Rytting Kaneryd scoring the only goal after an even first half. They played their first match in their new shirt. Lidköping went down 3-0 at home to Linköping with Maanum, an own goal and Bredgaard responsible. Alingsås United suffered a 4-0 loss at home to Kristianstad with a brace from Jonsdottir helping them on their way.
Above: Olivia Schough, on the scoresheet for Rosengård. Photo: Bildbyran
Rosengård ran out 3-1 winners at home to Vittsjö. Goals from Cankovic, Schough and Troelsgaard were the difference. GIF Sundsvall lost 3-0 at home to Eskilstuna United. Collin, Rogic and Kullashi were on the scoresheet.
This weekend’s Swedish Cup last sixteen group stage matches this weekend are as follows: Group A: Linköpings FC v Växjö, Lidköpings FK v BK Häcken FF. Group B: Alingsås FC United v FC Rosengård, Kristianstads DFF v Vittsjö GIK. Group C: Eskilstuna United DFF v Hammarby, Sundsvalls DFF v KIF Örebro DFF. Group D: Umeå IK FF v IK Uppsala Football, Morön BK v Djurgårdens IF FF.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY NEWS:
AIK suffered a 2-0 loss at home to Piteå with the goals coming from Nordin and Guillou.
NEWS IN BRIEF:
Above: Clare Polkinghorne, Brisbane Roar legend is on her way to Vittsjö. Photo: West Australian.
By Ben Gilby: Australian national team midfielder Clare Polkinghorne will join Vittsjö once Brisbane Roar’s regular W-League season comes to an end. It will be a big blow to the club’s hopes of a first Grand Final win in ten years as they will have to play Finals without such a key player. Polkinghorne recently played her 150th game for the Roar and said:
“Obviously the timing of it all is disappointing for me, but it’s an opportunity I need to take to ensure that I’m playing regular football at a high standard throughout the year and preparing in the best possible environment for the Olympics.
“Right from the start the club has been very accommodating and it helps that we have had open communication throughout the whole process.”
Speaking about the her departure, Brisbane Roar head coach Jake Goodship said:
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be matched, to stay at one club and be as successful as she has been, winning trophies and personal accolades and playing 150 games,” coach Jake Goodship said.
“She basically symbolises what Brisbane Roar stands for.
“As hard as it is losing Clare, she has done the utmost work behind the scenes to ensure the confidence is high in the players stepping up to fill her shoes.”
OTHER TRANSFER NEWS:
Thai international Miranda Nild has joined Kristianstad from American NWSL side OL Reign.
Piteå have signed 26 year-old midfielder Elsa Karlsson from Kif Örebro. Karlsson has played almost every Damallsvenskan match for Örebro since she joined in 2018.
Above: Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir, an Everton target has joined Örebro. Photo: @damsvfotboll.
Icelandic national team goalkeeper Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir joins Örebro from Icelandic club Fylkir on a one year contract. She was heavily rumoured to be joining FAWSL side Everton this coming summer, so it remains to see what will happen longer term.
impetusfootball.org 