Above:Chelsea Blissett celebrates after scoring her very first Liberty A-League goal. Photo:Brisbane Roar.
Brisbane Roar recorded a historic win over the reigning champions, Sydney FC, on a warm Saturday afternoon in the Sunshine State. It was the first time since 2021 that Brisbane had beaten Sydney, and the first time since 2016 that they’d beaten Sydney at home. The 1-0 win means that the Roar continue their perfect start to the season with two wins from two (against two of the strongest clubs in the league no less).
The match was the first Brisbane Roar have played at Ballymore stadium, and the atmosphere was incredible. There was a recordcrowd of 3,679 people, a considerable step up from the average of 900 who attended Roar matches last season. As usual the crowd was a sea of orange, but there was also some green and gold in there as well. The impact of the Women’s World Cup and the Matildas on full display.
The match started out very competitively. There was a lot of physicality, quick passing, good build up play, and half chances from both sides. Sydney forward, Shea Connors, who was playing against her old side, started off very lively, but her old teammate, Holly McQueen, did a fantastic job of keeping her quiet.
Sydney’s best chance of the first half came from a wonderfully weighted ball from Princess Ibini through two Brisbane defenders to Connors. The keeper was off her line and had Connors gotten there first, she would have surely been able to chip her and secure Sydney’s opening goal. But the Roar’s two defenders tracked Connors’ run, stayed composed, and managed to shut the attack down.
A few minutes later, down the other end, newly signed defender Chelsea Blissett made a stellar forward run, combining with American striker, Mia Corbin, who passed forward to set Blissett up perfectly to take a shot on goals. She took one touch to set it up and then flashed a high, curling ball past Jada Whyman in the Sydney goals. The 3,500 Roar fans in the crowd went nuts.
What a way to score your first @LibFinancial A-League goal! 😲@brisbaneroar open the scoring against Sydney FC thanks to this stunner from Chelsea Blissett! 🔥
The rest of the first half was competitive, both sides having chances, but it’s fair to say that Brisbane looked the most threatening.
Sydney FC came out strong in the second half and began to wrestle control of the match back. They began dominating possession and committing players forward for wave after wave of attack. Sydney looked menacing in the final half hour, but Brisbane Roar did a phenomenal job in defence. For the most part, their defending was calm, controlled, and well organised. They were able to resist the high press from Sydney and keep themselves out of trouble. The Roar closed out the match in front of a delighted home crowd.
Sydney looked strong against the Wanderers last week, but Brisbane posed a very different kind of threat in this match. Sydney was notably weakened by the absence of their captain and experienced centre back, Nat Tobin, who suffered an ACL injury last weekend. They also seemed to struggle withoutquality midfielders like Mackenzie Hawkesby and Sarah Hunter, who recently transferred to clubs in Europe. Cortnee Vine and Connors definitely looked dangerous at times, but they were kept quiet by Brisbane’s back line.
Brisbane looked strong and composed. Tameka Yallop put in a good first shift back for the Roar, winning the ball back in dangerous areas and making good, attacking minded passes. Once she’s back to full fitness she’ll be able to fill most of the Katrina Gorry shaped hole in the Roar’s midfield. Sharn Freier kept up her stellar form from the opening match against Melbourne Victory, hurting Sydney with her pace and physicality. She was involved in a lot of good build up play, particularly in the first half. Blissett performed really well, not only scoring her first ever Liberty A-League goal but putting in a lot of hard work in the backline as well.
Blissett’s goal won the Roar the match, but Jenna McCormick and Jordan Silkowitz prevented them from dropping any points.McCormick, who was Brisbane Roar’s captain, is an A-League veteran and capped Matilda. Her leadership and experience formed the backbone of the Roar’s defence, something that in the past few seasons has often crumbled under pressure. But even more impressive was Silkowitz. She made six saves throughout the match, many of them at pivotal moments. She also pulled out a number of spectacular diving saves to deny some fantastic shots by world class forwards such as Vine. The Brisbane Roar fan club, the Roar Corps, are now affectionately referring to her as, “Silky Mitts”.
Neither team will play next week, due to the upcoming international break. Brisbane Roar will next play Wellington Phoenix on November 4. Sydney FC face Adelaide United two weeks later on November 19, after returning from the group stage of the 2023 AFC Women’s Club Championship, which they qualified for by becoming champions last season.
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 below(21/10/23).
Above: Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall. Photo: Morganna King for Impetus.
Arsenal
by Arwen Moses
After a shaky start to the season, Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal have regained their momentum in the league following their triumph over Aston Villa last Saturday. A late flurry of goals courtesy of Katie McCabe and Alessia Russo mean that Eidevall’s team currently sit seventh.
The Gunners face newly promoted Bristol City at Ashton Gate this weekend, looking to go into the international break with back-to-back wins. Lauren Smith’s City, however, are still searching for their first points of the season, following a rocky start to their promotion to the top league.
Throughout the course of this season, Arsenal will expect to play in front of a home crowd at the Emirates at least six times. Whilst widely accepted now, the progression for visibility, attendance, and interest in the women’s game has skyrocketed in recent years. Their most recent fixture was watched by 35,000 in the Emirates, with Arsenal also beating the record attendance for the first fixture of the season.
When reflecting on the rapid changes within the women’s game in England over recent years, Eidevall claimed, “Five years ago, it was one-offs playing at major stadiums, but now it occurs almost every week, it shows the continued development women’s football is having.
I think we have been the leading club in the league, playing most games at the biggest stadiums and drawing great attendances. As a league, everyone needs to be aiming to be doing that. I’m happy that more and more clubs are following suit, as this is the only way that we can drive the league forward.
“Two seasons ago in our league opener against Chelsea, we had an attendance of 9,000 at the Emirates, It’s hard to believe today. You need to start somewhere. You think how can we put our advertisements out to reach our target groups better and to connect with the fans? What kind of experience can we provide which makes them want to come back?”
Earlier this week, Sarina Wiegman announced her Lionesses squad to face Belgium in the Nations League. Attacker Beth Mead was overlooked for the squad, despite her return to the Arsenal bench for the first time in 11 months due to rupturing her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) against Manchester United at the Emirates.
Whilst disappointed, Eidevall can understand the decision, “It is Sarina’s decision over the England squad, so I’ll never have an opinion on that. I do think that it’s complicating it when speaking from a return to playing-perspective. Beth is now starting to train and play minutes with us, but the reality is that over the international break, we might have three outfield players left for two weeks of training. This is far from ideal for a player like Beth, as she lacks the experience of big-pitch decisions. My hopes were that a player like Beth could have trained with England, even if she wasn’t available for selection. However, that is England’s decision.”
Last season, 43% of the Arsenal squad were seriously injured at some point during the 22/23 season (nine out of 21 players). While research is being undertaken to explore why ACL injuries are so prominent in women’s football, Eidevall reflected on the positive impact that the injuries had on the camaraderie of the playing group.
“The whole of last season, there was a common theme where we all improved with our togetherness, on and off the pitch. Sometimes what adversity does to you as a group will make you stronger, and that is clearly what has happened. We need to grow that even in good conditions, and that will develop strong teams into really strong teams. Hopefully, we can have much less adversity with regards to injuries this season, but continue to grow the togetherness as a team.”
Away from Arsenal, there have been discussions over the standard of teams from the WSL on the international stage, as Marc Skinner’s Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League after a midweek defeat against Paris St. Germain. Questions have been raised about the competitions themselves, and whether it would be beneficial for the women’s structure to mirror the current men’s one.
This would involve introducing a Europa League to accompany the current Champions League. While potentially useful in theory, Eidevall firmly believes that financially and logistically, it raises too many concerns to be viable.
“It would be a really nice opportunity for growth and an opportunity to compete internationally. We have seen that the last two seasons at Arsenal where it’s given us so much. However, when we look at the Champions League from an economic perspective, I don’t think that it is too much of a winning affair for the clubs which are part of that.
“If you can’t get the Champions League to work in a lucrative economic model, why would it work to have a second competition? I think the Champions League for women needs to start by getting their financial model right, and from then on once we have that right, we can start expanding with other competitions. We, as a league, need to understand that is our starting point, our reality. You can’t make it anyone else’s problem when it’s ours as a league.”
The English teams have not been doing well enough in Europe to get enough ranking points to get better ways to play.
“We are ranked fourth in Europe and we can’t say that’s anyone else’s problem apart from our own. We need to increase the quality in the league so that when the English clubs are out playing in Europe, they are winning their games. We live in a world where the teams in other leagues pay much better salaries to their top players. If we want the English league to be the best in the world, we need to have the best players here, and that means we need to be able to pay the best salaries.’
Looking ahead to this weekend’s clash against Bristol City, the Gunners boss was optimistic. “It is what it is with international breaks. It means that the game on Sunday is really important.
“I think when you look at building momentum, we have been playing better and better with every game, with a clear improvement. If we can continue to do that, if we can play well against Bristol City, I’m very optimistic about the game, but it is in our control to do that.”
Aston Villa
by Emily Brown
Above: The Aston Villa group rally together, with manager Carla Ward, for a post-match team huddle last week. Photo: Aston Villa Women on X (formerly Twitter).
After their third consecutive loss last weekend at the Emirates, Carla Ward’s Aston Villa look towards this Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur as an opportunity for them to be better and a “must-win for the group.”
Beginning with some positive news, Ward revealed that Kenza Dali has made it back on to the grass and is ‘on track’ for her return following the international break. If her progression carries on, the Villa boss is certain Dali will be back in time for Villa’s match against Chelsea on Saturday 4th November at the Villains’ Bescot Stadium. Dali is set to begin her integration back into group training during the international break with remaining squad members.
It remains the same that, for this weekend, Kirsty Hanson will serve her final game out from her three-match ban she faced after receiving a red card against former club Manchester United on Villa’s first game of the season. However, young striker Georgia Mullett is back part of the squad following a mild, short-term illness that kept her out last week.
In the wake of concerns after conceding late goals in both their previous matches against Manchester United and Arsenal, following analysis, Ward believes she and the team know why this has happened and further believes that they “have an understanding of key elements that have played it’s part” in this eventuality. She describes their last match as “disappointing” and “heartbreak” for her side.
After three consecutive defeats, is Ward feeling any pressure? It seems unlikely. The reality for Villa is that they have had to compete against top-level teams in quick succession. Villa’s boss believes that their defeats, particularly against United and Arsenal. However, this has put Villa “in good stead” and Ward is certain there are a lot of positives to be taken from all three games so far.
“The girls were sensational and if we can take that into this weekend then we can put ourselves into a good position.”
In terms of this Saturday, Villa’s game against Spurs is not necessarily a “must-win” in general, but a “must-win for the group.” The reality regarding pressure for Ward and her team is that the only pressure they feel is that of which they put on themselves “to continue to improve every time”, focussing on what they can focus on, with Ward explaining that her team will prepare in the same way whether they’re “winning games or losing games.”
“Out of possession in all three games we’ve shown a lot of quality, defended the box really well… I think this week it has to be about us and what we do with the ball.”
Ward recognises that Spurs so far, under their new manager Robert Vilahamn, have “got off to a good start” and will be a team that will be “knocking on the door of the top six.” They will certainly be a ‘tough opposition’ this weekend. In order to combat their threat, Villa will have to focus on the impact they need to have on the ball rather than off it. She and her team will also look to exploit Spurs in places where they lack due to them possessing a lot of ‘firepower’ and aggression that simultaneously leaves them vulnerable in other areas.
“I’m a big believer in, and I fully back, what we’re doing to go in at Christmas in a similar position as last year.” When looking into the near future, Ward concurs that before Christmas Villa have “six games coming up that arguably we can get points from.” Last Christmas they went in with 11 points and Ward has faith in the fact that Villa can get into this position again this year. Their first win of the season would definitely spur the team on to achieve this goal.
Finally, on playing back at Bescot Stadium this weekend – which is something Ward loves and hopes in the near future to fill out – she is certain and has “absolutely no doubt that this weekend” the fans “will play their part.” Ward describes the team as having a “special connection” with fans this year, which is proven by the fact Villa had nearly 800 join them at the Emirates.
Already the supporters have played a massive part and with the team looking forward to playing back at their home stadium this weekend, will they encourage the team enough in order to gain their first win of the season?
Brighton and Hove Albion
by Aimee-Lou Caldecourt
Above: Brighton and Hove Albion head coach Mel Phillips alongside Poppy Pattinson Photo: Mirror
Brighton and Hove Albion currently sit tenth in the WSL after winning one of their opening three games and will face joint-leaders Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
Seagulls boss Mel Phillips began with updates on availability. Elisabeth Terland picked up a knock last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur and was subsequently subbed off for Madison Haley at halftime. Phillips confirmed that Terland has had “modified sessions” in training and “hopefully she’ll be available for the weekend.” She has been a crucial part of this Brighton squad since making her move to the English South Coast in 2022.
Phillips also commented on Haley, she is “growing in match fitness” following a rehab stint and is slowly building up her minutes. Haley is described as “certainly an exciting player” by her coach and will give the Seagulls a different approach to moving further up the pitch. Once fully fit, she should be able to succeed in this Brighton side.
Phillips emphasised how her team is “most disappointed in the nature in which we conceded goals” and that her and the squad “expect more from themselves, especially in the two games we dropped.”
With Brighton’s next four games after the international break being against WSL giants, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal, the Seagulls boss called on her team to be “competitive” but emphasised there is still “lots to be proud of and lots to grow on” according to Phillips that the focus is on “building momentum” to compete at the highest level.
The ambition of the club isn’t secret, with constant steps being made both on the pitch and behind the scenes to fulfil that ambition. Councillors in Brighton and Hove are actively looking at the thought of buying an area of land for the Seagulls Women to call home. Brighton currently play just over 20 miles north of the city at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium. Phillips and the squad are excited about the thought of bringing the women’s side closer to Brighton and that it’s “a positive to hear that we have the council’s backing.”
These are exciting times to be a Seagulls fan, with all these developments surrounding the club. The game against Chelsea will be a hard-fought battle for Brighton in a difficult upcoming run separated by the international break.
Everton
By Beth McCowen
Above: Megan Finnigan celebrates her headed goal against Liverpool. Photo: Sky Sports.
This Sunday, Everton will face Manchester United at Walton Hall Park. Head coach Brian Sorenson previewed his side’s next Women’s Super League fixture in a pre-match press conference.
Sorenson appears confident in his squad going into this game, off the back of finally securing their first three points of the season against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. He confirmed that, unfortunately, Lucy Hope has indeed suffered a “severe” ankle injury. The manager detailed that no surgery will be needed, but they are looking at around six to eight weeks out for the Scottish national.
In more positive news, Sorenson revealed that forward Martina Piemonte, if all goes well, should be available to play this weekend after missing the Merseyside derby with a knee injury.
Sorenson expressed that he was, overall, pleased with how his team played and dominated against Liverpool last weekend. He said that there were only about five minutes where his side were not in control of the game before managing to regain control, and that they “know why” this happened.
Despite only picking up points for the first time this season at Anfield, Everton also held their own against Manchester City earlier in the season, and whilst they didn’t get the points, they did stop the title contenders from keeping a clean sheet. Coupled with their Merseyside derby victory, this instils hope in the strength of Sorenson’s club going forward.
When asked about Clare Wheeler, Sorenson praised the midfielder as an “important” player following the departure of key player Gabby George from the club. In discussing Everton’s captain Megan Finnigan, the head coach explained that the English player, like her teammates, “had a really good game” at Anfield. He also explained the significance of Finnigan’s ability to remain “calm and composed” whilst “leading from the back.”
Sorenson described the upcoming fixture against Manchester United as one that will be a “tough game” but showed optimism that the Blues are “back on track” after their shaky start to the season. He also highlighted the importance of starting quick and strong against Marc Skinner’s strong United team, and expressed an awareness that whilst the opposition might be “mentally tired” after their exit from the Champions League on Wednesday, they are also likely to remain “motivated.”
Further, when asked about Manchester United’s performance against Paris St. Germain on Wednesday, he explained that his focus remains on the fact that they will have “everybody in contention” to play against Everton, but declared that his team “feel prepared” and confident that “we can contain them.” When asked about the importance of delivering a good performance in front of a home crowd, Sorenson stated that “we owe them one.”
Regarding Leicester’s strong performances thus far, Sorenson expressed that the WSL is a “more competitive league.” This means as the Everton boss put it, “it doesn’t matter if (the match is) home or away”.
Tottenham Hotspur
by Rachel Cohen
Above: Tottenham Hotspur head coach Robert Vilahamn. Photo: Rex.
In his Friday afternoon press conference Robert Vilahamn looked forward to the game at Aston Villa, Vilahamn emphasised how tough it was likely to be, “one of the toughest away games” and that it would be a “good test to see if we can actually compete against them.”
It would be a good tactical battle he suggested, because both teams will want the ball and will seek to attack so “hopefully it becomes that kind of game where you have a battle about who’s going to dictate it and if you dictate it, you’re going to have space to break through the lines and score goals. And if you lose it, it’s not so fun, but I want to have those games, because at those are the most fun.”
Spurs under Vilahamn have been playing possession football this season but the manager admitted that this has been an achievement because when he first arrived at Spurs from Sweden the “passing was not so good.” “The first friendly game: we lost against Reading and it was not a good game.”
Vilahamn therefore initially focused on a return to the basics: “I think when you work with players, you need to work every day on training, easy passes, and first touches, and then you need to work with self-confidence and then you need to work with movement.”
He noted that this was now paying off. “If you look at the training now and how we play the possession and the passing is, it’s so high quality. And I must say in eight weeks to see that, that’s really impressive. And I think these players can, you know, they can be so good and if they are just continuing to develop and play this way, you’re going to see even more passes and even more accuracy in the game as well, because we are playing some really good football.”
Most watchers of Spurs’ first games this season have noticed the importance of their central midfield Finnish pairing of Eveliina Summanen and Olga Ahtinen. Vilahamn confessed, however, that although both have featured for their national team he had not seen them play together until they came to Spurs.
“You think they are two brilliant footballers. But it’s like tactics are absolutely important, but for me, the relations on the field are even more important because that’s when you actually find the details that I cannot teach them. And I think people that like each other or can communicate in a good way can play easier with each other… so, I’m very happy about that and I hope that they can just develop through that because they communicate a lot on the pitch and I think that’s a good thing for us.”
Grace Clinton, at Spurs on loan from Manchester United, got her first call-up to the senior England Squad at age 21. Clinton has started the first three WSL games and Vilahamn has praised her previously. Today he emphasised her work ethic, that “from day one she’s worked so hard and is open to learn.” He also commented on what the call-up meant for Spurs: that this is “proof that we can develop young players and make them be really good for this country.”
Another young player who has had an international call-up this week is Norwegian winger, Celin Bizet, who had previously dropped out of her country’s World Cup squad. Vilahamn revealed that he’s been following her career since she was at PSG and described Bizet as “really fun to work with.” And “one of those players who can bring the Tottenham football to this ground.”
Continuing the theme of developing young players Vilahamn outlined what he has been doing to support the development of Jessica Naz, a player who has been at Spurs since 2018, and who has struggled for fitness at times, but who has looked a player-reborn this season when she has come on as a substitute.
“She’s one of those players. I was really impressed with when I looked at their games last year, but it was more like a glimpse of it, every game was a few minutes and she was struggling with injuries and she didn’t really play 90 minutes. And when I came here, a lot of people told me that she’s not really handling 90 minutes; her body is not working for that, but she has exceptional talent. So for me it was like, ‘Okay, let’s see how we rebuild her.’ So, in the beginning of preseason, I played her a lot as a nine and as a winger and made sure she improved with her conditioning.
“Now, when we have Martha Thomas, then she ended up on the bench anyway. But I think that’s been good for her because now she can be playing 30 or 40 minutes and really improve. And then she had a really good game in the Conti Cup and now, I mean she is knocking on the door to start the games for me and I think in the long run she will and I think she will be a huge star in this league because the speed she has, not too many have.”
On the topic of Thomas, currently on four goals in four games, he was effusive, suggesting she was not only potentially “one of the absolute strikers in the league” but also someone who is “so good in training and as a character and giving the other players some instructions as well” and one of the senior players who has supported Clinton’s development this season.
Repeatedly during the press conference Vilahamn noted that despite the good start to the season there would be a point at which Spurs would lose games. But he rejected the idea of “chasing the win” because that would limit his team’s ability to develop.
Vilahamn also remained confident that even as expectations rose and more other teams paid attention to Spurs they would not do anything different.
“I want to get to the point where they see how we play and they just can’t handle it. I don’t want to adapt my way of playing because they (the opponents) are good or not. I’m going to make sure we start developing and if we lose a few games through that, we’re going to do that because we’re going to learn every time we lose as well. So for me, it’s even if people are taking us more seriously, we’re gonna keep going.”
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By Emma Burke at AAMI Park for Impetus (21/10/23).
Above: Rhianna Pollicina (centre) with Holly McNamara (left) and Hannah Wilkinson (right).Photo: Melbourne City.
Melbourne City have collected all three points in their second-round game against Canberra United defeating the visitors 2-1.
The opening goal of the game came midway through the first half when young gun Daniela Galic sent in a cross that took a useful deflection and landed in the perfect time and place for Rhianna Pollicina to hit the first-time volley and beat Canberra goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.
While the shot did come off Pollicina’s shin, whatever works, works, and City went into the rooms with the lead.
City found their second goal almost immediately after the whistle blew on the second half. Holly McNamara took off on a streaking run and was deep into the box when United defender Alex McKenzie took her down.
McNamara was awarded a penalty for her effort, which was then taken by Pollicina. Pollicina’s spot kick was driven expertly into the bottom left corner, putting City up 2-0.
Canberra had been comfortable to sit back and let City push up and in, looking to take their chances on the counter and make City pay for having their backline sit so far up the field.
Their decision eventually bore fruit, albeit not enough for them to take any points away from the game.
A long ball sent in by Vesna Milivojevic found the head of Michelle Heyman, and Canberra United’s star striker scored her 96th career goal, helped along by an unfortunate mix-up between City keeper Lysianne Proulx and Captain Rebekah Stott.
Having pulled a goal back, Canberra seemingly found their feet and spent the time remaining looking to find an equaliser.
Time would eventually run out for United and City would take the win. This puts City on a two-game winning streak and leaves Canberra winless so far.
The league now heads into an international break, with both teams having players head off to various national camps.
Round three will resume at the start of November, with Canberra finally heading home to host Perth Glory, and City facing cross-town rivals Western United.
Teams:MELBOURNE CITY: Proulx (GK), Otto, Grosso, L. McKenna (Henry), Torpey, McNamara, Pollicina (T. McKenna), Stott (c), Hughes, Wilkinson, Galic.
Goals: Pollicina 26’, 47’ (Penalty),
CANBERRA UNITED: Lincoln (GK), McKenzie, Ilijoski, Nathan, Grove, Rojas (Jackson), Milivojevic, Flannery, Clough, Heyman (c) Bertolissio (Christopherson).
Goals: Heyman 63’
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley
Attendance: Approx 2,000 (official figure to follow).
Impetus’ Ben Gilby reports on Perth Glory’s media conference involving striker Millie Farrow and head coach Alex Epakis(21/10/23).
Above: Perth Glory attackerMillie Farrow speaking to the media today. Image: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory and their exciting young squad are about to play their first A-League Women’s game at the club’s main HBF Park stadium for a number of years tomorrow when they take on Newcastle Jets and both Millie Farrow and Alex Epakis are confident that the Western Australians can continue their positive start to the season.
Glory opened their campaign last weekend with a deserved 2-0 win over last year’s beaten Grand Finalists Western United, a game that saw English striker Farrow make her debut – and it was a match that she believes provided strong foundations for challenges ahead.
“Definitely there is a positive vibe among the squad. It definitely wasn’t our best performance though, and we can get better. We definitely stuck to our game plan and we saw that really worked well. If we can stick to that again this week, it will be good.”
With five players making their Perth debut last weekend, and several more who could potentially this weekend, Farrow believes that the characteristics of the players as well as the strength in depth marks the Glory out as a team who can achieve special things this year.
“There is definitely a lot of different characters. We’ve all got time for each other. We all know what to expect from each other and we all hold each other accountable as well, which is really positive. It’s only going to get stronger.”
Two of those debut makers last week were Farrow and strike partner Grace Jale. The Kiwi produced a moment of magic and a rocket shot to clinch Perth’s win over Western United. Farrow revealed that she is already building a strong partnership with Jale both on and off the pitch.
“Ever since we came in, we grasped that relationship from the start. We’re such different players we offer different things and are able to complement each other on the pitch. We live together as well, so it’s nice to build a relationship off the pitch.”
The English attacker has played in the WSL as well as the NWSL, but believes the A-League Women has the same level of excitement. “It’s a league that’s not talked about enough and a league that I’ve wanted to play in for a long time now. There’s a competitiveness that excites me, and Alex has put together a really good squad this year. I’m excited by what is to come.”
Farrow confirmed that the Glory are ready for the challenge of a Newcastle Jets side who also won their opening game last weekend.
“We’re expecting a physical game, but we’re ready for whatever they throw at us. The group understand their roles and it’s down to us to stay disciplined and keep that consistency.”
Above: Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis speaking to the media yesterday. Image: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis is looking for his “special” squad of players to build on their excellent result last weekend against Western United when Newcastle Jets visit HBF Park tomorrow.
Reflecting on his team’s victory over the Grand Final runners-up last week, Epakis saw lots to be proud of, but equally a number of things that can be improved upon.
“We’re chasing a perfect performance and the process behind that. We were good enough to win (last week against Western United) and I thought we were in control. As a coach, I’m chasing more, and luckily enough I have a group of players who are chasing more too. We know the things we need to improve, but we are also mindful of the things we did well. Everything we did in pre-season came to fruition in round one against (last season’s) Grand Finalists.”
The Glory head coach observed that the new-look squad this season has gelled quickly with a sense of togetherness and desire to fight for the victories that will lead to Finals football returning to the Western Australian side.
“We wanted to be a more dynamic, aggressive team, and as a staff we wanted to bring in players who were just that – more dynamic and aggressive on the pitch. We’ve really hit the sweet spot with the retention and the recruitment. The player group are bringing the best out of each other, and we saw evidence of that on the weekend (against Western United). There is an untapped limit of potential of what this team can produce. (With) what we’ve got (in terms of a playing squad), we know we can do something special.”
There was also positive news on availability for tomorrow’s game, something which will prove to be a big relief for those concerned about Susan Phonsongkham, who played an influential role in last week’s win but had to leave the pitch after a heavy tackle.
“We have a full squad, everyone is available. Our strength is in our depth. I have a lot of motivated players fighting for positions. It creates sleepiness nights – but we’re all here for the right reasons.”
Tomorrow’s opponents Newcastle Jets also go into the game after winning their opening game, a local derby with Central Coast Mariners. They too have brought in some impressive signings as Epakis noted.
“They had a strong win in round one and they have some powerful players, particularly in the front third. We indicated to ourselves that if we nullify that and we tie up what we can do, then we give ourselves every chance of winning.”
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Above: The Mariners have their first win since returning to the league. Photo: A-League Women.
In their second match back in the A-League Women, Central Coast Mariners were deserved winners against Adelaide United.
In the first 10 minutes of the match, Adelaide despite having had 61% of the possession, was an even encounter at that stage as Central Coast had the best chances in attack but was nothing too dangerous for United to deal with.
Adelaide came close to opening the scoring in the 13thminute, with a great pass by Dylan Holmes to Hannah Blake who crossed the ball into the back for Holmesbut, Holmes was only able to toe-poke the ball with her attempt. With more time, it could have been a different story for Adelaide.
Five minutes later, it was Central Coast who came close to scoring via a great no-look pass by Isabel Gomez that found Bianca Galic whose cross in the box for Rola Badawiya was defended well by Zoe Tolland as her intervention prevented Badawiya from having a clear chance at goal.
In the 29th minute, Adelaide had a great opportunity to score as Alana Jancevski provided a great through ball into the box for Rosetta Taylor as Taylor went aroundCourtney Newbon but was denied by a great defensive display by Ash Irwin who put her body on the line to prevent a United goal which saw the match briefly halted as a result.
At the half-hour mark, while neither side had run away with the match, it was the Mariners who had made the more prolific chances that amounted to action within the box but Adelaide led the possession over Central Coast but was a lot closer than earlier in the match.
In the 42nd minute, Central Coast took the lead of the match with a great short corner by Badawiya whose cross first found Jazmin Wardlow as her header bounced off the back of Jenna Holtz and up until the air where Taren King just beat Claudia Jenkins to the ball where her header went directly the back of the net for the opening goal.
It was the Mariners’ first goal in their return campaign to the league and King’s second goal in the A-League Women.
Six minutes into the second half, Central Coast came close to doubling their lead as a great passage of play with Badwiya, Paige Hayward and Wurigumula saw Hayward provide a through ball into the path of Wurigumula in the box but her shot on an angle was blocked by Jenkins.
In the 56th minute, an amazing through ball by Isabel Gomez found Wurigumula in the box who perfectly controlled the ball at her feet as she slotted the ball past Jenkins for Central Coast’s second goal of the match and her first in the league. The one-two by Annabel Martin and Gomez was essential towards the goal being scored.
Twelve minutes later, from an Adelaide corner, they finally got onto the scoresheet with a great build-up in play with a great through ball by Holmes to Sarah Morgan as Morgan’s cross in the box found Ella Tonkin who put the ball into the back of the net for her first A-League Women’s goal.
Towards the end of the match, while Adelaide made some chances down their Central Coast’s end for an equaliser they just weren’t able to convert with a chance by Blake in the 88th minute was their best chance of doing so but was comfortably saved by Newbon.
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On the eve of Round Two of the A-League Women, Impetus recaps the press conferences for Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners, Wellington Phoenix and Canberra United.
Article edited and composed by Genevieve Henry 20/10/2023
Adelaide United
By Kieran Yap
Above: Adelaide United coach Adrian Stenta. Image: Adelaide United media.
The Reds are ready after short turnaround
In the aftermath of one of the craziest games in the history of the A-League Women, Adelaide United coach Adrian Stenta was feeling upbeat before their next match against Central Coast Mariners.
The four-all draw solved one problem from last season. In 2023/2023 The Reds only scored 16 goals. Just 90 minutes into this campaign they have scored four, all through different players.
“There were some real positives to take out of the game,” Stentatold the media.
“We liked a lot of what we were able to produce.
“Obviously we’re not going to be a team that’s happy with conceding four goals every week so obviously some things to work on as well.”
Two of the goals conceded to Canberra were due to defensive mix-ups and uncharacteristic errors from Annalee Grove. The Australian U23 Goalkeeper has been trusted to bounce back in Round Two by her coach.
“I mentioned this after the game. A goalkeeper makes a mistake, and everyone notices it and sees it. Sometimes forwards miss goals from six yards out and everyone gives them a pat on the back and no-one really says much about that.
“Mistakes are part of the game. I make mistakes, players make mistakes. We’ll back our players to get the job done next week.
“We’ve got full faith and trust in her as a player and a leader within our group.”
Adelaide went into Round One missing some key players and with playmaker Emily Condon only available off the bench. With a four day break between matches, Stenta warned against expecting many players returning from injury and half joked that the list might be a little bit longer if anything.
Based on last weekend’s performance, things are already starting to click at Adelaide United. The front three in particular looked in sync and effective, with Emilia Murray being decisive off the bench.
“To be honest we didn’t change much from two years ago to last year to this year, but that’s football sometimes.
“I’ve always tried to set my teams up in an attacking way and to play an attractive brand of football.
“For some reason we just couldn’t hit the back of the net last year but its really good to start with a number of opportunities and four goals on the weekend.”
Friday’s match against Central Coast will be the curtain raiser for the first men’s match of the season. After drawing an impressive crowd in Round One, Stenta is excited for that post World Cup momentum to continue.
“I think we’ve got a really strong league with the potential for it to continue to grow.
“I think these girls deserve our support.
“They’re great players, great role models and ambassadors and I strongly encourage anyone that is interested in attended the men’s game on Friday to come a little bit earlier and watch some fantastic football from great footballers.”
Canberra United
By Ryan Miller-Woods
The media heard from Canberra United Head Coach NjegoshPopovich and in-form midfielder Vesna Milivojevic ahead of Canberra’s match against Melbourne City on Saturday.
Canberra’s first match of the season against Adelaide United was a game, that despite giving away two penalties and conceding four goals, was nevertheless filled with more positives than negatives. They managed to score four goals with a brace from Milivojevic and skillfully capitalised on Adelaide’s mistakes.
When asked about his thoughts from the Adelaide game, Popovich said:
“There’s a lot of learning moments for us in that game (against Adelaide) without a doubt. We’re still trying to find our feet as a squad and as a group. Very entertaining with a lot of goal activity, which is fantastic. For us (Canberra) it’s been the focus this week on trying to prevent goals more than score goals. We have an amazing attacking side, it’s just about learning from the moments on the weekend as a young group.”
What was apparent with Canberra’s upcoming opponents Melbourne City in their opening-round match against Wellington Phoenix was that they didn’t have it all their own way as the Phoenix matched what City had to offer and while they played well, the goal took a rebound off Wellington’s goalkeeper Rylee Foster to win last Sunday and it can be argued that City were somewhat fortunate to have been victorious.
When asked about who are the big threats that City have, Popovich said:
“They’re threatening all over the field. For us we’re concentrating on ourselves, we’re not really too concerned about them (Melbourne City) in terms of individuals but (they) are a very good group, a good team. It is a great opportunity to test ourselves and see exactly where we are at the moment.”
In the match against Adelaide, Milivojevic continued from where she had left off last season as she has now scored eight goals in her past six matches and was once again one of Canberra’s most important players on the pitch. Her contributions and passages of play were crucial in the match.
When asked whether she is feeling more comfortable playing at Canberra in her second season with the club, Milivojevic said:
“Definitely! I feel more prepared going into games and not overthinking things, just playing the game that I’ve always played.”
When asked what she is expecting from City this round, Milivojevic said:
“A tough game, every game is hard. We know they (Melbourne City) like to keep the ball and play possession football.”
In a follow-up to her previous response, Milivojevic was asked whether Canberra will need to be more patient in how they approach the match with City’s style of play and making chances really count whenever they do come around, to which she said:
“Yeah! I think we’re pretty strong on the counter-attack, so we’ll try to use that (to our advantage).”
Central Coast Mariners
By Ryan Miller-Woods
The media heard from midfielder Bianca Galic and Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Emily Husband ahead of their upcoming match against Adelaide United on Friday.
Despite the defeat in the opening round against Newcastle Jets, there were still some positives that came out of Central Coast’s first match back in the league in 14 years. With potentially some of the nerves from the opening round out of the way, can now focus their attention towards Adelaide.
In regards to how the players are feeling ahead of the match against Adelaide, Galic said:
“We’re really excited. We’ve obviously got a few pointers to learn (from) in Round 1 which we’ve been working on during the week and we’re hoping to bring all of that on Friday when we verse Adelaide.”
The match on Friday against Adelaide will also be Central Coast’s first away game in their return campaign.
When asked whether there is a different approach to playing an away game at the start of the season, Galic said:
“I think there’s always going to be a different approach with away games. You’re obviously missing that home feel, you’re not playing on your normal field or you don’t have the (home) crowd around you either. But we’re there to do a job and we hope that wherever we can play, we can perform.”
While only one round has been contested so far in the A-League Women’s season, Central Coast’s opponents this round Adelaide look exactly like a team that will be in firm contention for the finals if their match against Canberra United was anything to go by. Adelaide played well specifically in attack and looked like a well-rounded team that will only keep on improving throughout the season.
With what Adelaide looks like for this season from Galic’sperspective, she said:
“Adelaide’s looking pretty good. They just had a 4-all draw with Canberra on the weekend, so you can see based off that, they (Adelaide) can score goals but the fact that Canberra also scored four, they (Adelaide) can be scored against.”
While Central Coast lost their first match back in the league, it is important to note given how close the result was against Newcastle, on another day, it could have been the Mariners the ones victorious.
When asked about any takeaways from the opening-round game against Newcastle, Husband said:
“Obviously in the first half, the girls took a while to adjust to playing in front of such a big crowd. I think in the second half, we (Central Coast) came out and were a lot braver in our press, braver in the way we went forward with the ball and that was really pleasing to see. That’s what we want to build off of for this week.”
What the match between Adelaide and Canberra showed, is how well Adelaide transitioned in their plays with it being both really energetic and fast going. It can be argued that they were quite unlucky to have not won on Sunday from the sheer number of chances that they created in the match itself.
When asked about how tough Adelaide are looking from her perspective, Husband said:
“They (Adelaide) got off to a really good start, scored a few goals against Canberra (United) on the weekend, so no doubt they’ll be confident coming into the game against us (Central Coast). But it is still early days for everybody and a lot of teams are still finding their feet, so it’s anyone’s game.”
Wellington Phoenix
By Genevieve Henry
Above: Wellington Defender Mackenzie Barry
Source: Wellington Phoenix
The media heard from Wellington Phoenix defender Mackenzie Barry ahead of their clash with Western Sydney Wanderers this weekend.
Following their tough, yet well-fought, match against Melbourne City last weekend, Barry said:
“We competed well and we showed what we’ve been practicing. We’ve developed a new style of football.” Their 1-0 defeat to City showed that Wellington are ready to take another step forward this year to compete with the best teams.
Barry said that they were happy with the result, as many players were away or injured, so for a squad with little experience, this was a good result. The highlight of the game was the seven debutantes showing up for Wellington. Barry spoke highly of Macey Fraser in particular, saying “I think Macey’s been in the academy for three or four years now, so she’s worked hard and I think it showed. She played really well.” She was also thrilled about how easily their internationals slid into the squad. The promise of a cohesive and bonded squad looks good for the season.
Barry and her teammates are looking forward to the match, but know it won’t be easy. “It’s always a good battle against the Wanderers.” Wellington have a mixed record when facing the Wanderers and are prepared for a testy match that could set the tone for their season.
Exciting news for the A-Leagues came recently as the Phoenix will have a double header with their men’s side in Auckland at prime time. Barry said, “It’s great to be able to showcase what talent we have in person to other areas of New Zealand in person.” The impact this game will have on young girls will be palpable.
The news of the Unite Round being held in Sydney is being applauded by players and fans alike. Barry said with a laugh, “We all get to play in Sydney during that round, and then whoever is top of the table gets to host, which makes sense to me!” She was cautiously excited about that, saying, “If we are good enough, if we’ve earned that spot, it would be amazing to host at home.”
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Above: Adelaide United’s Mariah Lee scored from the penalty spot in the 4-4 draw with Canberra United. Photo: Adelaide United.
Adelaide United might not have gotten the win against Canberra United, but there is a good feeling among the players as they prepare for Round Two against Central Coast Mariners on Friday evening.
The four-all draw in the season opener was widely regarded as the most entertaining match of the round and although they conceded more than they would prefer, new striker Mariah Lee was happy to focus on the positives of the day.
“Scoring four goals is a huge confidence booster,” she told the media.
“I know they struggled to score goals in the past so one of our goals was to attack.”
Lee, Alana Jancevski, Emilia Murray and Hannah Blake all found the net in the epic encounter. It was the first time any of the strikers had played a competitive match together, and they had no trouble finding immediate form as an attack.
“Stents (coach Adrian Stenta) did a great job of getting us on the same page,” said Lee.
“I’m excited I want to have a lot of fun and score sone goals this season.
“It was out first time playing together. I think the whole attacking side, we are all new, so it was nice to feel that cohesion and it’s always good to go out firing from the start and just build from there.”
Adelaide United expect to tighten up at the back, there was an injury question about goalkeeper Annalee Grove who was not in full training. The hero on so many occasions last season was responsible for some significant errors on the weekend, but Lee says that the Reds win and lose together.
“Soccer’s a team sport.
“Collectively we need to do a better job.
“We all need to tighten up and we can’t be letting four goals in but from the coaching staff to every person on the team we’re bought in and we just want to improve every week.”
Adelaide United’s defence can only be expected to improve with the impending return of centre back Maruschka Waldusand captain Isabel Hodgson. This week may be too soon to see either back on the pitch, but only minor improvement in their performance could results in a win against the leagues newest side.
A big crowd is expected at Coopers Stadium once more, The Reds kick-off the evening as the first half of a double header. After a strong attendance in Round One, Lee is excited to be at the same ground again.
“We’re so excited. To have the turn out last week for the first game following the World Cup was huge.
“To have the double header here again, the ground is amazing, the grass is amazing and having the fans goes such a long way.
“I’m just really excited and I’m taking it all in.”
With the attack clicking, the midfield impressing and the defence improving, Adelaide fans could expect another goal fest from their new strike force, but are another four goals likely?
“I hope,” says Lee.
“Four is a lot, if we can do it awesome, but definitely not letting for in. That’s not happening.
“We’re just trying to be firing on all cylinders really.”
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Above: Beth Mead applauds the crowd at The Emirates Stadium after Arsenal’s late win over Aston Villa on Sunday – a game that saw the Lionesses star make an eagerly awaited return from injury in. Photo: goal.com
For 88 minutes, the action on The Emirates turf struggled to ignite the crowd, bar from the small pocket an Aston Villa fans when Maz Pacheco’s nodded finish gave Villa the lead 25 minutes.
In fact, the only moments that saw the Arsenal crowd get to their feet were the moments Beth Mead would venture away from the bench to warm up.
It was her first team on the Gunners’ bench this season for a WSL game after she ruptured her ACL last November.
Mead’ right leg was the one that had been damaged, and with two minutes left on the clock, and two goals needed for Arsenal to get their first win of the season, Jonas Eidevall turned to his superstar for the first time in nearly a year.
It was the loudest roar of the Sunday afternoon, as nearly all of the 35,000 fans got to their feet to welcome back their hero.
When most make their first appearance after such a serious injury, it is just about getting minutes in the tank and getting used to the pace of the high-level game, which is impossible to recreate in any training scenario, unscathed.
But Mead isn’t like most, she instantly matched the speed of this frantic game, at a vital moment in Arsenal’s season. If they were to lose this, they would have continued their worst start since the WSL, but the Lioness was as determined as anyone on the pitch.
Her first involvement was to send Stina Blackstenius through on goal, just after Katie McCabe levelled, but the Swede clipped the post.
If Villa thought they were going to get a Mead slightly off-pace, they couldn’t have been further from the truth, because a minute later she had set up the winner.
Mead collected the ball just outside the box, moved the ball into the box, maybe a little heavier than she expected, and extended her right leg to lay the ball off to Alessia Russo to strike.
That was it, Arsenal had completed the turnaround and as soon as Russo’s shot squirmed under Daphne van Doomselaar, the team enclosed Mead into a group hug.
Above: Beth Mead (9) celebrates with Alessia Russo and Victoria Pelova after Russo’s late winner for Arsenal on Sunday. Photo: Ben Phillips for Impetus.
Speaking after the game, Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall said: “She deserves that reception, she has worked so hard. She has had a really difficult year, with her being injured and her mum passing away.
“We know that that has been incredibly tough for her but it is so nice seeing her back on the pitch and seeing her perform straight away. “You never know if they will, obviously I had the hope that is why I put her on, but you don’t know until you see it and that was very nice.
“So, a special moment. Mead is extremely good, she is really intuitive in those moments, but that’s what I mean when I say she is coming onto the pitch and got that straight away. Sometimes you don’t but she does it obviously because she is Beth Mead.”
It was only 14 minutes, the two minutes of normal time and 12 additional time minutes, so there is still a long time to go until Mead completes 90 minutes back-to-back, but when she is Arsenal will start to live up to their pre-season expectations.
Arsenal had struggled to penetrate through the centre in their first two home games, often forced out wide to hit aimless crosses. And for both Liverpool and Aston Villa, they found it comfortable but what Liverpool had the luxury of compared to Aston Villa was the absence of Mead.
As soon as Mead entered the field Arsenal were more direct and aggressive through the centre which was optimised by the goal. The Lionesses star can also add unpredictability to Arsenal’s attack as well as having the ability to create either through her dribbling, passing or finish.
Mead is a one-of-a-kind, but the Gunners have a plethora of attacking options, a problem that Eidevall didn’t have last year. With the 28-year-old return, Arsenal have a player who is able to link all that talent together and has already been able to build a connection with star summer addition, Russo.
Eidevall said: “Let’s hope so, we have seen them (Russo and Mead) together in the national team. It is not a hope that is based on fantasies, we have seen that work in reality so let’s hope that we have a lot of good relationships.”
Russo’s winner, in the 94th minute, was her first WSL goal for Arsenal, and throughout the match, she was marshalled quite well, with her only other opportunity a header cleared off the line.
But the former Manchester United striker was busy throughout, she was dropping deep to collect the ball and carried well to relieve pressure. It is a key part of her game, but when it comes to finishing Russo is at her best when it is instinctive, something that can be helped with Mead coming back, which we have seen during their time with England.
That relationship at the national team will have to wait, with Sarina Wiegman deciding against calling Mead up, despite being in attendance on Sunday. Mead’s exclusion will be welcomed by Arsenal’s medical staff, and Eidevall as he will hope that the striker’s return will mark the start of an upturn in luck, with Leah Williamson and Vivianne Miedema still returning from long-term injuries.
But for now, it is Mead’s return that will be celebrated by Arsenal supporters and her short cameo has already.
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Above: Ebony Salmon is part of a very strong England U23 squad announced by Emma Coates for their forthcoming two fixtures. Photo: Aston Villa.
England Women’s U23 Head Coach Emma Coates has selected a 23-strong squad for fixtures against Italy and Portugal
The Young Lionesses are in action in October as they look to continue their unbeaten start to their new European league.
Emma Coates’ side will first travel away to Vercelli to face Italy on Thursday 26th October (14:30 BST), before welcoming Portugal to the Joie Stadium, home of Manchester City Women, on Monday 30th October (19:00 GMT), with tickets still on sale priced at just £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.
It is familiar opposition for the England WU23s, having last faced Italy in November 2022 in a 0-0 draw, and defeating Portugal in April 2023 in an exciting 3-2 victory away from home.
The Young Lionesses boss Emma Coates said: “Our season got off to a strong start in September and the performances gave us plenty to build from. Off the pitch, it was fantastic to see a record crowd for the WU23 age group turning out to watch us beat Belgium in our first home game. As we continue our European league we want to build on that momentum and hope to see another good turnout in Manchester.
Above: Katie Robinson, who has senior Lionesses experience, is in the U23 squad for this month’s two fixtures. Photo: Lucy Atherton for Impetus.
“This new European competition gives our players experience playing in bigger stadiums and in front of bigger crowds. It gives them a taste of what they can expect in the senior environment if they get the call to move across and ensures they are connected to the pathway. Our October fixtures will be another good chance to test ourselves against quality opposition.”
Defenders: Tara Bourne (Sheffield United), Anouk Denton (West Ham), Naomi Layzell (Bristol City), Ella Morris (Southampton), Poppy Pattinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), Kiera Skeels (Charlton Athletic)
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Aston Villa), Melisa Filis (West Ham), Ruby Grant (BK Hacken), Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool), Lucia Kendall (Southampton), Ruby Mace (Manchester City)
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Gregory (Reading, on loan from Aston Villa), Emma Harries (West Ham), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Molly Pike (Southampton), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa)
Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarises the fourth round of 2023-2024 D1 Arkema season plus an exclusive photo gallery of Ellie Carpenter.
Above: Ellie Carpenter, Blue band head, and Lyon took back the lead of D1 Arkema. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Bordeaux 1-1 Montpellier
On a pitch not great for playing football, Montpellier put a lot of pressure on Bordeaux from the start of the match. Marie Levasseur, a transfer from Fleury to Montpellier this season, returned to her preferred position at right back.
She had a great first half especially on 39 minutes with a perfect defensive tackle prevented Mylaine Tarrieu to score.
Above: Marie Levasseur, Montpellier, orange & white shirt (3). Photo: Bordeaux website.
Montpellier came close to opening the scoring but hit the post from a Nérilia Mondésir shot on 42 minutes
23-year-old French international Maëlle Lakrar made her return at half time in the centre of defence after several weeks out.
Following a handball from Charlotte Bilbault, Andréa Lardez converted the 50th minute penalty to open the scoring for Bordeaux.
Montpellier levelled the scores with a header of Léa Khelifi converting a cross from Mondésir on the hour.
Scorers for Bordeaux: Lardez 52’
Scorers for Montpellier: Khelifi 60’
Paris FC 2-0 Guingamp
Paris FC left several usual starters on the bench to rest after their game versus Wolfsburg this week in UEFA WCL. They slightly dominated the first half but without any goal.
Scorers for Paris FC: Thiney 69’ penalty, Dufour 89’
MATILDAS WATCH – Sarah Hunter (Paris FC)
Sarah Hunter was still not in the group for this game.
Le Havre 2-2 Lille
There were four graduates of the Olympique Lyonnais Academy on the pitch for this game: Inès Benyahia and Eva Kouache for Le Havre and Lorena Azzaro and Jessy Roux for Lille.
Lille dominated much of the match. Azzaro scored the first goal for Lille on seven minutes and on 24 minutes, Maité Boucly delivered her second decisive pass to Nesryne El Chad who scored for Lille with a header.
With a little bit of luck or efficiency, Le Havre could have reduced the score with three opportunities in the five last minutes of first half.
Lille goalkeeper Elisa Launay had an outstanding performance with several saves and especially on 67 minutes with a huge stop from a header from Benyahia and twice on 88 minutes prevented Le Havre from pulling one back.
In spite of those heroics, Le Havre eventually scored twice in stoppage time to earn a draw.
Scorers for Le Havre: Tchaptchet 90’+2,Ali Nadjim 90’+8
Scorers for Lille: Roux 7’ El Chad 24’
Booking: Naomie Bamenga (Lille) yellow 26’, 45′
Paris Saint-Germain – Reims – stopped at beginning of 2ndhalf
Paris Saint-Germain played without Oriane Jean-François who ruptured her ACL during the UEFA WCL game against Manchester United on Tuesday. PSG enjoyed almost 80% of possession but Reims prevented them scoring by fighting on all balls, playing with nine players in defence and trying to have opportunities with counterattacks.
Reims had the best opportunity of first half and almost scored with a shot on the crossbar in the 40th minute.
Unfortunately, this game was stopped at the beginning of the second half due to a few teenagers who launched hundreds of fireworks onto the pitch from outside the stadium. Allegedy because they had been forbidden to enter in the stadium as they did not have any ID.
The French Football Federation will need to decide what to do this week, as it is the first time ever that such a problem arises in D1 Arkema.
We can expect that FFF will try to make an example and will likely apply strong sanctions against PSG.
Clare Hunt, played 74 minutes in the UEFA WCL entering to replace Oriane Jean-François who injured at the 17th minute earning a performance score of 3.3 on a scale of 5 by UEFA.
Clare Hunt was not in the group for this game versus Reims. Jocelyn Prêcheur, Paris SG coach, said that she is slightly injured and that he wanted her to rest and be ready for the UEFA WCL return game versus Manchester United on October 18.
Fleury 2-1 Dijon
Fleury players played with a pink shirt for the fight against breast cancer because it is an awareness month in France.Fleury slightly dominated the first quarter and had a few opportunities but was not able to open the scoring. Then, Dijon stepped up and the game became more even.
Dijon scored first at the end of first half, but Fleury scored twice during the last 30 minutes to win this game.
Scorers for Fleury: Grabowska 63’, Kamczyk 70’
Scorers for Dijon: Jankovska 42’.
Olympique Lyonnais 6-0 Saint-Etienne
More than 1,500 fans were at this derby between 2 towns separated only by 40 km. As the scoreline suggests, Lyon were dominant throughout. The match was not without controversy as the referee tended towards leniency in the face of several Saint-Etienne fouls that might usually have been punished.
Above: Eugénie Le Sommer, Lyon, white shirt in centre, celebrating one of her two goals. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
More positively, Eugénie Le Sommer continues to surprise everybody with her another great performance in the twilight of her career.
Above: Hat-trick hero, Lindsey Horan, Lyon, white shirt number 26, celebrating one of her three goals. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Scorers for Lyon: Gilles 15’, Le Sommer 16’, 26’, Horan 23’, 79’, 85’
Bookings: Faustine Bataillard, Saint-Etienne yellow cards 29’ and 90’
Sonia Bompastor, Lyon coach, rested several starters in this game Ellie Carpenter played only in the first half but she gave another excellent performance.
Ellie Carpenter photos’ gallery. Exclusive photos of Jean-Pierre Thiesset from pitch side for Impetus Women’s Football. The Matildas fullback is in white shirt with the number 12.
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