Portland and San Diego remain undefeated and more in NWSL Round Two
Above: Portland Thorns players celebrate after scoring against Kansas City Current. Photo: Portland Thorns.
The Portland Thorns made light work of Kansas City Current with a 4-1 victory away from home in a repeat of last season’s Championship Final.
Portland took the early lead through Crystal Dunn following a short corner three minutes into the game. The Thorns had Kansas on the ropes early on with a flurry of chances after going ahead.
Current relented under the pressure as Sophia Smith was brought down by rookie Gabrielle Robinson inside the 18-yard area. After a lengthy VAR check, Smith got the decision and slotted her spot kick in the bottom left corner beyond Adrianna Franch’s reach.
French kept the scores respectable when she denied Smith’s left-footed shot with her shins for a corner and another barrage of chances in the first half.
Current’s start to the second half was much improved as they made forays into Portland’s half with Mace almost combining with Michelle Cooper in the 48th minute only for the rookie to sky the chance. Kate Del Fava found herself with a chance to half the deficit a minute later but she too skied her chance.
The home crowd did find a reason to cheer when Cece Kizer headed in a free kick at the back post on the hour mark after relentless goal-chasing.
Despite the spirited fightback in the second period, Sophia Smith put the game to bed. Dribbling past a sea of defenders, the 22-year-old managed to stay balanced and squeeze her effort past Franch.
The 2022 MVP then completed her first senior hat trick with two minutes of normal time remaining with a sublime finish from just outside the area.
Above: Racing Louisville’s Abby Erceg contests a set-piece against Washington Spirit. Photo: Racing Louisville.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Racing Louisville came from two goals down to earn a point at home against the Washington Spirit. A first-half brace from Ashley Hatch had put the team from the capital ahead in the opening period before Abby Erceg halved the deficit for the home side within a minute of the second half.
The equaliser came in the 65th minute through Brazilian Ary Borges who pounced on a loose ball to find the back of the net with a superb volley.
In other matches across the day, Houston Dash condemned Chicago Red Stars to their second defeat of the season with a 2-1 win at the Seatgeek Stadium in Chicago. Goals from Maria Sanchez and Diana Ordonez on either side of a Natalie Jacobs own goal secured the points for Dash as the two attackers made history becoming the first Mexican teammates to score in the same game.
Gotham FC slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of OL Reign in a game that had a delayed start due to weather conditions. Jess Fishlock and Bethany Balcer were on hand to give Laura Harvey’s side their first three points of the season.
San Diego Wave made it two wins out of two with a 3-1 over the North Carolina Courage at the SnapDragon stadium. Teenager Jaedyn Shaw opened the scoring in the 39th minute with her second goal of the season while Alex Morgan continued her scoring streak from last season with a second-half brace before Kerolin Nicoli scored Courage’s consolation from the spot with thirteen minutes remaining.
Above: Angel City’s Alyssa Thompson (left) and Orlando Pride’s Emily Madril battle it out. Photo: NWSL.
Sunday evening served up a tense battle between Orlando Pride and Angel City FC as both teams were looking to register their first points of the season.
A frantic opening half saw neither team dominate but Angel City drew first blood when Claire Emslie dispatched her penalty in the 39th minute. Coming out of the tunnel after the break, Orlando had renewed energy and got their reward when rookie Messiah Bright burst through her markers and snuck her effort past DiDi Haracic in Angel City’s goal to restore parity.
The game would descend into chaos in the final minutes when the away side were awarded another penalty after a lengthy VAR check but Emslie saw her attempt matched up by Anna Moorhouse in Pride goal.
Deep into stoppage time, Angel City would steal the three points through substitute Katie Johnson’s near-post header to beat an on-rushing Moorhouse.
Above: Sydney FC lift the Premiers Plate on Saturday. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
When Ante Juric took over as Sydney FC manager ahead of the 2017/18 season, there was something that stood out in his team which made it unlike competitors – a high number of youth players who had never played senior games before.
This wasn’t due to lack of choice or budget, this was the beginning of a long-term project which would change the women’s game in Australia, and kickstart a new era of Sydney’s complete domination of the W-League.
The mixture of youth and experience was an impressive one. Within his first season, Juric guided Sydney to the Grand Final, narrowly losing out to a star-studded Melbourne City side stacked with internationals.
The next season he brought in three American internationals who played a huge part in Juric winning a championship, but it was the following season that really showed what Juric was about. Blooding young players and giving them a chance.
During 2016-19, the Matildas first eleven and extended squad all still played in the W-League. By the start of 2019/20, there were considerably fewer internationals in the league. Sydney lost Chloe Logarzo and Caitlin Foord to well-deserved overseas moves mid-season, and instead of panicking, Sydney had already planned.
Above: Caitlin Foord during her time at Sydney FC. Photo: (Sydney) Daily Telegraph
Taylor Ray, Princess Ibini, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Remy Siemsen, and many more had already made first-team appearances by the beginning of the season, and those players all stepped up. Hawkesby had never made a league appearance prior to 2019/20.
Sydney staged a late charge for the title in 2019/20, but lost out again to Melbourne City in the first pandemic affected Grand Final. Sydney’s starting XI was buoyed by the experience of Ellie Brush, Teresa Polias, Alanna Kennedy, and Aubrey Bledsoe, but didn’t manage to win. A solitary goal to Steph Catley from a Bledsoe error denied the plucky underdogs.
City were stacked with international talent and a squad who were all well above the level of the Dub. Sydney fielded a youthful team for the most part. City hardly outplayed Sydney – they were just lucky and perhaps more experienced.
The next season, though, things were very different. The COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in reduced internationals and a change in club approaches to the W-League. City lost Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Lydia Williams, Kyah Simon, Yukari Kinga, and Aivi Luik.
Juric had foreseen the Matildas’ exodus overseas though. Somehow, he knew the Australian talent who made up the Matildas would go overseas sooner rather than later. The vision of the former centreback meant he had planned for this.
Above: Remy Siemsen. Photo: Wikipedia.
Scouring the NPL, the Australian youth sides, and seemingly every football pitch in the city, Juric named his first post-COVID squad. He lost the likes of Foord, Logarzo, Kennedy, De Vanna, and foreign stars Bledsoe, Huerta, and Latsko.
Who did he replace them with?
Cortnee Vine, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Charlotte McLean, Princess Ibini, Jada Whyman, Taylor Ray, and Remy Siemsen. Aside from Siemsen and Ibini, none had really had consistent first-team opportunities in the league.
The signings of Vine, Whyman, and McLean are particularly interesting.
Vine had been played as a striker at several clubs with a fairly poor return. Juric saw her pace and rebranded her as a winger. This completely changed things. Explosive on the counter and growing in confidence, it became a signature move for Vine to bang the ball in front of her and chase after it, before slotting away in a one-on-one.
Whyman had been part of a consistently poor Wanderers side, keeping the net for a side who were just not good enough for this level. In Whyman, he found his new number one. With renewed confidence, she became a pillar of this side.
Then there’s McLean. Never previously playing in the first tier, she went straight to a starting position under Juric as centre-back. The Sydney Uni player was a significant find for Juric — he became accustomed to asking why these players hadn’t been plucked by other clubs.
In the opening game of 2020/21, Sydney played Western Sydney Wanderers and ran out 3-0 winners. Vine scored the opener, while Whyman and McLean kept clean sheets. Princess Ibini, who made her debut at 15 in 2015, scored a brace in what was the beginning of a new stage in her career at age 21.
Sydney were well ahead of the pack by the early rounds of 20/21. His side just bamboozled past opposition, with Vine, Ibini, and Siemsen becoming a ruthless trio.
Impressive too was Whyman’s transformation. She became assured, strong, and carried an air of confidence in the side. She kept clean sheets in seven games in her debut season, and oozed confidence which had never really been there during her Wanderers days.
Clare Wheeler was another standout. The former Newcastle Jets midfielder came into her own under Juric, with her sole season in Sky Blue resulting in an overseas move.
The key moment of 20/21 was an away victory at Melbourne City which showed exactly where the two sides had differed in approaches since the previous season. Sydney were all over City, with their youthful side running rings around a City side who featured very few of their starting players from the previous season’s Grand Final.
Sydney won the Premier’s Plate in 20/21, plastering teams and producing impressive individual performances. The Sky Blues needed to win the last game of the season to claim the first Plate in 8 years, with Teresa Polias and Princess Ibini scoring from a free-kick and penalty respectively.
Sydney again lost the Grand Final, however. Whyman produced an absolute masterclass performance, but a 120th-minute corner snuck in — with a suspicion of a foul on Whyman or a falsely awarded corner.
Losing with the very last kick of the game would kill most teams and managers for years to come. Instead, Juric took his team to the very next level, again promoting more youth players.
Sydney signed Rachel Lowe, Sarah Hunter, experienced Chilean international Maria Cote Rojas, and New Zealander Paige Satchell. Defender Ellie Brush was ruled out in pre-season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, so the side was challenged at CB.
Above: Cote Rojas (left) in action for Sydney FC last season. Photo: Sydney FC.
Inspirational captain Polias, similarly, wasn’t to be part of this season. The legendary leader was hanging up her boots to start a family. Natalie Tobin was named captain, with the midfielder becoming a ball-playing centreback.
Somehow, despite setbacks, Juric got his side to a record that may not be broken anytime soon. Whyman, at her very best and with a tremendous back four, broke the record for consecutive clean sheets. While some records like this come from the keeper having nothing to do, not this one. Whyman almost every game had to make crucial saves.
Vine also came into mercurial form during 21/22. Yet again alongside a strong front three, she showed her brilliance. The forward shone in a front three which she arguably headlined — all of whom were under the age of 23.
Make no mistake with Mackenzie Hawkesby’s contribution either. Hawkesby had taken over Polias’s set piece duties and deep playmaking with aplomb. The Figtree local even netted a hat-trick against Wellington In Wollongong. Her transformation is incredible. Within a season, she became not just a crucial player for Sydney, but one of the best midfielders in the league.
Sydney won the 21/22 premiership at a relative canter, albeit waiting until the final day and needing a win in Adelaide to secure it. Then came the finals.
The semi-final was possibly Juric and Sydney’s finest hour. 2-0 down at home to Melbourne City, goals to Vine, and Rojas fought Sydney back to 2-2 with the last kick of the game, with City down to 10 players.
Then comes the first half of extra time. With almost the first corner for the restart, Hunter makes it 3-2. Hunter’s first goal for Sydney FC since joining from Wanderers. What a time to score it.
Vine scores the sealer as City go down to nine, sending Sydney to another season decider. A monumental victory — the greatest game I’ve ever witnessed — the perfect embodiment of Juric’s Sydney.
Well documented in the Paramount Plus series Sky Blue: Inside Sydney FC is how Juric approaches team talks and the mentality of his players. Never one to yell, Juric has a measured approach with his players and fosters a positive environment. The former Sydney Olympic player consistently tells his players to enjoy themselves playing, even during do-or-die matches.
This is perhaps unsurprising, Juric is also a school teacher and this sort of leadership seems to come naturally to him. Perhaps it’s no shock he has such a faith in youth.
At 2-2 in the semi final with extra time looming, listen to Ante Juric's speech to our @aleaguewomen's side 🤯🥰
Take a look behind the scenes in Sky Blue: Inside Sydney FC on @ParamountPlusAU 📺
This confidence he imbues in his players is clear to see, and when they aren’t at their best, they’ll often be just a half-time break from revving back up to their finest. His speech to his players during the astonishing 4-2 semi-final is an absolute gem. It’s a stark contrast to some of the angry-shouty managers which adorn men’s football, it’s instead a methodical and compassionate speech.
Sydney again lost the Grand Final, again to Melbourne Victory, but this only seems to make this side stronger and give Juric even more belief in what his young side were capable of. The Sky Blues lost several players ahead of the 22/23 season, including stalwart defender Ellie Brush, left back mainstay Ally Green, Maria Rojas, and Paige Satchell.
Thanks to an ongoing stability he has fostered which involved blooding youth early, players were able to step up from within again. Juric doesn’t make many overseas signings, with 22/23 seeing American college star Madison Haley join, as well as New Zealand international Anna Green.
While rivals have seen revolving doors of players coming through, often involving precarious loan deals from America which end before the season does, Sydney have maintained an image of consistency. In Juric’s era, Sydney have not lost a player from a loan deal early.
Remy Siemsen came and went during the early parts of the season, but Juric was again quick to replace her. Top-of-the-table rivals Western United lost a key player early in the season when McDonald’s guest stint ended and never truly recovered.
Sydney embarked on a historic threepeat of premierships, playing excellent football and seeing young players rise. Most emphatic of these was 15-year-old midfielder Indiana Dos Santos, who came from seemingly nowhere to anchor the midfield in the latter half of the season.
Few other managers in the league would’ve given a 15-year-old with zero senior experience the opportunity, especially in a run of crucial games to win a trophy. Juric does, and again, this faith was repaid, and Dos Santos became Sydney’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
Check out this goal from our YOUNGEST EVER GOAL SCORER 🤩
When Sydney beat Newcastle Jets 4-0 to claim the 2022/23 Premier’s Plate, it was done with a starting XI featuring entirely Australians, and an average age of 21.2 years-old. In fact, the average age of the squad has gotten lower year-on-year for premiership-deciding matches. 2021’s 2-1 victory against Victory saw a starting XI averaging 22.3 years, and 2022’s side who beat Adelaide 1-0 at Hindmarsh at a similarly impressive 21.8 years.
The infamous Alan Hansen quote of “you can’t win anything with kids” has been well and truly put to bed by Juric, who is all but assured legendary status at Sydney FC, and surely a favorite to take over the national team one day. His legacy at Sydney will be the unearthing of gem players, all while dominating the league and setting the standard.
Jamie Dunkin is a long-time Sydney FC fan, and runs the Twitter account @asothdotcom
Ashley Griffiths from Griffters World Photography was pitchside to capture the action as Shifnal Town overcame Prees United 10-0 in the Tom Farmer Cup Semi-Final on Sunday. Shifnal will now go on to face Shrewsbury Town in the final (4/4/23).
Above: Pride in the badge as Shifnal Town make the Tom Farmer Cup Final. Photo: Griffters World Photography.
Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the 18th round of 2022-2023 D1 Arkema season. Plus, an update on France’s national team(3/4/23)
Above: Hervé Renard (center) with Laurent Bonadéi (left) and David Ducci (right). Photo: Antonio Mesa / FFF.
News from France’s national squad
France have announced their new head coach, Hervé Renard. Renard, 54 years old, is one of the best French coaches. Until now, he has only worked with men’s teams, but with very good results: He won two African Cup of Nations with two different countries (Zambia in 2012, Ivory Coast in 2015) and beat Argentina with the Saudi Arabian squad at the 2022 World Cup.
His first list of players for the friendly games to prepare for theWorld Cup reveal a few surprises: Wendie Renard is back in the team after she fell out against Corinne Diacre, as well as Eugénie Le Sommer (who was not selected in the group for Euro 2022) and Léa Le Garrec from Fleury (who hadn’t been selected since November 24th 2017). To be noted too, the return of Amel Majri after giving birth last year.
The full squad for the friendly games against Colombia (Clermont-Ferrand, April 7, 2023) and Canada (Le Mans, April 11, 2023):
Defenders: Selma Bacha (Lyon), Estelle Cascarino (Manchester United, England), Hawa Cissoko (West Ham, England), Elisa De Almeida (Paris SG), Magou Doucouré (Reims), Sakina Karchaoui (Paris SG), Maëlle Lakrar (Montpellier), Eve Périsset (Chelsea, England), Wendie Renard (Lyon).
Midfielders: Kenza Dali (Aston Villa, England), Laurina Fazer (Paris SG), Grace Geyoro (Paris SG), Oriane Jean-François (Paris SG), Léa Le Garrec (Fleury), Amel Majri (Lyon), Sandie Toletti (Real Madrid, Spain).
Forwards: Viviane Asseyi (West Ham, England), Sandy Baltimore (Paris SG), Kessya Busy (Reims), Delphine Cascarino (Lyon), Eugénie Le Sommer (Lyon), Clara Matéo (Paris FC), Ouleymata Sarr (Paris FC).
D1 Arkema Round-Up Week 18
Rodez 1-2 Reims
In an even encounter, Reims were more efficient and consolidated their sixth place in the table with this win. They can even hope to look at the fifth place as they are only two points behind Montpellier. Rodez are still in the fight with Dijon for the tenth place to stay in D1 Arkema next season, but remain a point in areers. Goal for Rodez from Alexandria Lamontagne (19). Goals for Reims from Kethna Louis (10), Kessya Busy (75).
Paris FC 2-2 Guingamp
Paris FC dominated the match but, again, they were not efficient enough to win; with 28 shots against 10 for Guingamp they should have scored more than two goals. With this second draw in a row, they let Fleury reduce the gap to three points; the race for 3rd place and the qualifying spot it offers for the UEFA Women’s Champions League is far from settled. Goals for Paris FC from Clara Matéo (44), Mathilde Bourdieu (78). Goals for Guingamp from Sarah Cambot (18), Anissa Lahmari (59 penalty).
Fleury 1-0 Dijon
Fleury dominated this match and deserved their win. They could have led the game by two goals if the beautiful freekick from Léa Le Garrec (who was selected for France’s squad for the first time since 24th November 2017) did not end up coming back off the right post at the 49th minute. However, Manon Heil’s failure to grasp a corner two minutes from time could have allowed Dijon to obtain a draw. This is a very good result for Fleury that reduces the gap between themselves and Paris FC to three points gives them renewed hope of winning the race for the third qualifying spot for the UEFA Women’s Champions League next season. Red card: Kysha Sylla, Dijon (81). Goal for Fleury Julie Piga (4).
Soyaux 1-5 Montpellier
Montpellier won this game comprehensively. Soyaux continued to lose and will probably go down to D2 next season. Goals for Montpellier from Lena Petermann (30), Dominika Skorvankova (39), Nérilia Mondésir (60, 72), Charlotte Bilbault (81 penalty). Goal for Soyaux from Fadimatou Aretouyap (46).
Le Havre 0-7 Olympique Lyonnais
Lyon, after their disappointment in the Champions League, being eliminated by Chelsea in midweek at the Quarter-Final stage, demolished Le Havre, scoring seven times. Lyon dominated the match with almost 70% of possession, and Le Havre only had four shots during all match. Goals for Lyon from Romane Enguehard (10 Own Goal), Janice Cayman (14), Damaris Egurrola (32), Signe Bruun (41), Sara Däbritz (63), Ada Hegerberg (68), Inès Benyahia (70).
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Bordeaux
Paris St. Germain were dominant, recording almost 70% of possession, but despite this it was a sterile match. It took them until 10 minutes into the second period to score their only goal. The absence of Kadidiatou Diani, who fractured her collarbone in the team’s midweek Champions League defeat to VfL Wolfsburg match, was detrimental to PSG’s efficiency in attack.Goal for Paris SG from Aissatou Traoré (55).
Above: Rossvale (yellow and red) battle against Ayr United yesterday. Photo: Kelly Nielson.
3/4/23
SWF Championship
Livingston continued their push for top spot with a 3-0 win at Hutchison Vale. Shannon Mulligan put the visitors ahead early in the game before two goals in the final five minutes from Sharon Hughes-Lee and Brogan Anderson sealed the points.
Renfrew are second, eight points adrift after a 4-1 win at Morton. Two penalties from Erin Gould, plus strikes from Michaela Brown and Emma Baird put the visitors in the driving seat before Laura Darroch’s late consolation from the spot.
Rossvale remain third after a 3-2 win at home to Ayr United. Laura McCulloch’s penalty put the Glasgow side ahead with eight minutes played before Megan Whiteford’s strike seven minutes before the break. The visitors hit back with goals from Clare Docherty and Kimberly Dick, but the home fans were thrilled as Morgan Anderson’s late goal sealed the points for Rossvale.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle gained a 4-2 win over Dryburgh Athletic. Two goals from Kayleigh McKenzie plus further strikes from Ioana McArthur and Rhea Hossack earned the three points for the Highlanders. Derrian Gollan and Emily Arthur were on target for the visitors.
SWF League One
Above: Edinburgh Caledonia (navy) take on Grampian Ladies yesterday. Photo: Alex Todd / Sportpix
Edinburgh Caledonia have secured a top-six finish win a 4-1 win over Grampian Ladies at Meadowbank on Sunday. A double from Margeux Durand-Watson and goals from Joanne Russell and Natalie Brown saw the capital side leapfrog the northeast team into the top half of the table.
Caley will now face St. Mirren at home on Sunday, followed by an Edinburgh derby on 16th April.
FC Edinburgh could win League One as early as this Sunday as they are 13 points ahead with 15 potential points in play, but they face a challenging trip to second-place Westdyke in Aberdeenshire.
Falkirk are level on points with Westdyke and open their post-split ties with a derby against local rivals Stenhousemuir on Sunday followed by an away trip to St. Mirren.
With the Championship being expanded to ten teams, the top two sides in League One who meet entry criteria will be promoted.
Above: Edinburgh Caledonia celebrate yesterday against Grampian Ladies. Photo: Alex Todd / Sportpix.
There will also be one team relegated from League One to the regional Biffa SWFL, while three teams will enter the national league to keep League One at 12 teams for next season.
Current bottom side Gleniffer Thistle are five points behind Dundee West and face Giffnock SC on Sunday, while the Dundee side host Grampian. Tenth-placed BSC Glasgow face Airdrie Ladies on Sunday knowing a win will all but secure their place in the national leagues.
Commenting, Scottish Women’s Football CEO Aileen Campbell said: “The move to four national leagues in women’s football in Scotland above our regional SWFL is a sign of the rapid growth in our game and League One has been an absolutely fantastic advert for that this season, with growing exposure in the local and national press.
“I want to congratulate Edinburgh Caledonia for securing that top-six place on the last day before the split and commiserate Grampian Ladies, who have also had a very good season so far.
“There will clearly be some fairly intense competitive ties to come in the remaining five games as we find out who will secure promotion to the Championship and who will be relegated to the regional divisions. Best of luck to all the League One teams for those final games.”
Above: AFC Wimbledon in possession against Cambridge City yesterday. Photo: Emily Topping.
AFC Wimbledon battled to a 2-1 win against Cambridge City on Sunday afternoon at Plough Lane in the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East.
The Dons came into the game after an impressive victory over QPR but the busy fixture schedule continued to take its toll as Kevin Foster’s side appeared leggy on the way to another three points.
Prior to kick-off, the South-West London side announced the loan signing of Rebecca Chitolie-Porter from West Ham United until the end of the season. The new arrival started the game on the bench but would come on to make an impression in the closing stages.
Following a quiet opening quarter, some fine defending denied Emma Plewa a golden opportunity before Ellie Dorey rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort to signal the start of a period of domination from the Dons.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Wimbledon got the lead they deserved as Plewa slotted home from close range after some fine work from Emily Donovan.
The second half saw the Dons continue to build their way into the game against a very well-drilled Cambridge City side. Their lead was increased 10 minutes in, as Dorey let fly from around 35 yards out.
However, the two-goal advantage would only last five minutes before Cambridge got a goal back via a clinical counterattack with Haile Richards scoring.
There was a real crowd-pleasing moment in the closing stages as Kelly-Jade Whelan came on for her first appearance for the Dons in five years to help see out the closing minutes and ensure we held on to all three points.
Speaking after the game, Whelan said: “We got the job done, we got the three points, and that is all that matters. We did make it hard for ourselves at times, but we got the goals we needed.”
Dons boss Kevin Foster reflected that he knows his team can be better: “We know that we can be better. The speed and the tempo that we played at wasn’t up to our usual standards. We need to be braver at breaking lines and making final third entries.”
AFC Wimbledon’s next game is at Carshalton Athletic on Sunday 16th April when they face Cambridge United. This is followed by their Capital Cup Final against Arsenal on Wednesday 26th April before the team’s final league game of the season against Norwich City at Plough Lane on 30th April. Tickets for the Norwich game are now available via our ONLINE TICKET SHOP.
For the final time this season, the Impetus team of writers and photographers covering the A-League Women select their player, coach, and event of the week. This week’s votes will be tallied up with all of the others this season, and we’ll be announcing the player and coach who has received the most weekly votes across the season ahead of the Grand Final(3/4/23).
Player of the Week:
Above: Cortnee Vine on the charge for Sydney FC on Saturday. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
BEN GILBY: Cortnee Vine. What a week – a great performance against Perth Glory in midweek, and then two goals on Saturday to put the icing on Sydney FC’s Premiers Plate cake. It’s going to be hugely enjoyable to see how she can trouble the Lionesses net week.
KIERAN YAP: Holly McNamara. The Matildas prodigy was the best play on the field between Canberra United and Melbourne City. She scored a spectacular goal and set up City’s other two. Her pace, and control are impressive, but her decision-making sets her apart. A special player.
BEN CAREY:Cortnee Vine. She went Super Sayan against Perth Glory. She scored a goal and bagged two assists. She played with confidence, pace, and real vision. Her performance was an essential part of Sydney winning the match and allowing them to keep one hand on the premiership.
Coach of the Week:
Above: Sydney FC head coach Ante Juric makes a point earlier this season. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
BEN GILBY: A third successive Premiers Plate for Sydney FC which is a stunning achievement. It can only be Ante Juric.
KIERAN YAP: Ante Juric. It was a ruthless, entertaining, and brilliant display from Sydney FC. Juric did not take the Newcastle Jets lightly, and his team delivered a third straight Premiership.
BEN CAREY:Nat Lawrence. Once again she led Wellington Phoenix to an inspired comeback against one of the league’s most established teams in Melbourne Victory. If the Phoenix can make some good signings in the off-season, I believe Lawrence’s team can have a very good campaign next season.
Event of the Week:
Above: Wellington Phoenix race back to get the game underway after their superb late show against Melbourne Victory. Photo: Keep Up.
BEN GILBY: Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory. A great effort from the Nix who gained a point at the death from Grace Wisnewski. It emphasised the huge spirit in the team. It also set up a highly dramatic winner takes all clash the following day between Melbourne City and Canberra United.
KIERAN YAP: Grace Wisnewski’s late equaliser for Wellington Phoenix looked to have ended Melbourne Victory’s season. It came through persistence and opportunism. In the closing seconds of the game, she gave Phoenix fans something to celebrate and hope for the future.
BEN CAREY: Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix. This game was exciting and chaotic. The two early goals from Victory, followed by an hour-long power struggle, the Phoenix desperate to claw their way back and avoid the wooden spoon. A stunner from Pritchard in the 75th minute, and then absolute chaos as Wisnewski slotted in the equaliser in the ninth and final minute of stoppage time. Edge of the seat stuff.
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Woodley United progressed to the SRWFL President’s Cup semi-final against Abingdon United after a penalty shoot-out win at Woking yesterday.
After a goalless first half, the visitors hit the front with 15 minutes to go when Gemma Sims curled a free-kick in, after goalkeeper Roz Markham handled outside the box. However, the lead lasted just four minutes as, from another freekick, this time from 30 yards, Sheena Nicholl deflected up off the wall and into the net.
With no further goals, it went to a penalty shoot-out. With Woking missing their spot kicks, it was Woodley United who won the day.
Matthew Appleby‘s photo gallery for Impetus this week comes from the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One North game between York City and Durham Cestria(3/4/23)
Above: York City (red) and Durham Cestria battle for possession yesterday. Photo: Matthew Appleby.
York City 1-3 Durham Cestria
Durham Cestria are seven points clear at the top of the table after a comfortable win at York St. John’s University’s Haxby Road ground.
The outcome sees York in the relegation zone, one point behind Bradford City, who have a game in hand.
Cestria went ahead just before the half-hour mark when Jen Knowles combined with Ella Wilson who laid back for Leanna Giles to score from the edge of the box. It was 2-0 just before the break when Poppy Prichard was fouled in the box and Knowles dispatched the spot kick. Pritchard made it 3-0 with just under half an hour remaining as she was found by Grace Mackie’s throw and turned before firing a rocket into the top corner.
Jess Holder got a goal back for York City with a long-range effort that came off the underside of the bar four minutes into stoppage time at the end of the match. Whilst Durham Cestria are looking to hold off a Newcastle United side who have three games in hand on them in second spot, York’s season could well come down to their monumental-looking showdown with Bradford City.
Adam Johnstone was pitchside at Meadow Park to capture the best of the action as two of the top WSL sides, Arsenal and Manchester City went head to head (3/4/23).
Above: Katie McCabe shows her sheer joy after scoring Arsenal’s second goal against Manchester City yesterday. Photo: Adam Johnstone for Impetus.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
The Gunners’ Champions League qualification hopes took a major boost as they came from behind to defeat Manchester City.
Jonas Eidevall’s side were second-best for much of the opening half and went behind when Bunny Shaw headed City in front with just five minutes on the clock. Lauren Hemp had a golden opportunity to double the visitors’ lead but her shot from close range went over the bar.
Gareth Taylor’s side would rue that miss as Frida Maanum levelled just after the hour mark before Katie McCabe directed a rocket into the top corner with 74 minutes played.
This could prove to be a vital win for Arsenal in the Champions League race as they rise above Manchester City into the third and final qualifying berth on goal difference. The North London side also have a game in hand over the North-West club.
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