Matthew Applebywas pitchside to capture all the action as an incredible crowd of 24,000 gathered at St. James’ Park yesterday for the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One North game (17/4/23).
Above: Joy for Newcastle United after a goal at St. James’ Park yesterday. Photo: Matthew Appleby for Impetus.
Newcastle United 6-1 Bradford City
Newcastle United are six points behind league leaders Durham Cestria with two games in hand after a big win over Bradford City at St. James’ Park yesterday.
Two goals each from Bethany Guy and Charlotte Potts and single strikes from Georgia Gibson and Rachel Lee sealed the win, with Charlie Ramsden scoring for City.
Andy Wicks was pitchside at the Vitality Stadium for the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-West match between AFC Bournemouth and Maidenhead United in front of a crowd of 3,067 with the game ending goalless (17/4/23).
Above: Maidenhead United are denied by brave goalkeeping yesterday. Photo: Andy Wicks
Teams: AFC BOURNEMOUTH: Cooper, Eilkins, Elliott, Fripp, Jones, Mortimer, Scadding, Smith, J. Treweek, Gladwell, A. Treweek. Substitutes: Francis, Hughes, McKinnon, Topping.
Ben Phillips was at Stadium: MK yesterday to capture the action from the tier three match between Milton Keynes and Ipswich, which ended 2-0 in the favourof the visitors from Suffolk (17/4/23).
Above: Joy for Ipswich after scoring at Milton Keynes yesterday. Photo: Ben Phillips.
Match report by Nathan Edwards at the Bescot Stadium
EXCLUSIVE pitchside photos from Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus (17/4/23).
Above: Sam Kerr takes a tumble after a tackle in yesterday’s FA Cup Semi-Final. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
Sam Kerr put an end to Aston Villa’s historic FA Cup run, and sent Chelsea through to the FA Cup final for the chance to become the first team to win the competition three years in a row since 2004.
The Australian had been managed well by Villa’s defence, but she only needed one chance to punish Villa cushioning Guro Reiten’s cross into the bottom corner.
Despite Villa’s late surge, Chelsea stayed firm, with Sarah Mayling hitting the post in the final moments of the 90 minutes.
It has been a rememberable season for Carla Ward and her side, who had never reached this stage in the FA Cup before, and sit fifth in the WSL.
Speaking afterwards, the Villa head coach said: “I’m heartbroken for the players tonight. I thought we were outstanding, the better team over the 90 minutes. If the best team won, then the best team won, but I don’t think that was the case. You see some of the girls in tears, it’s been some journey.
Above: Chelsea match-winner Sam Kerr. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
“Credit to Chelsea, they’ve got matchwinners. Sam Kerr has done exactly what she does week in and week out. We wish them all the very best, an unbelievable side, we’re just gutted.”
As for Emma Hayes, she continues to get this Chelsea team to adapt themselves to whatever is thrown at them and reached a fourth FA Cup final under her.
Hayes said: “It’s their cup final, they had everything to play for, a packed crowd and a record attendance, with nothing to lose. They gave as best as they possibly could.
“We kept a clean sheet, you have to expect an onslaught when you’re away from home, the pitch made it really challenging and there’s not a lot of grass in that penalty area. Nonetheless, we took the goal at the right moment.
“They get to play in an FA Cup final at Wembley, what more motivation do they need? I’m delighted we’ve got the opportunity to defend our title.”
Above: Lauren James in possession yesterday. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
Chelsea would have arrived to the Bescot Stadium in confident mood, after victory in Walsall a fortnight ago.
But despite scoring three on their last visit, It took a while for the Blues to get going, with Lauren James coming the closest to piercing through Villa’s defence, in the first half.
Although the winger was unable to test Hannah Hampton in goal with her attempts, and neither could Eve Perisset who crept into the box but lashed her effort over the bar.
That was the only real chance created by either side in the first half, but when the sets of players came out for the second period, a more aggressive Chelsea appeared.
It took only 20 seconds after the break for Jelena Čanković to rattle the post. And Villa also started to carve chances for themselves.
Above: Rachel Daley had no luck in front of goal yesterday. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
Rachel Daly was starved of chances until Kirsty Hanson plucked a deep cross that the English forward struggled to direct goalwards.
Kerr and Chelsea would then go on to punish Villa, as Alisha Lehmann slashed a shot into the side netting, and in the next stage of play, Kerr would nestle Reiten’s pass into the back of the net.
The Australian could have secured the victory later with her first shot bobbling past the post, and her second a well-saved one-on-one by Hampton.
Villa had camped Chelsea in their half after the deficit, and Mayling came the closest hitting the upright in the final ten minutes.
Kerr’s goal also meant that Chelsea are on for the treble again and will face Manchester United, in their first FA Cup final.
The Australian said: “It (was) their cup final, so it’s exciting for them but we love playing at Wembley. Last time we played there, it was amazing and hopefully it’s another good one.
“We are going for every trophy we can. We are Chelsea, we aren’t coming here to come second.”
Suvadeep Biswas’ EXCLUSIVE photo gallery from the Bescot Stadium:
Teams ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Hampton, Mayling, Turner, Patten, Pacheco, Dali, Staniforth, Nobbs, Lehmann, Daly, Hanson.
Kris Goman was pitchside for Impetus at yesterday’s A-League Women Semi-Final between Sydney FC and Western United and provides us with this EXCLUSIVE photo gallery (17/4/23)
Above: Tyla-Jay Vlajnić shows her sheer joy after Hannah Keane scored what turned out to be the winning goal on Sunday. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Ben Gilby provides a full report from the game of the week plus all the details from the other matches in Western Australia’s NPL Women’s competition (17/4/23).
Above: Ella Lamonte (left) and Jaime Duncanson embrace after a Perth SC goal against Murdoch University Melville on Saturday. The pair contributed three of their side’s six goals in the match. Photo: Fotoenzo.
Game of the week:
Balcatta Etna 1-1 Fremantle City
It was honours even at Grindleford Reserve on Sunday afternoon in a battle between two teams aiming to push towards the top four in the embryonic NPLW WA ladder.
Both sides went into the game with a win over Curtin University this season with Balcatta having played a game less after their Easter weekend match against Subiaco was postponed.
The home side welcomed the D’Opera sisters Tahlia and Monique back into the starting line-up after they missed the club’s last outing in Round Two, with Freo missing captain Mikayla Lyons.
It was the visitors who had the best of the opening 45. Their former Perth SC defender Maya Spatafore was influential in the early exchanges pushing forward along the right with some jinking runs with the hosts patiently probing.
Fremantle City conjured the first opportunity with 23 minutes on the clock as Jamie-Lee Gale played a ball in from the right for Olivia Trueman’s volley to rebound into the path of Kayla McCulloch whose effort deflected out for a corner.
Above: Fremantle City look to spread the play at Balcatta Etna. Image: Streamer.
Shortly afterwards, Freo created once more when Laura Waltman beat Janelle St. Pierre on the right and her cross was met by Gale running in, but the former Perth Glory player’s effort went over the bar.
The visitors were on top now and Janice Kiama played a one-two with Trueman before blasting a shot that Gabby Dal Busco repelled brilliantly in the Balcatta goal. Waltman also saw an effort go just wide of the left-hand post during this period.
Siobhan Longmore was full of running and always looking to play dangerous balls. Four minutes before the break, her high ball from the left was volleyed across goal again from the back post by Trueman for Waltman to hit goalwards, but Elizabeth Doust blocked on the line and Dal Busco gathered.
Balcatta worked hard to stem the tide after the break, looking to slow the game down and maintain possession.
Goal!! for Balcatta FC out of NPL Women – Western Australia at Grindleford Park in the 59:09 mark of the Second Half. Score Balcatta FC 1:0 Fremantle City
It worked, as on the hour mark, Monique Prinsloo played an excellent probing pass through from midfield to Tia Stonehill who was on the edge of the box to the left. The hot shot, back from injury, slammed a strike into the opposite side of the net to put the hosts ahead.
Fremantle hit back positively and pushed for an equaliser. Balcatta were generally well organised, but with just under 15 minutes to go, the visitors levelled. A long ball from Waltman in the middle of the park picked out Gale on the left. She in turn lofted a cross for Trueman who was in space in the middle of the box to nod home from close range.
Whilst Freo had the momentum, both sides created half chances to steal the points. First, with eight minutes remaining, Stonehill saw an effort dribble wide of the right-hand post from a free-kick, and then for Fremantle, McCulloch delivered a pass for Trueman on the right, but the onrushing Hawkins couldn’t reach the cross.
Goal!! for Fremantle City FC (women) out of NPL Women – Western Australia at Grindleford Park in the 75:38 mark of the Second Half. Score Balcatta FC 1:1 Fremantle City
The final opportunity went Balcatta’s way as Kimberley McCartney lifted a shot goalwards from outside of the box, but Dayle Schroeder saved in the Freo goal.
Both sides will feel this was a game they could have won. Fremantle had more chances, particularly in the first half, and as more players come back into their squad as the season goes on, they will be aiming to push into the top four.
Balcatta are a squad with potential. Once they hit their straps, they could cause headaches to their rivals in the NPLW WA.
Teams: BALCATTA ETNA: Dal Busco, Davis, Doust, St. Pierre, T. D’Opera, Nossent, Continibali, M. D’Opera, Godding, McCartney, Stonehill. Substitutes: Bulgaru, Curzon, Roach, Bricklebank, Dressler.
Round Four got underway on Friday night as defending champions Perth RedStar gained victory at struggling Curtin University.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side went ahead after nine minutes when a corner from the right was sidefooted home at the back post by Quyen Doan. Less than 60 seconds later, they doubled their advantage as Doan’s high ball into the box was missed by Curtin keeper Hanna Stoney, allowing Jay Coleman to tap home.
Goal!! for Perth RedStar FC (women) out of NPL Women – Western Australia at Edinburgh Oval A in the 24:43 mark of the First Half. Score Curtin Uni FC 0:4 Perth RedStar FC
Doan’s red-hot form continued as she supplied goal number three with 22 minutes played as her low ball from the right was met by Renee Leota in the box. Within 120 seconds, it was 4-0 as a free-kick on the left of the area was laid across for Sarah Carroll to thump home. There was still time for another goal just before the break as Bronwyn Studman’s high ball from the left looped straight over Stoney and into the net.
There were two further goals in the second half for the visitors. With just over 15 minutes remaining, Leota grabbed her second of the night when she turned in a low ball from the left. In stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes, Carroll powerfully dispatched a penalty into the net for her second of the night.
Perth SC 6-0 Murdoch University Melville
Perth SC remain top of the table as they defeated Murdoch University Melville in the late Saturday afternoon match at Dorrien Gardens.
The Azzurri hit their six goals with a rapid-fire burst in both halves. Peter Rakic’s side took the lead just before the half-hour mark thanks to Monique Godding who turned the ball home after Faye Phillips’ shot had come back off the bar. Just over two minutes later, Ella Lincoln doubled their advantage with a sensational individual goal. Winning possession in the centre of the pitch, Lincoln drove forward past the attention of two would-be tacklers and slid home a great finish across Stacey Cavill in the MUM FC goal.
Above: Ella Lincoln – scorer of Perth SC’s second goal – in action on Saturday. Photo: Fotoenzo.
Four goals in just under a quarter of an hour in the second half ensured that the home side maintained their excellent start to the season. Six minutes in, Phillips was played in on the right-hand side just outside the box, took a touch, and ran on before finishing into the far corner.
Less than two minutes later, any faint hopes that Murdoch University Melville may have had were snuffed out as a low ball from the right evaded the visitors’ defence and Jaime Duncanson was in acres of space at the far post to slot home. Duncanson grabbed her second on 66 minutes as she met a bouncing cross from the right with a deadly first-time finish.
Goal!! for Perth SC (women) – Finals out of NPL Women – Western Australia at Dorrien Gardens in the 65:09 mark of the Second Half. Score Perth SC 5:0 MU Melville
The final goal came as the result of a superb move. Ella La Monte laid the ball out to Duncanson on the left wing and went on a run forward which was instantly picked out with a centimetre-perfect return pass into La Monte’s path. After one touch to take the ball further forward, La Monte guided a right-foot shot into the net.
The Azzurri are clear at the top as the competition takes a week’s break for the State Cup. If that is not enough to please them, the fact that Rebecca Bennett has yet to concede a goal in the NPLW WA this season underlines just what a tough side to beat Perth SC are this year.
Subiaco 3-5 Hyundai NTC
Subiaco’s superb attempt at a comeback from 4-0 down was finally held off by the NTC at Rosalie Park in the final game of the round.
The talented teenagers looked to be coasting, but with three minutes to play, Greg Farrell’s side had pulled it back to 4-3 only to fall at the death when Louise Tana confirmed the visitors’ win with a fifth goal.
Hyundai NTC took the game by the scruff of the next with two goals in as many minutes before the break. First, Georgia Cassidy scored from the penalty spot with 37 on the clock, and then a trademark breakthrough by Tanika Lala saw the striker’s effort blocked by Ashleigh Riddle in the Subiaco goal only for the ball to run into the path of Klaudia Hoolis on the right of the box to direct the ball into the net.
Above: Mia Britton about to pull the trigger for Hyundai NTC. Image: Streamer.
Three minutes after the break, the teenagers extended their lead to 3-0. A clearance at the back was snaffled up by the NTC and played out to Mia Britton on the left who advanced goalwards before squeezing a shot in at the near post.
A four-goal advantage was built on 56 minutes as Cassidy gained possession and motored up the right wing and lifted a cross in which was chested by Lala and met by Britton to sweep home.
However, the match was far from over as Subiaco mounted a superb comeback. They got a goal back three minutes later as Marianna Tabain pounced on a poor clearance to score. With 15 remaining they got a second back when excellent work from Siena Crevacore saw her pass reach Tabain on the edge of the box. The former Perth Glory legend squared a pass for Rachel Larsen to lift a superb finish over Bailey and in.
Goal!! for Subiaco AFC out of NPL Women – Western Australia at Rosalie Park East 1 in the 73:10 mark of the Second Half. Score Subiaco AFC 2:4 Hyundai NTC
The drama intensified with less than three minutes remaining as Tabain hit a shot from the edge of the box that was parried by Bailey and Frankie Murray steered the ball home.
However, Subi’s dreams of completing the comeback were shattered in stoppage time as Britton ran up the right and hit a shot that came off of Riddle in the home goal and fell for Louise Tana to tap home the goal that sealed the NTC’s win.
The NPLW WA takes a break this coming weekend as State Cup action takes centre stage with the State League clubs battling against their NPLW counterparts.
State Cup 1st Round Draw: Port Kennedy v Perth RedStar, Armadale v Hamersley United, Hyundai NTC v UWA Nedlands, Curtin University v Subiaco (NPLW), Murdoch University Melville v Subiaco AFC, Perth SC v Mandurah City, Fremantle City v Sorrento, Perth AFC v Balcatta Etna.
Jay Patel was pitchside at Hayes Lane to capture the action as Crystal Palace met Birmingham City in the Barclays Championship this afternoon (16/4/23).
Above: Crystal Palace’s Polly Doran (centre) looks on this afternoon. Photo: Jay Patel.
Crystal Palace 2-4 Birmingham City
Birmingham City closed the gap on second-placed London City Lionesses with victory over Crystal Palace at Bromley this afternoon.
Birmingham took a stranglehold on the game with three goals in just four minutes. They hit the front with less than 10 minutes played as Jade Pennock controlled a pass from Charlie Devlin and smashed into the corner of the net to mark her 50th appearance for the West Midlands club.
Shortly after Devlin was the provider once more as she found Claudia Walker, whose first shot came back off the post before she made no mistake with the follow-up. Lucy Quinn made it three when she finished from Pennock’s ball in.
Palace got a foothold in the encounter with 10 minutes remaining of the first half as Annabel Blanchard’s cut-back found Coral-Jade Haines who smashed into the bottom corner. Then, in keeping with the rapid-fire nature of goals, the deficit was reduced once more just before the break when Annabel Johnson’s cross was deftly struck over City keeper Lucy Thomas by Molly Sharpe.
The outcome was finally settled with just over 20 minutes remaining as McLoughlin crossed for Walker to grab her second.
Crystal Palace stay sixth – exactly midway with two matches remaining.
Above: Hannah Keane celebrates with teammates after she scored the match-winning goal. Photo: Keep Up.
Western United beat Sydney FC in a tight contest on Sunday night in front of a vocal crowd at Allianz Stadium to advance directly to the A-League Women Grand Final in their first season in the competition.
Before the match, Sydney had won all four of their matches played in the stadium, scoring 13 goals, and had never conceded. But that imperious record did not rattle Western United at all, who took it to the Premiers.
The match started in an energetic fashion, with Western United pressing high from kick-off to put pressure on the Sydney defence, hoping for an opportunity or a mistake to capitalise on. But Sydney weathered the storm and began to wrestle control of the match back.
Cortnee Vine looked threatening early on in the match, but she was well-marked by Angie Beard. The Matilda had an injury scare during her national team duties earlier in the month, but thankfully it was just a cramp.
In the 15th minute, some sloppy defending from Western meant that Vine ended up with the ball in a dangerous position. She took a great shot at the goal, but Hillary Beall pulled out a strong save to deny her. Princess Ibini was in the perfect position for the follow-up, but she wasn’t ready for it. 10 minutes later, Vine intercepted a ball in the midfield, making a run into the box and taking another shot on goals, but it was saved once again by Beall.
In the 27th minute, totally against the run of play, Western launched an exceptional attack. It started with Emma Robers outfoxing a Sydney defender and passing out to Kahli Johnson who made a run down the right flank and hit an incredible cross into the box that found the Golden Boot winner Hannah Keane, who tapped it into the Sydney net past Jada Whyman. It was Keane’s 14th goal of the campaign.
But Sydney did not roll over, they kept playing their high-energy, attacking football, dominating possession, and creating chances. They had a flurry of chances just before halftime, but the Western defensive line was equal to each of them.
Just before the break, the visitors had to play their Get Out of Jail Free card. Beall came off her line to clear the ball and made a sloppy pass to her defender and the ball was easily intercepted by Rachel Lowe. Beall scrambled back as Lowe took a shot, but it drifted just wide of the goals. Western United breathed a sigh of relief.
In the second half, the match continued at a slightly lower tempo, but with Sydney still dominating proceedings and creating chances. Madison Haley made her presence known just minutes after being substituted on. In the 56th minute, Vine made a fantastic run but was cut off by a defender, so she cut the ball back to Haley, who took a shot but pushed it wide.
Just after the hour mark, a great corner from Mackenzie Hawkesby found the head of Haley who put the shot on target this time, but there was not enough power on it to trouble Beall. About 10 minutes later, an amazing pass from Haley up the field set up Rola Badawiya who took a cracking first-time shot which was parried away by Beall. A follow-up shot came from Nat Tobin, but Beall pulled out a great reflex save to deny Sydney yet again.
Sydney continued their relentless attack during the final 20 minutes of regulation time. Western United were able to withstand the pressure with solid defending and exceptional goalkeeping. There were eight minutes of stoppage time and they were frantic. Sydney kept pressing, but they couldn’t get any meaningful shots on target and Western did enough to deny them and close out the match with a win.
Above: Cortnee Vine (left) battles against Angie Beard today. Photo: Liberty A-League Women.
Sydney FC played a very good match. They defended very well and attacked relentlessly, with a total of 12 shots on goal, but they were unable to convert on any of the chances that they created. Western United on the other hand were far more clinical. They only had three shots on goal, but they were able to convert, which meant that their solid defending and goalkeeping could get them over the line.
Charlotte Mclean put in a phenomenal shift in the backline for Sydney. Ante Juric has been singing her praises all season long as the best defender in the league and she definitely showed it against Western United. She also created a goalscoring opportunity and took two shots at the goal up the other end. Vine put in a great shift as well, but she didn’t have the fitness to play the full 90 minutes, which hurt Sydney.
Up the other end of the pitch, there were a number of stellar performances for Western United. Johnson had a great all-round performance, providing the match-winning assist and creating several more chances. Angela Beard defended very well the whole match and was able to keep Vine relatively quiet down the left flank. And you can’t go past Beall, who made 12 saves against the Premiers to keep a clean sheet and give Western a big win.
By winning the match, Western United booked a ticket to their first-ever Grand Final, which will be played on April 30th. Sydney FC will face Melbourne Victory in the Preliminary Final next weekend, a rematch of the past two Grand Finals.
Teams:SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Fenton, Tobin, Mclean, Rule, Hawkesby, I. Dos Santos, Hunter, Ibini, Vine, Lowe. Substitutes: Offer, Hollman, Badawiya, De La Harpe, Haley.
WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Beall, Papadopoulos, Cerne, Cummings, Beard, M. Taranto, Robers, A. Taranto, Johnson, Keane, Vlajnić. Substitutes: Dall’Oste, Dakic, Sawicki, Sardo, Steer.
Scorers: Keane 26’.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.
Attendance: TBC.
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Matthew Appleby was at the Leigh Sports Village to capture the best of the action as Manchester United took on Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup Semi-Final yesterday (16/4/23).
Above: Manchester United celebrate after their dramatic win over Brighton and Hove Albion yesterday that took them to Wembley for the first time. Photo: Matthew Appleby.
Manchester United 3-2 Brighton and Hove Albion
Rachel Williams’ goal one minute from the end of normal time sealed Manchester United’s dramatic victory in the FA Cup Semi-Final yesterday.
But Marc Skinner’s team had to do it the hard way as Brighton produced a superb performance to belie their status as WSL strugglers, and it was the visitors who hit the front after Mary Earps could only help Veatriki Sarri’s shot into her own net.
Leah Galton levelled within two minutes of the second-half opening before United’s Lionesses star Alessia Russo put the Red Devils ahead. However, Brighton wouldn’t lie down, and within four minutes Danielle Carter had them level. Then came Williams at the death to earn United their first shot at a major trophy at Wembley Stadium against Aston Villa or Chelsea on 14th May.
Matthew Appleby’s Photo Gallery:
Teams: MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Earps, Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Ladd, Zelem, Galton, Garcia, Toone, Russo. Substitutes used: Thomas (for Garcia 61′), Williams (for Russo 78′), Mannion (for Galton 90+1′).
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate their penalty shoot-out victory in today’s sensational Elimination Final. Photo: Keep Up.
by Ben Gilby (15/4/23).
Melbourne Victory have defeated cross-city rivals Melbourne City in an absolute thriller of an encounter at a sodden Casey Fields today.
This was an extraordinary game that went one way then the other, contained a 19-minute Melina Ayres hat-trick, a penalty miss to level the scores in the 88th minute, and then an equalising goal in the last second of stoppage time in the second half. Quite simply, it was immense.
City as usual dominated the possession stats – 68% to 32% with 713 passes made to Victory’s 328 – but ultimately possession means nothing, it’s whether you can use it to score more goals than the opposition.
Dario Vidosic named Holly McNamara in his starting line-up after his young star, just back from her ACL injury, returned early from international duty with the Matildas in England over Easter. She would go on to have an impressive afternoon in a match that was a feisty, physical Elimination Final and Melbourne derby.
It was Victory who had the game’s opening chance with less than two minutes on the clock. Alana Murphy stood over a free-kick just outside the ‘D’, slightly to the left of centre. The set piece bounced just in front of City keeper Melissa Barbieri on the right-hand post, but the experienced shot-stopper produced an excellent save to push it wide.
Dario Vidosic’s side responded with Julia Grosso striding along the left-hand side before delivering a ball into the box that fell perfectly for McNamara. The young gun looked for all the world as if she would score as she hit a goal-bound shot on the edge of the six-yard box but reckoned without a sensational save from Victory keeper Casey Dumont who followed the flight of the ball and stayed tall in front of McNamara to deny the attacker.
Just after the half-hour mark, each side had a further chance. First, it was Victory as Catherine Zimmerman hit over the bar from close range after Barbieri mishandled a cross. Then, McNamara showed her pace to get through, but Kayla Morrison was able to get a toe in to avert the danger.
Above: Rhianna Pollicina (center) celebrates her goal with Emma Checker and Cote Rojas. Photo: Keep Up.
Just four minutes before the break, City hit the front as Nat Tathem lost possession in the midfield to Rhianna Pollicina who laid off to McNamara outside her to the right. McNamara advanced and delivered a low square ball which was met by Pollicina just outside the six-yard box to direct into the net.
Victory stepped it up after the break. Five minutes in, Goad’s corner from the right flicked on and Elidias’ back header came back off the bar before City cleared at the second attempt.
Within a minute though, they were level as referee Lara Lee pointed to the spot after Naomi Chinnama was adjudged to have brought down Goad with the ball gone. Up stepped Melina Ayres to slot into the right-hand corner of the net.
City looked to hit back just after the hour mark, and Dani Galic was found by Pollicina on a square pass across the outside of the box. The 16-year-old played in Kaitlyn Torpey who ran onto the ball and hit a first-time shot that came off the top of the bar.
Victory were having more luck in pressing the Sky Blues’ defence and within moments of Torpey’s shot, they hit the front. Barbieri’s short clearance was played back into the box between two would-be Victory attackers, and Emma Checker’s resulting clearance fell straight to Goad around 10 yards outside the box. She found Ayres who in turn looked for Alana Murphy who was tackled but the ball fell perfectly for Ayres to drill a low shot first time into the right-hand corner.
The Melbourne Victory attacker’s sensational second half continued as she completed an astonishing 19-minute hat-trick. Once more it was Goad involved as she delivered a high diagonal ball in from the left flank that Checker could only head back towards the waiting Ayres who was in space, took the ball down, and fired into the far corner. With 20 minutes remaining, Victory were 3-1 ahead.
However, if anyone thought City would just lie down, they would be in for a rude awakening, as within six minutes, they were back in the game as Grosso delivered a high ball into the mix from the left-hand side after being fed by McNamara. Bryleeh Henry and Hannah Wilkinson went up for the header with the former directing a ball that dropped for Pollicina in the centre of the 18-yard box. The City striker reacted quicker than the Victory defence to turn and drive a shot home.
Victory were looking to screen off the City attack as the hosts looked to force an equaliser. With four minutes remaining, in the face of a busy box, McNamara hit a shot from outside of the box that curled agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.
The drama ratcheted up another notch with two minutes of normal time remaining as McNamara broke along the left and Claudia Bunge handled her cross with referee Lee pointing instantly to the spot. McNamara placed the ball but Dumont dived to her left and saved.
With seven minutes of stoppage time indicated, City pressed with Katie Bowen turning and driving a shot wide. With two seconds of additional time remaining on the clock, Torpey hit a shot from outside the box that took a deflection off of Kayla Morrison and cannoned up into the air, falling for the onrushing Wilkinson to beat Dumont in the air and head home. It was 3-3 and we were into an additional thirty minutes of drama.
Whilst extra time contained no goals, it did bring more stunning saves from Dumont and a red card – something that was always likely given the physical nature of the game. Victory’s Amy Jackson had been walking the tightrope for some time on a yellow card and could well have seen red in the second half for a challenge. Just two minutes into the second period of extra time, Jackson trod down on Pollicina’s foot and Lara Lee pulled out the second yellow.
Dumont excelled herself, saving McKenna’s long-range effort, and then in stoppage time at the end of the additional half-hour, making a superb one-handed save to turn Pollicina’s powerful shot around the post.
The Victory goalkeeper’s heroics would not end there as the game went into a penalty shoot-out. It was Dumont who dispatched the first penalty before taking her place between the sticks to save Bowen’s opening effort for City. Ayres, Pollicina, and Maja Markovski all converted their spot kicks before Wilkinson saw hers hit the bar for City.
The moment @gomvfc kept their quest for THREE-STRAIGHT @LibFinancial A-League championships alive! 🔥
It meant that 17-year-old Alana Murphy had the opportunity to seal the win for Victory. There were no nerves apparent as the youngster stepped up and blasted her kick home.
This was a game that had it all – goals galore, staggering comebacks, individual brilliance, and high drama. This is why we love the A-League Women, and the season isn’t done yet.
Melbourne Victory will now travel to the losers of tomorrow’s Sydney FC v Western United semi-final next Saturday for the Preliminary Final. Strap yourself in, we’re in for a thrilling ride.
impetusfootball.org 