Above: Bethany Gordon celebrates with her teammates after scoring her first-ever A-League goal. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers defeated Brisbane Roar on Sunday in a match that was delayed by a few hours due to extreme weather during the day.
The first half hour of the match was relatively uneventful. There were a few half chances up both ends, but for the most part, both teams seemed content passing the ball around and playing it safe.
But about 10 minutes before half time the match kicked into gear. Malia Steinmetz played a good ball down to Sophie Harding on the left flank, who ran into the box and hit a cross to Bethany Gordon who had perfectly timed her run and tapped it in for her first-ever A-League goal.
A few minutes later, there was another A-League first. A great corner kick by Amy Harrison found the newly capped Matilda Clare Hunt, who scored a spectacular header off the inside of the crossbar.
Brisbane Roar started the second half with a bit more intensity, which paid off about five minutes in. Shea Connors capitalised on a Wanderers error in the middle of the pitch and used her lightning-quick pace to track down to the box and cut it across to Larissa Crummer who tapped it in. There was a muted celebration from Connors and Crummer, but the Roar were back in the match.
Just before the 80-minute mark, Amy Chessari hit a great cross into the box, which again found Gordon, who took a shot, but it bounced off a Brisbane defender up into the air, however, Gordon tried again on the volley and scored a sensational goal to seal the win for the Wanderers.
Beth Gordon, WHAT A HIT! 🚀
41 minutes after her first ever @LibFinancial A-League goal, the @wswanderersfc midfielder bags a classy second! 🎯
All in all, it was a big win for the Wanderers and well deserved. They defended very well when they needed to and they found a variety of ways to create goalscoring opportunities and when they had them, they seized them. Their conversion rate was excellent.
Gordon was phenomenal in the midfield, creating a seamless link between the defenders and the front line, and unbelievably scoring her first and second A-League goals in the same match. Hunt was rock solid in defence as usual, and she also showed her prowess in attack as well. The Wanderers goalkeeper Sham Khamis also did an excellent job filling in for Jordyn Bloomer who was recalled by her NWSL club, Racing Louisville, during the week.
For Brisbane Roar, it was a disappointing but entirely understandable loss. Brisbane Roar came into the match having had their finals dreams snuffed out by the APL, who handed them a disappointing three-point deduction during the week. The Roar also lost several key players, such as Katrina Gorry and Kajsa Lind, who were recalled to their Swedish club, Vittsjö.
Ayesha Norrie was also unavailable because she was serving suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards. Brisbane Roar were significantly weakened not having the experience, quality, and leadership of Gorry, Lind, and Norrie. Couple that with deflated spirits and you have an almost impossible mountain to climb.
Brisbane Roar play Melbourne Victory next Saturday and Western Sydney Wanderers will have a week off before facing Western United on 1st April in their last match of the season.
Above: Tottenham Hotspur come together after their huge win over Leicester City in midweek. Photo: Spurs Women.
Sometimes you have to lose a lot of games to properly relish a win.
And Tottenham Hotspur fans waited a long time: nine games or 136 days.
Spurs’ last win – that eight-goal false dawn at Brighton – was back on the 30th October. Rishi Sunak had that week taken office as Prime Minister. England had not yet exited the men’s World Cup on penalties. They hadn’t even touched down in Qatar.
After Brighton, Tottenham lost and lost and lost again. They lost at Brisbane Road, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in Manchester, Liverpool, Reading, and Birmingham. There were a lot of losses. A lot of slow dejected train journeys home.
I have elsewhere talked about the 9-game losing streak that resulted in Rehanne Skinner’s departure, and Vicky Jepson taking over as interim head coach. The edited version is that before Christmas, Spurs could not score, going five games without a goal. More recently the problem was defending: three times Spurs took the lead in games to then be pulled back. Along the way, there were mistakes, poor passing, and a raft of fitness problems.
And then on Wednesday, Leicester City at home. A glorious, wonderous 1-0 win.
In truth, it was a messy, ungainly game. Both teams needed the points. The first half was cagey. Not a lot of free-flowing football on display and neither team created clear-cut chances. Leicester perhaps looked more controlled.
Notwithstanding the change in management, the Spurs side that started against Leicester had just one change from the team that started the previous game. What had changed, however, was that against Leicester, every Spurs player on the pitch looked up for the fight.
It is not for nothing that Leicester have kept clean sheets in three of their five games since the Christmas break. Following their own nine-game losing streak at the start of the season, the club swapped managers and during the January window strengthened, bringing in, among others, the impressive 19-year-old Ruby Mace at defensive midfield and Bayern Munich loanee keeper, Janina Leitzig. Leitzig is in the 99th percentile of keepers for crosses stopped and the 95th percentile for save percentage, and goals conceded against expected goals conceded. In other words, it was going to take something special to beat her.
And Beth England’s second-half goal was special. So was Drew Spence’s trickery in the middle of the park to get clear of three players and find Rosella Ayane in space. Spence is a player who can drift in and out of games. But in this game she was there, her close ball control on display, the map of her touches showing her influence across the pitch.
So, Spence passed to Ayane. And then, in the most unlikely of redemption arcs, Ayane turned provider. Over four relatively fruitless seasons, Ayane has elicited more groans than cheers from watching supporters. Indeed, across her first 56 games for Spurs, she managed just three goal contributions. But now, in the last three games alone, Ayane has equalled that tally (with one goal and two assists, the second in this game).
Above: Beth England (left) celebrates her sensational match-winner against Leicester CIty. Photo: Guardian.
What came as no surprise to anyone is that Bethany England was the goal-scorer. Since arriving at Spurs, England has bagged four goals in five WSL starts. This, her last and, as she described it, “one of the most important” in her career is undoubtedly the most important since her arrival at Spurs.
It also stands alongside England’s solo effort against Manchester United as a thing of beauty. Against United, she picked up the ball on the halfway line. This time the Lionesses’ attacker received the ball from Ayane further up and on the left. She carried it goalwards, cutting across at the top of the box, and then launched the ball. When she did it was far enough out that there was time to admire the flight, and coo as the ball bent into the far corner of the net. Take it all in.
Then the realisation. England’s roar drowned out by the screams of the sparsely-spread 300 fans who had made it to Brisbane Road on a rail strike-hit Wednesday evening.
After that Spurs had more chances. Celin Bizet rounded the keeper but couldn’t find the target. Ayane’s shot went over. Kit Graham’s went wide. And England shot again, but this time a tame effort, straight at Leitzig. Spurs were on top now, but Leicester were not out of it.
The game went on. Eventually, the clock ticked down through five unbearable minutes of injury time. I reassured myself: “It’s okay. Even if they score now, it’s enough. Say it ends 1-1, at least we’ll get a point. A point would be okay. It would end the run. It would keep us above Leicester in the league table.” So goes the beleaguered fan’s pessimistic reasoning.
But Leicester did not score. Spurs did not concede. The first clean sheet in the WSL since Brighton. In her post-match interview Bethany England said “First and foremost today our goal was, bodies behind the ball and keep a clean sheet. Whatever comes from that afterwards is a bonus.” And that was what happened.
Players, including England, dropped deep to defend or collect the ball. They put their bodies on the line. Kerys Harrop made a ridiculous game-high 10 clearances – most of them finding a Tottenham player in space. Molly Bartrip’s goal-line clearance came just seconds before Spurs’ goal and was as important as England’s strike in determining the outcome. Tinni Korpela was a calming and commanding presence, making saves and claiming the ball without fanfare and, as the minutes ebbed away, slowing things down, being ‘clever’.
And then, finally the whistle.
Whereas the last league win at Brighton back in October had offered up a diverse palate of pleasures with four goals a half, in this game there were just two massive releases: the goal and full-time.
When it was over the emotion was palpable, as players, staff and fans realised the run had ended.
Spurs moved from two to five points above Leicester. And while a win does not guarantee WSL safety – another three points are probably needed for that – a win was necessary. For the mood. For confidence. And because without it there was a real possibility of quietly sliding into relegation.
So where next? There are lots of very good players in the Spurs team and a few excellent ones. But in the season so far, they have too often created ways to lose. Maybe now they will start finding ways to win. If they do, and if winning becomes a habit, it may start to mean less but I think I could live with that.
More immediately, Spurs’ next game is the North London Derby. Last season Spurs took their first point off Arsenal. Will this win act as the springboard for them to repeat or better that achievement? We can only hope so.
Above: Tottenham Hotspur captain Ashleigh Neville celebrates the win after the game. Photo: Spurs Women Blog,
Above: Cyera Hintzen (right) and Hana Lowry celebrate after the American striker scored Perth Glory’s winner. Photo: Perth Glory FC
Wellington Phoenix suffered their sixth 1-nil defeat of the Liberty A-League season at the hands of Perth Glory, with American striker Cyera Hintzen scoring an early goal to secure the win.
A strong first 20 minutes by the visitors was all they needed to secure a goal and hold a lead. The winning strike came from Cyera Hinzten, whose impressive finish after a build up of crisp passing completed a move of quality from the Western Australian side.
Despite dominating possession and creating several scoring opportunities, the Phoenix were unable to convert their plethora of chances into goals, and remain bottom of the ladder. The team’s head coach, Natalie Lawrence, expressed her frustration at their inability to score despite playing attacking football.
“So it’s something that we’ve got to keep working on improving is our composure. We had 11 shots inside the box. There were 24 shots in total. We had similar 28 crosses that’s 60% possession, when you look at those stats, you can’t lose those games. Especially with how tight it is at the bottom.”
Despite the loss, Lawrence was proud of her team’s performance and believes that they are making progress.
“We feel that we’ve shown massive progression from last year and from the beginning of the season. So we’ll keep working really, really hard. Right into the last game for the season.”
Although the Phoenix responded well to going behind, with Paige Satchell causing problems down the flank, they were unable to score despite having 24 shots to the Glory’s eight and delivering 28 crosses into the Perth box. Sarah Langman, the Glory goalkeeper, made several saves to keep a clean sheet, denying multiple Phoenix players. Despite making substitutions and pushing for an equalizer, the Phoenix were unable to find the back of the net and ultimately fell to another narrow defeat.
Perth Glory coach Alex Epakis was a proud man after the game, and recognised the efforts of Wellington Phoenix as well.
“Look, what I would say is that credit has to go to Wellington, I believe we came out and started off the blocks really quickly, in the first 15-20 minutes, we looked really crisp with the ball.
“We got rewarded with a nice goal for that. But then after that, they just sort of took control of the game a little bit. And, you know, they played really well. The way that the team’s evolving and progressing, credit to the staff. But ultimately, what we did show was that relentless desire to just find a way to win, even when you don’t play well, for 90 minutes. And I think that’s the trait of a healthy team.”
The win keeps Perth’s finals hopes mathematically alive, while the Phoenix must regroup before their next game against the Jets.
Above: Kaitlyn Topey and Hannah Wilkinson celebrate City’s late equaliser.Photo: Liberty A-League.
Melbourne City snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat against Sydney FC to maintain their hold on third spot.
Sydney FC welcomed back Nat Tobin to the side, with Rachel Lowe continuing to play in attack in place of the injured Madison Haley.
Melbourne City were missing Rhianna Pollicina, but Young Matilda Daniela Galic returned to the line-up. Coach Dario Vidosic tinkered with the forward line following the defeat in the Melbourne Derby, Bryleeh Henry started on the bench, with Holly McNamara, Hannah Wilkinson, and Maria Rojas making up the front three.
Despite the travel and the heat, Sydney FC controlled the majority of the first half. Lowe and Mackenzie Hawekesby were both mobile and busy, but it was the home side who created the first serious chance of the game.
Holly McNamara is a player who is consistently dangerous on the ball, and her run into the box set up Galic for an opportunity to open the scoring. The playmaker stayed composed amid the traffic and hit a shot from close range low to the near bottom corner. It took a spectacular save from Jada Whyman to deny the goal. Her outstretched hand provided one of the highlights of her season.
Cortnee Vine was providing the biggest threat to City’s defence. The Matildas’ attacker was dominant on her side of the pitch. The battle between her and Julia Grosso was one of the definitive ones of the game, and both players were ready to defend or attack when needed.
Not surprisingly, Vine opened the scoring in the 24th minute. City tend to attack with patience and in numbers, but this can leave them vulnerable if they lose possession. A long direct attack released Vine on the right wing and behind Grosso.
When Cortnee Vine is at full pace and has nothing but space between her and the goal there is very little a goalkeeper can do. If you come out, she can go around you, if you stay on your line, she will just keep coming. Sally James did her best to narrow the angle, but once she committed, Vine slotted the ball beyond her to make it 1-0.
Vine time! ⏱️
Cortnee Vine turns on the jets and finishes off a brilliant counter-attack to give @SydneyFC the lead over @MelbourneCity 🔥
The Sydney FC star continued to threaten throughout the game. Whether she was in space or cutting into crowded areas of the defence, Vine was menacing. After cutting inside she set up Sarah Hunter for a good chance, and the midfielder’s shot was well hit but missed the target.
City’s played with three at the back, and although this was partially the reason Vine had space out wide, it meant that it was hard to find space in front of goal. Naomi Chinnama started for the first time since recovering from a hamstring injury and looked impassable for periods of this game. Even a header against her own post fell fortuitously and harmlessly for her side.
The best chance for City in the first 45 fell to Rojas. A dynamic and explosive run from McNamara found the Chilean striker in space, but she finished the move by attempting to pass across goal when an earlier shot might have caused more problems for Whyman.
The second half continued to be the Vine show, and when she was not bursting into attack, she was setting others on their way.
A casual yet lethal ball put Princess Ibini into space with only James to beat. The prodigious goalkeeper did very well to make herself big and stay on her feet. Ibini was forced wide and the eventual shot hit the side netting.
Vine played an almost identical ball to provide Rachel Lowe with an excellent opportunity to double the lead. James was quick off her line again and the shot was stopped by her foot as she dove across to Lowe’s run to keep her team in the game.
As the game wore on, the heat looked to be a factor, and both teams began to tire. City brought on Darcy Malone and Bryleeh Henry to try and find an equaliser. Sydney FC continued to probe with Ibini’s trademark right foot shot brining the best out of James again.
The game opened up, and City’s method of attack became more direct. This meant that Hannah Wilkinson was more involved with quicker service and Sydney’s one-goal lead started to look tenuous.
Drama at the death! 😱
Kaitlyn Torpey finds a last-gasp equaliser to earn @MelbourneCity a point against @SydneyFC!
A huge result in the race for the Premiers Plate 😮
Nevertheless, it still felt surprising when City finally found an equaliser. Kaitlyn Torpey volleyed home at the far post, meeting an injury-time corner kick directing the ball between multiple Sydney FC defenders. City had spent long periods of this match under attacking pressure and had held on, then taken their opportunity when it arrived.
City almost snatched the win late when Wilkinson cruised into space in the dying seconds. Her shot from the angle was cut off by Whyman but it was a reminder of what that attack can provide when they receive the ball quickly and in space.
The draw means that the ladder positions of either side do not change much. Sydney FC still remain in contention for a third consecutive premiership but have been made to wait at least another few weeks. City look like solid bets for a finals position, but have still not beaten another top-four side this season.
The impressive self-belief and the form of Chinnama and James will be promising signs though. The dramatic late draw will be extremely valuable to the team when the knockout games begin.
Speaking after the game, Sydney FC head coach Ante Juric said: “I am extremely proud of our performance. The girls played with passion and intensity, which is so pleasing as a coach.
“We created lots of opportunities which we did not capitalise on, but I enjoyed the way we attacked and on how we had a willingness to go forward. Unfortunately, we conceded a last-minute goal off a set piece. The one point is still very important at this point of the season. We now focus on the next match and the job at hand in the next few vital weeks.”
SYDNEY FC (4-3-1-2): Whyman, Rule, de la Harpe, Tobin, Green, Hunter, Hollman, Hawkesby, Vine, Lowe, Ibini. Substitutes: Collister, J. Dos Santos, I. Dos Santos, Evans, Offer.
Above: Celebrations for Melbourne Victory after their late leveller at Canberra United today. Photo: Liberty A-League.
Tiff Eliadis’ strike two minutes before the end of normal time gained Melbourne Victory a huge point in the context of the Finals race.
In the battle of the sides who went into the round placed fourth and fifth, Jeff Hopkins’ side knew that avoiding defeat could prove to be decisive in their bid to seal yet another top-four berth.
In an opening that saw both teams feeling each other out, Hayley Taylor-Young was full of intelligent running, and Vesna Milivojević was looking to bring her fellow attackers into the play as Canberra looked to push for a win that would be potentially monumental in their Finals hopes.
However, as the game developed, clear-cut scoring opportunities were few and far between. Both goalkeepers were called into action largely for claiming crosses rather than out and out shot stopping. Victory earned more possession and territory in this spell with the industry of Beattie Goad apparent, along with link-up play between Lia Privitelli and Melina Ayres that was keeping Canberra’s backline busy.
In the final ten minutes of the opening period, with Grace Maher probing, Taylor-Young getting further forward, and Nicki Flannery more involved along the left, Canberra began to trouble the Victory defence with a flurry of chances.
Michelle Heyman held off Claudia Bunge on the right-hand side of the box and fired in a low shot that hit the side netting. Flannery then found Milivojević with a lofted ball over the top that the Victory defence failed to deal with, allowing the Canberra attacker to hit a shot that Casey Dumont did well to tip over.
Above: Ellie Brush, a foundation player at Canberra United, in action during what could be her last A-League Women match at McKellar Park. Photo: Keep Up.
The visiting goalkeeper was called into action again shortly afterwards as Heyman danced her way towards the area on the right and lifted a shot that Dumont had to jump to hold.
Goad served the home side a late reminder deep into first-half stoppage time that the visitors could pose a threat as the Australian international motored along the right wing, turned Taylor-Young, and hit a vicious cross-shot that whistled just beyond the top right-hand corner of the goal.
The momentum remained with Canberra as the second half opened. On the hour mark, Grace Jale received the ball from Holly Murray and lifted a high ball in that Dumont failed to claim, but Milivojević couldn’t pounce.
Just over ten minutes later, Canberra had better luck. Sasha Grove threaded a pass through to Heyman who in turn fed Wu Chengsu, and the Chinese star hit a shot that Dumont repelled at the cost of a corner. Milivojević played it in high from the left, Ellie Brush, in what could be her final appearance at McKellar Park, got a shot in before newly arrived substitute Kennedy Faulknor ghosted between the Victory defenders to see an initial shot come off the post before having the time to tap the rebound home.
The home side continued to press with Wu forcing Dumont into another superb save with nine minutes remaining, and shortly afterwards Jale broke through and side-footed a shot that went agonisingly high and narrowly wide. It was a moment that Canberra would rue.
With two minutes to go, Maja Markovski took the ball out wide to the right and played a clinical low ball into the path of Tiff Eliadis to poke the ball home. This was a huge goal in the context of both teams’ seasons.
Above: Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Casey Dumont making another in a series of fine saves today. Photo: Keep Up.
To further increase Canberra’s frustration, Maher played a long ball through to Milivojević who then found Heyman whose shot incredibly came back off of the right-hand post and rolled along to bounce against the opposite post. Despite five minutes of stoppage time and both sides’ best efforts neither could find the net again.
For Canberra United, this was a heartbreaking outcome. Regardless of the outcome of their appeal against a three-point deduction, this draw, and the stage of the game that the visitors’ goal came, makes this feel like a loss. The gap between them and the last spot in the finals is now five points, and with two games to go, that’s tough to make up. Melbourne Victory have a habit of coming good when it matters.
Above: Melbourne City head coach Dario Vidocic in training. Photo: Melbourne City.
As the Finals loom closer, the competition pressure continues to build. Top four places are looking to be sewn up, and teams in contention are scrapping for every point.
For Melbourne City, they’ve comfortably been near the head of the table for the majority of the campaign, and whilst they haven’t yet clinched a finals berth, it would be surprising if they were to miss out.
Equally as surprising though, is the fact they have yet to beat any of their other top four opponents this season, with another loss, this time to Melbourne Victory, last weekend. It brings their combined record to four losses and a draw against Victory, Western United, and Sydney FC.
“I think it’s just belief,” City head coach, Dario Vidosic, said at his pre-match press conference. “The belief that we can do it, that we can play when the pressure is a little bit higher; it’s a mindset really. I explained to them this morning that we play in much tighter areas, bigger numbers [during training] and they show they’re capable of doing it everyday – it’s not something that we ask that’s beyond their capabilities, they’re all good footballers.
“Regardless who the opposition is, we want to win and play our brand of football; that’s the goal. We can say yes, we’ve played all the other teams in the top four and haven’t won a game. But other than the Sydney game (a 3-0 loss), and the first 20 minutes against Victory, we were the better team.
“Once we went 2-0 down [against Victory], it’s always more difficult. But in the second half I thought we were really good, we still controlled it and created enough chances that on another day you could still win that game. But it’s hard to concede goals and then have to come back. If we started well, it would have been a totally different outcome last weekend, but it is what it is.”
Maria Rojas, also speaking on Friday, conveyed the sense of a missed opportunity within the playing group as well. “Very disappointed, because it was a big game, the derby; as a club, every single game we go for the win,” the Chilean said.
“We do analyse the games, what we do well and don’t do well. This whole week it’s been [about] trying to be positive, to move on, we’ve been working really hard to fix what we need to work on, working on our finishing and getting into those areas. We were probably the better team but at the end of the day what matters is the score, putting the ball in the back of the net.”
“Unfortunately that’s football,” Vidosic continued. “That can happen, where sometimes you deserve it and you win, and other times you don’t deserve to and you still win as well. But the reality is, we haven’t won a game (against the other top-four sides). Tomorrow, we go out, same mentality, we just keep putting pressure.
“It’s just continually a process of improving and continuing to improve how we want to play and dictate games and to win – and a big part is belief. What we ask – to build up, to keep possession, to drag opponents away and then to occupy that space, the different mechanisms we have in our attack and defending – if we put that together then we’re a great team and we can win. But if we go away from that then it’s a flip of a coin.
Above: Maria Rojas who feels she is surrounded by “amazing players”. Photo: Melbourne City.
“I know we’ve got a young squad, and they’re learning, [but] a fantastic opportunity after last weekend. We’ve had an excellent training week, and we’re looking forward to the challenge that Sydney FC will set.”
Both Rojas and Vidosic spent time talking about their attacking play, having had 23 shots last weekend (11 on target) and winning the expected goals battle (1.7 vs Victory’s 1.2), yet not being able to get on the scoresheet. “It’s just practice and a little bit of that composure, where you feel a little bit rushed, a little bit of pressure,” Vidosic explained. “They’re all very good players in our frontline. It’d be more concerning if we didn’t create shots and on another day we’d probably score four or five goals. We can look at the negatives, but there were also a lot of positives.”
Rojas also touched on her and fellow attacker Holly McNamara’s return to the squad after an ACL injury. 20-year-old McNamara has quickly impressed, having been on the sidelines for more than 12 months. “Obviously it takes a little bit of time,” Rojas, herself playing in her second match back for City, said. “With Wilky (Hannah Wilkinson) and Holly (McNamara) we were training a little before I left, but hadn’t played many games (together). But now, trying to work together and seeing how they play, what’s best for the team, that’s what we’ve been working hard on as well this week.
“I think it’s great to have such amazing players, a great team, and hopefully it works out for us. It’s great to have players who drive with the ball; [McNamara’s] quick, and we needed to have someone who plays well with the ball. She has a great intensity and knows how to drive balls into the [penalty] area. We just need to now work as a team. We always want to win, and I’m sure everyone is going to step up.
“For me, I left in December when I went away with Chile, but playing with Melbourne City, with Dario as a coach, for every single player it makes it easier. It’s not just about me, it’s about my team. Wherever I can help – if I need to play in different positions, I will – I’ll do my best. Obviously, I’m just coming back and adapting to what we need to do to make the finals, but I’m happy to be back. Tomorrow is an important game, and hopefully, I’ll bring more goals or assists for the team.”
Melbourne City have an immediate chance to improve their record against the A-League’s top teams, with a home date against Sydney on Saturday. Having been comprehensively beaten in the reverse fixture of this match, City know they’ll need to be at their best to get a result out of the Sky Blues. Having seen the Wellington Phoenix produce an upset against Sydney last weekend, City boss Vidosic knows a win is possible.
“That was probably the worst game of our season,” Vidosic recalled, of their 3-0 loss to Sydney in February. “We went away from our principles and what we’re about. Maybe we showed them a little too much respect that day; we were playing them in their home ground, maybe we put too much pressure on ourselves instead of just playing the game as just another game, another three points. But we’ve learned a lot from that; Sydney are ruthless, if you don’t turn up against them, they’ve got players that are dangerous and can hurt you. I’m expecting a much better performance from us tomorrow against them.
“Wellington deserved their win (last weekend); they fought for everything, they were aggressive, they were searching for a second [goal]. It’s a testament to the quality of the league that although they’re at the bottom, they’re a good team. All in all, every team can have an off-day, [but] we expect and plan for the best Sydney FC tomorrow. That’s why it’s important that you have to be ready, you have to prepare every week to produce your best because if it’s not, it may not be good enough.”
Rojas concurred with her coach’s assessment of their weekend task at hand. “We need to be switched on; we know what Sydney brings, we know how they play,” the forward said. “It’s not just about Sydney though; this week it’s been about trying to connect, trying to fix what we didn’t do last weekend. So we know what we need to do. Sydney are a strong side as well, but we also are very strong – we can play football and we want to show that.”
Melbourne Victory:
Hopkins: It’s a huge game for us
by Kieran Yap
Above: Melbourne Victory boss Jeff Hopkins knows his side face a mini-final when they travel to Canberra United tomorrow. Image: Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory head north to face Canberra United and a win against the fifth-placed side will be a big step towards securing a finals spot.
Following on from their impressive 2-0 win over Melbourne City, head coach Jeff Hopkins did not need to remind his players of the importance of the game. Everybody in the club is well aware that this game is almost a mini-final. Canberra United are five points behind Victory, but have an appeal pending that could see three points reinstated to their tally. The result on Saturday could have a big impact on the season.
“We understand the game tomorrow is going to be another huge game for us and for Canberra as well,” Hopkins told the media. “So we understand what type of game it’s going to be. It’s going to be a game where we have to push ourselves pretty hard physically, and emotionally as well.
“I’ve not needed to mention it. The players are talking about it, they understand. We had these conversations a week or 10 days ago about the next four games being really important.”
Although Victory will be feeling the pressure. Hopkins points out that for Canberra United, a good result is vital. He has encouraged his side to embrace the moment, and after the experience of last season’s title charge, he believes they can rise to the occasion.
“It’s a two-way thing,” he says of Canberra. “I’m sure they’re feeling exactly the same as well. We went into finals (last season) after having a huge run of games in a short time. At times we had to hang on. Other times we were pushed really hard.
“If you push through those games it really hardens you as a team. It gives you a lot of confidence that you know you can push through those harder periods in games. A lot of the time, that’s what finals are about.
“It’s taking advantage of what you do really well but making sure that when you’re under pressure, when the opposition are coming strong that you pull together, and you hold strong. You can often come out of those games stronger than when you went into them.
“You’ve got to embrace the nervousness and that energy. You’ve got to harness that energy and push it into a positive place. You will feel nervous, you will feel a little bit of apprehension… that’s what big games are all about. You’ve hit to embrace that rather than worry or be scared of that.”
Above: Michelle Heyman and Laura Hughes are just two of the threats that Canberra United’s pose to Melbourne Victory tomorrow. Photo: Canberra United.
Standing between Victory and a happy trip home is one of the league’s most feared attacks. Canberra United’s front four are fearsome when in form. They were unlucky not to score in ther last meeting between the two sides. On that day, Victory secured a 1-0 win, due largely to the heroics of Casey Dumont.
“They complement each other pretty well,” says Hopkins of the Michelle Heyman-led attack. They play some good football in their build-up but they are quite direct as well. They’ve got a real purpose about their play.
“We understand that it’s going to take a massive effort from us if we do get something there. It’s a bit of a fortress over there as well.”
Victory’s chances will be buoyed by the return of Jessika Nash. The right-back has been crucial to the way they defend and attack in her first season at the club. She missed the Melbourne Derby after starring for The Young Matildas against Guam and Kyrgyzstan.
Following an almost 30-hour return trip, she was rested for the big win. “She was physically fine last week,” said Hopkins. “The games and the travel back took a fair bit out of her emotionally.
“That was my decision rather than anyone else’s, I had a chat with the girls, (Alana Murphy, Ava Briedis, and Nash). They all put themselves up to play and I made the decision not to play Jess last week. We get a really fresh player coming into the line-up again this week, which is really important.”
With Nash rested last week, Victory shifted midfielder Paige Zois to right back. It was a role she had never played at senior level before, and one she performed excellently. Her spectacular goal aside, she helped Victory keep a clean sheet despite the best efforts of City’s attack of senior capped internationals.
“I thought her performance was fantastic last week,” says Hopkins of Zois’s game. “She came in and did a job in a position she’d never played in before and did a great job.
“She got the goal as well. She’s doing everything I’ve asked of her and she’s making it hard for me not to pick her, which is everything you want from a player coming into the side.”
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Above: Dylan Holmes on the charge for Adelaide United. Photo: Keep Up.
Adelaide United came from two goals down to claim a point at the death against Newcastle Jets in an enthralling encounter at Coopers Stadium.
It didn’t take long for the first goalscoring opportunity. After just two minutes, Fiona Worts was fed by Zoe Tolland and turned two Newcastle defenders and shot, albeit too high. Emily Hodgson gave Worts a second opportunity eight minutes later but the shot was saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Claire Coelho.
However, it was Newcastle that found the breakthrough in the 18th minute, thanks to a well-thought-out sequence of play where Murphy Agnew then crossed the ball for Lucy Johnson to slot home becoming the first Tasmanian to score in the A-League Women in the process.
Adelaide’s profligacy continued when Worts was brought down in the box by Coelho made contact with her in the box with a high leg leading to referee Georgia Ghirardello awarding a penalty in 20th minute and showing the Jets keeper a yellow card for the foul. Maruschka Waldus stepped up and hit a shot towards the bottom left corner, Coelho went the right way to deny the South Australians.
What a ball. What a run. What a finish! 👊
Lauren Allan makes it two for the Jets before the break!
Newcastle punished Adelaide for that miss and doubled their advantage less than 10 minutes later. Emily Garnier’s through ball found Lauren Allan who outpaced the Adelaide defence to shoot beyond Annalee Grove.
In the last minute of stoppage time for the first half, Nanako Sasaki from an Adelaide free kick provided a great cross into the box that found Jenna McCormick at the near post whose header at goal was prevented with another great save by Coelho.
Whilst Jets maintained their two-goal cushion at the break, it took just seven minutes of the second period for Adelaide to get back into the match. Returning Young Matilda Emilia Murray’s cross was aimed for Worts, but instead found the path of scholarship player Katie Bowler whose first-time shot beat Coelho.
Murray proved to be a thorn in the side of Newcastle and she created again shortly afterwards dribbling and cutting in before unleashing a shot that went wide of the goal.
Worts was denied yet again with just over 15 minutes remaining after being played in by Murray but Coehlo saved and then saw the shot come back off the post.
Unbelievable from Emilia Murray! 😮@AdelaideUnited equalise late at Coopers stadium!
Finally, the home side found their equaliser with two minutes remaining. New arrival from NPLW SA club Adelaide Comets, Chrissy Panagaris, crossed for Murray to hit a first-time shot past Coelho into the bottom right corner. It was reward for the youngster’s superb efforts.
It was heartbreaking for Newcastle Jets who know they could find themselves bottom if the table should Wellington Phoenix defeat Perth Glory tomorrow.
Teams: ADELAIDEUNITED(4-3-3): Grove, E. Hodgson, McCormick, Waldus, Tolland, Sasaki, Westland, Holmes, Barbieri, Bowler, Worts. Substitutes: Farrow, Hawyard, I. Hodgson, Murray, Panagaris.
Above: Today’s gathering announcing Australia will host the IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships with ParaMatildas, ParaRoos, and officials present. Photo: Mark Avellino/Football Australia.
by Ben Gilby (17/3/23).
Australia has been confirmed as the host of the men’s and women’s 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships (Para Asian Cup) following a decision made by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football.
It will be the first time ever a women’s Para Asian Cup competition will be contested and will also mark the first time the men’s and women’s Para Asian Cup will be held at the same time.
The tournament will take place at the newly constructed Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University in Melbourne from 31 October – 12 November 2023 – further extending the amount of top-level women’s football competition taking place in Australia this year.
Speaking at the announcement that the tournament will be coming to Melbourne, ParaMatildas star Nicole Christodoulou said: “I’m still pinching myself that I’m a ParaMatilda. It is the most amazing thing in the whole world. We’re a team full of players, and to be here today, hosting the tournament for our families to be able to come and watch is amazing.
Above: ParaMatilda Nicole Christodoulou speaking at today’s media event. Photo: Mark Avellino/Football Australia.
“To have the support of the Australian people means the world to us. It means people with disabilities can flourish and be the best they can as humans. We are delighted we can provide a service to our country. We are very, very thankful.”
Christodoulou has long been an advocate for using sport to push her development and ability both in daily life and in all-round wellbeing. It was a theme she returned to so eloquently today.
“I was looking for acceptance, and to lose half my body, to lose me, I needed to find myself again. I had this thing in my brain – can I feel that emotion again when I play football? I do. I can do it now! I’ve learned so much about myself. From becoming a ParaMatilda a year ago to now, I am very thankful that opportunities can be provided to the 4.4 million people around the country (living with a disability) that would not have had this opportunity.”
“To be part of this – we’ll have young girls with CP, or brain injuries, or strokes looking up to us, having something to work towards, to have a purpose. Football is not just a sport, it is a way of life. If I didn’t have football, I wouldn’t have the things I also do in my life. It’s helped me physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“We are quality footballers. Just because we have a disability doesn’t mean we are not talented because we are!”
Above: Tahlia Blanchard – one of the stars of last year’s IFCPF World Cup – speaking to the media. Image: Football Australia.
Fellow ParaMatilda Tahlia Blanchard underlined the enormity of today’s announcement and what it means. “I was lucky enough to make my debut at the World Cup last year, which was an incredible experience. I would classify myself as someone relatively new to the sport, having my first introduction to CP football at the end of 2018. Now announcing a home Para Asia Cup is just incredible. I’m so excited that we can have everyone here to celebrate this occasion.
“This is such a big deal. My family hasn’t had the opportunity to watch me play this game besides on live streams. It’s incredible for the whole squad to have the opportunity to play in front of friends and families.”
Blanchard, who was one of the players of the tournament in last year’s inaugural IFCPF Women’s World Cup emphasised the wider importance of Australia hosting the Para Asian Cup.
“This is a major event for cerebral palsy sport and…many people are going to find this sport and find us through this event, and that’s something that is really important. I know that I didn’t have many people that I saw in the media when I was growing up that looked like me, and that made it hard. You can’t be who you can’t see.
“I’m really grateful that I was able to find my way into this sport, and it means a lot to me, and it will mean so much to the next generation as well. I believe that this can lead to more change. It means a lot to the greater disabled community. I’m proud to stand here as a cerebral palsy athlete.
“Cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and stroke will now be talked about in Australian households and also we can continue the work to make this place a better and more inclusive world.”
“This will be an opportunity to grow the fan base and I can’t wait to see the stands full of people wanting to watch cerebral palsy football.”
Above: Nicole Christodoulou in action for the ParaMatildas at last year’s IFCPF Women’s World Cup. Photo: Marianna Galanoupoulos/Football Australia.
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson spoke of how excited his organisation is to deliver a game-changing tournament for Asia-Pacific’s para footballers.
“Football Australia is thrilled and honoured to have won the hosting rights for this historic tournament in 2023. We have a team within our organisation that is committed to para football and know we can deliver a tournament that demonstrates our passion, respect, and drive towards ensuring footballers of all abilities can proudly represent Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,” Johnson said.
“To host a historic first-ever women’s Para Asian Cup will follow our co-hosting of a historic Women’s World Cup and part of our strategic vision through Legacy ‘23 to transform how women and girls in Australia see the full potential available to them through football.”
“This will be a tournament delivered at a scale to elevate para football and provide current and new fans with another memorable and empowering experience while growing access to the game for players of all abilities.”
The ParaMatildas are Australia’s national teams for footballers with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms of stroke. The two teams represent 4.4 million Australians living with disability.
CP is the most common disability in childhood, football is the most popular sport in the country with this tournament providing an opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the ability of para footballers to create a new generation of Australian sporting heroes.
The ParaMatildas will be highly fancied to succeed in the tournament after they finished as runners-up to the USA in the inaugural IFCPF World Cup last year.
The Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Federal Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services welcomed the announcement of the tournament being staged in Australia saying: “The International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football Asian Oceania Championship will showcase Australia as an exemplar of sporting prowess and inclusion. I congratulate everyone involved.”
Above: Tahlia Blanchard in action for the ParaMatildas at the IFCPF Women’s World Cup last year. Photo: Marianna Galanoupoulos/Football Australia.
On International Women’s Day, Impetus announced its sponsorship ofAberystwyth Townstarlet Modlen Gwynne and Ella Thomas. To launch our sponsorship of Modlen, the youngster answered Ben Gilby‘s questions(16/3/23).
Above: Modlen Gwynne, Impetus’ newest sponsored player. Photo: Aberystwyth Town Women.
Modlen Gwynne is one of a talented crop of young locally produced players at Adran Premier side Aberystwyth Town who have been handed an opportunity to experience first-team football in the top tier of the Welsh club game this season.
Despite being just 15 years of age, Modlen has had the football bug for as long as she can remember, as she explained to Impetus.
“I’ve always loved football from a very young age and was drawn to play with the boys every lunchtime in primary school and every night in my back garden. I started training and playing for Y Celtiaid Juniors in 2014 (under eights) and played every Saturday in the Aberystwyth Junior Football League.
“I continued to play for Y Celtiaid for the U9s, U10s, and U11s. By then I was the only girl on the team. I then joined Celtiaid Ystwyth and then moved to Llanilar Sharks for the 2019-20 season that was cut short due to Covid-19. From an early age, I was also a member of the Aberystwyth Girls Development and Centre of Wales Excellence which I really enjoyed, it gave me the opportunity to learn the more tactical side of football and helped me develop my skills.”
At this stage, Modlen began to receive recognition for her huge potential as a footballer. “In 2019 I won the Under 12s Player of the Season 2018-19 in the Aberystwyth Junior League. It was the first time ever in the history of the league that two girls, myself and Elan Jones who I am currently playing with now for the U19 and Seniors, were nominated in the top two spots. It was an extremely proud moment for us both!”
Describing herself as “a player that’s committed to the game and willing to learn from my mistakes,” Modlen thoroughly enjoys the tactical side of the game “just as much as scoring goals and striving to have a better understanding of the game every day. One of my strengths is my physicality and attitude on the pitch. I am a strong team player, and I feel that I can read games well.”
Above: Modlen Gwynne (left) with Ella Thomas (right), who Impetus also sponsors. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Aberystwyth Town Women.
Impetus’ newest sponsored player has also experienced some real setbacks in her embryonic career that she has had to bounce back from.
“In October 2020 I took a break from football as I suffered a form of kidney failure. It took me some time to get over, but I decided to try and return and I began training and playing for Aberystwyth U16 Development squad while continuing with Llanilar Sharks, unfortunately, I found it difficult to love football again and reach the form I was in before and decided to stop playing in winter 2021.
During the summer of 2022, I watched the women’s Euros and it inspired me to come back and play again. I returned to Aberystwyth U16 Development squad in September 2022, and although it was difficult as I had not played consistent football since before covid, I worked hard to improve my fitness levels and improve my game.
“In February this year, I attended the FAW Centre at Colliers Park Wrexham to be assessed so that I could play senior football. I passed and subsequently signed for Aberystwyth Town at the age of 15. This also allowed me to play in the Genero Adran South U19 league for Aberystwyth Town and I have found myself improving every game, scoring five times in the last four games and we are having a successful run of five games unbeaten (one draw and four wins).
“I made my first seniors start for Aberystwyth Town in the Genero Adran Trophy semi-final against Cardiff Met in February 2023. I played nearly 60 minutes, and although we lost 3-0, it was an absolutely amazing experience, one I will never forget. Since then, I have made appearances against Pontypridd United in a disappointing 2-1 defeat and against Barry Town United in an excellent 3-0 win, and I am eager and excited to make many more appearances in the future.”
Modlen has sport in her blood and was inspired by her father’s achievements in rugby union. “He was a great rugby player, he played for Aberystwyth RFC and Llandovery RFC. In 2007 he won Man of the Match at the Millennium Stadium in the Konica Minolta Cup Final against the Cardiff Blues. He would take me to rugby and football training, to play cricket, and to cross-country competitions every week.
“He inspired me to become a better athlete and gave me the mindset to reach my potential. Mum would say “try your best”, and Dad would say “you can beat them.” He died suddenly in 2016, but I know he would be so proud of my hard work, my achievements, and the journey that I’m on.”
The youngster also has had the hugely important role model of an excellent female coach in her early days – something that Modlen greatly appreciates.
Above: Modlen Gwynne in action for Aberystwyth Town against Pontypridd United on her Adran Premier debut for the club. Photo: Steve Williams. Supplied to Impetus by: Aberystwyth Town Women.
“Menna Williams, Celtiaid Juniors coach was the one that encouraged me to join Y Celtiaid at seven years old. I remember the day she asked me. She was so inspirational as a coach, it was great as a young girl to have a woman train us, as the only girl in the team, she really motivated me. In my early days at the Aberystwyth Girls Development Centre, Bryn McGilligan Oliver helped me a lot to develop my foundational football skills, he opened my eyes to the potential I had and showed me what would be possible.”
Modlen also appreciates the influences of the club’s U19 manager in her development. “Roy Tourle has also helped me immensely as a player and encouraged me so much along my journey. He is always so positive and tells me I have the potential to go a long way and has been there since my time with Y Celtiaid and with Aberystwyth U16 development. I have a lot to thank him for, his encouragement gave me the confidence to take the opportunity to train with the U19s and to move up to the Seniors. He has been crucial in my development and journey and has allowed me to reach my current form.
“In 2014, when I was in the Girls Development Centre, at seven years old I had the opportunity to be a mascot and now I’m playing with them, it’s a dream come true!
“The senior players have welcomed us into the squad and have inspired and motivated us to play and keep on improving. This has been especially true for me as I have looked up to them since being a seven-year-old mascot and wanting to be like them. And now I’m here, playing with them, I feel grateful for this opportunity.”
For Modlen to be playing first-team football in Wales’ highest league at the age of 15 is something special. To be doing it just a matter of months after returning to the sport after a spell away only highlights the scale of what the youngster has achieved.
“As this is my first full season back in a very long time, it feels like everything has been moving so fast. I now feel settled in and enjoying my football with the U19s, however, senior football wasn’t entirely on my radar. But, the opportunity came, and I took it with both hands, and with that came a lot of pressure and nervous emotion.
“I think that was one of the biggest step-ups, the difference in mentality and physicality of playing for the first team comes with a lot of challenges, but I think I do quite well to handle them, and not let them get the best of me. This is mainly because I always tell myself on the pitch that it’s no different to playing in my back garden, the park, at school, or in a training session.
“As long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll be fine. The game is also at a much faster pace and the players are much stronger as they’re older. I’m currently working on improving my fitness which will, in the long run, improve my game.”
Above: Modlen Gwynne warming up ahead of her first-team league debut. Photo: Steve Williams. Supplied to Impetus by: Aberystwyth Town Women.
As well as coming to terms with senior football, Modlen is also approaching her GCSE exams – providing her with yet more hurdles to overcome. “The main challenge is finding the time to revise as I want to prioritise football in every situation, but unfortunately can’t do that as although my mum is extremely supportive, she would not be too happy!
“As I’m training twice a week and playing games for the U19 and seniors weekly finding time in between all of that can be challenging but it is manageable so far as I’m two or three months away from our final exams. I’m extremely excited for a more flexible academic timetable next year that allows me to combine my studies with my football endeavours.”
The Aberystwyth Town starlet is hugely grateful to Impetus for sponsoring her and highlighted the positive impact it will have on her. “It’s really exciting to have my first sponsor! I’m really grateful to Impetus for their interest and support which means I can work hard on my game as well as my school studies and not need to pay for anything football-related. I’m looking forward to next season already.”
However, there are still a few games of this season remaining, and Modlen has set some goals to achieve before 2022/23 comes to an end.
“I hope to keep on scoring goals and winning games with the U19 squad as we are aiming high. As well as playing weekly for the U19s, I’m of course aiming for many more appearances with the first team and to keep on improving as a player so I can secure my place in future seasons.
“I would love to keep on improving as a player and become the best that I can be, to go as far as I can, to make Aberystwyth proud.”
One thing is sure, everyone at Impetus is extremely proud of Modlen Gwynne already and we can’t wait to join her journey at Aberystwyth Town.
Artwork: Steven Brookes. Supplied to Impetus by: Aberystwyth Town Women.
Rachel Lara Cohen reflects on the circumstances that led to Rehanne Skinner departing from the post of Tottenham Hotspur boss this week (16/3/23)
Above: Rehanne Skinner who has left her post as Tottenham’s head coach. Photo: The Telegraph.
Spurs lost their ninth straight game on Sunday at Liverpool. The next day head coach Rehanne Skinner was removed from her post. Skinner had led the team to its highest-ever WSL finish of fifth last season and had done a lot behind the scenes to professionalise and resource the women’s team, but no one’s going to survive that kind of form. Not with Spurs now sitting just two points off relegation.
This is the story of how we got here.
Before things went off the rails there was Brighton away. Spurs’ biggest-ever win in the WSL: eight goals, five scorers, players coming back from injury. Ashleigh Neville, Jess Naz, and Drew Spence each getting a brace. Things had never looked brighter (to make a bad pun).
Above: Before it went wrong, there was Brighton. Photo: Spurs Women
Before Brighton, the season had started with Spurs narrowly beating lower-ranked teams Leicester City, Reading, and Liverpool, each time playing well in the first halves and fading but hanging on after the break. There had been games when Tottenham had lost decisively without scoring to top four teams Arsenal and Manchester City. But none of that seemed cause for concern. Spurs were what people expected of them, a mid-table team, that found it difficult to score sometimes.
And then came Brighton. Goals and more goals. Optimism abounded. But instead of it heralding a new beginning it turned out to be the end of the beginning.
Maybe the first bad sign came the very next week, with the postponement of the match against Everton at home, a game that was billed as the first good test of how Spurs might do against tougher mid-table opposition.
The pitch was waterlogged. Can’t be helped. But so much for momentum. Instead, there was an international break and, a few weeks later, momentum gone, Chelsea away.
1: Chelsea Away
Playing the reigning champions at Stamford Bridge surrounded by hostile fans was never going to be easy. And so it proved. Skinner’s side had no out-and-out striker. Instead, Naz played up front, not her most effective position. There were moments when Tottenham were in the game. But Chelsea scored three times in 24 minutes in the first half and that was it. There were signs that the team had regressed in comparison to the two games played against Chelsea at the end of the previous season. But this was Chelsea. There was no real cause for alarm.
2: Reading Away
This was the first indication that it was not business as usual. Spurs had already played Reading away in the Conti Cup and were easily the better team that day, despite letting the Berkshire side back into the game in the second half and conceding a penalty in the final minutes.
In this WSL encounter, things were very different. For the whole first half, Reading dominated: they were first to balls and looked more confident and fitter. The goal which sealed a 1-0 loss was, however, a defensive fiasco – the first but by no means the last witnessed this season. Becky Spencer made a save and Amy Turner then headed the ball back at her and into the goal. Omnishambles.
Above: One of many mistakes. Own goal against Reading. Photo: Spurs Women.
In the second half, with the introduction of Kerys Harrop and Chioma Ubogagu on the wing Spurs created more chances, but there was no comeback.
3: West Ham at Home
For the second game in a row, Rehanne Skinner started Rosella Ayane at centre-forward. Spurs played better than against Reading. But as in the previous three outings, could not find the back of the net. Then, just before half time, West Ham got a penalty. When they missed it seemed like things might still go the home side’s way. Only for the team to concede minutes after halftime. As individual players tried to equalise there were a number of shots from distance, but nothing quite worked.
And then, as Spurs pushed up, West Ham scored a second almost directly from a Tottenham free kick, with Cissoko breaking from the halfway line while Tottenham centre-backs were stranded up the pitch tearing back, and Becky Spencer in goal was caught off her line. And that was that. Except that in the rush back to clear Molly Bartrip hurt her wrist.
4: Everton at Home
Until the game against Liverpool, this was the nadir.
It was the rearranged game that had initially been scheduled for the week after Spurs played Brighton – a time when everything seemed possible. In the event, it was played on a frozen pitch on a snowy Wednesday in December. In case the weather and the timing were not discouraging enough the game coincided with rail strikes and the men’s world cup semi-Final. And so it was that only about 100 fans were there to see Spurs’ season self-destruct.
All the problems that had marked the previous two games surfaced here. Players lacked ideas on the ball, could not move it forward, and consistently seemed to be two steps slower than the opposition. Everton scored early and then on 36 minutes keeper, Becky Spencer, attempted to dribble around Jess Park who stole the ball and shot into an empty net. By halftime, 2-0 down, it felt over. Tottenham had not scored in three games prior to this game and there was little sign that they would here. Skinner made substitutions, but little changed.
To make matters worse Jessica Naz, who had come on as substitute for Nikola Karczewska, who not up to playing 90 minutes at that point in the season, went off in obvious pain, with an unidentified injury that has kept her out of the team ever since. Then, in injury time Ashleigh Neville dribbled across the front of Spurs’ goal, got pulled back by an Everton player, stayed up but slightly lost control of the ball, and in trying to retrieve it slid in on an Everton player receiving a red card. Oh, and Everton scored a third in the 95th minute.
So that was it. In one miserable evening Spurs played horrible football, suffered a humiliating defeat, and lost two players through injury and suspension. Happy Christmas.
5: Aston Villa Away
This was the start of the new year and the start of hope. Spurs had signed Bethany England. The team had struggled for goals for much of the 2021-22 season and for the first half of the current season, with Karczewska only sometimes available and Kyah Simon injured. So bringing in a prolific goal-scorer was potentially a game-changer.
Above: Bethany England brought hope. Photo: Girls on the Ball.
Surely? After all, the reasoning went: In the previous four games Spurs had not scored, so this must be the solution.
As the game started it seemed like it might be a new Spurs. The team went ahead, against the run of play in the first half. England scored. A goal! It worked.
Then ten minutes later Aston Villa were 2-1 up. Spurs were too easily undone. Kenza Dali, Kirsty Hanson, and Villa’s new signing from Arsenal, Jordan Nobbs, were dominating midfield.
Things improved in the second half after a couple of enforced changes, notably Kerys Harrop on for Amy Turner, which meant Asmita Ale moved to right back and Harrop went at left back and Eveliina Summanen and Celin Bizet on for Chioma Ubogagu and Cho So-hyun. But there was not another goal.
As the game ended it was hard to know what to think. Maybe there were green shoots (a goal) but clearly there was a way to go.
6: Chelsea at Home
This game was the second time that the North Londoners played Chelsea in a week. The first, in the Conti Cup, they lost 3-1. This one Spurs lost again: 3-2. But they were in it. Some of the time at least. Especially in comparison to the game back in November when the team had no response to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
With a squad that now contained both England and Mana Iwabuchi, on loan from Arsenal, and with Neville back from suspension, this was the game that fans had been waiting for. And, for moments at least, those watching could imagine what might be possible. Passes were effective in progressing the ball. Players found space and found one another in space.
And there were goals. The first showed the potential of a Drew Spence – Beth England combination, with Ash Neville starting the move. But it was not just about England. There was a lovely Eveliina Summanen-Nikola Karczewska combination for the second goal, reversing the assist-scorer roles they had played in the previous week’s Conti Cup game against London City Lionesses. And with the score at 3-2, watching fans could at least hope for a last-minute equaliser. Not that one came.
7: Manchester United Home
This game both surpassed and then fell short of expectations. Most Spurs fans went in expecting a loss, playing a high-flying United team at the top of the table. So when the team went a goal down it was disappointing but not unforeseen.
Then the equaliser: Beth England’s glorious solo goal from a cleverly taken quick free kick. Tottenham were back in it. Until, only seconds later United went ahead again, Lucia breaking down the right almost from kick-off, crossing the ball, and Molly Bartrip, who thought she had Leah Galton on her shoulder, sliding it into the net. Not Bartrip’s fault. These things happen. But it was a sign of Spurs’ poor game management. Why had they not taken a minute before the restart? How could they switch off?
And then, Manchester United’s Ella Toone got sent off (won’t go into that here because it’s been discussed). With a player advantage and fifteen minutes to play, Rehanne Skinner subbed on Angharad James, a defensive midfielder. Why? There was an extra striker on the bench.
So, when the game ended 2-1 it was the hope that made it worse. Of all the games since Christmas, this was perhaps the one in which the opportunities were the most obvious. For a draw at least.
8: Manchester City Away
No Bethany England. She had been out with an undisclosed injury the previous week as well and missed a long goalless FA Cup game against Reading that Spurs had (yup) lost on penalties.
After that game, there were questions about whether Tottenham without England could even score. No one was optimistic. And if Chelsea and United had seemed like uphill battles Manchester City with a Bunny Shaw, Chloe Kelly, and Lauren Hemp frontline seemed a lot. Yes, the North London side had won away at City in last year’s WSL. But they had also been thumped at City in the Conti Cup Semi-Final last spring and had gone on to lose to them at home earlier this season 3-0.
So when Celin Bizet scored on the half-hour, coming in late on a Rosella Ayane cross, giving Spurs took the lead, it seemed both miraculous and maybe like history could repeat itself. Until just before halftime when the visitors conceded. And then, just after half-time, they conceded again. From 1-0 up on the 45th minute, Tottenham were 2-1 down in the 47th.
As the second half continued Spurs had chances but City dominated. And even though there had been a few opportunities to equalise, Bunny Shaw’s third goal, in the 83rd minute, was not a surprise.
Photo: Celin Bizet scores at Manchester City. Photo: Spurs Women
9: Liverpool Away
This was the end. For Rehanne Skinner at least. A subsequent vital midweek win over fellow strugglers Leicester City also would bring an end to the losing run.
It was clear to everyone that this game would be critical. It was the first since January’s additions of Iwabuchi and England in which Spurs did not face a top-four opponent. While it is understandable to play well and still lose against Manchester City, this game was only ever going to be about the result. Moreover, Spurs had beaten Liverpool 1-0 in the reverse fixture for their only WSL home win up to that point.
As the game kicked off, Liverpool dominated, winning challenges, seemingly faster, more technical. Then, as against Villa and Chelsea, Spurs went ahead against the run of play. This time with a Rosella Ayane banger. It was the kind of goal that – almost – justifies a manager’s otherwise unfathomable trust in a forward who heretofore had two outfield goals in four years at Spurs, and who misplaces passes with depressing regularity.
But that was a false dawn. In under 20 minutes, the team were behind. Liverpool scored a ‘lucky’ goal and a potentially ‘offside’ goal. But the result did not feel lucky. Liverpool, like Reading, way back in November, seemed to have Spurs’ number. They were hungrier and better equipped to compete for the ball.
And at the back Spurs’ defence, missing Shelina Zadorsky, and for the first time in months, arranged in a back four, exposed Amy Turner, who was lucky not to pick up a second yellow after repeatedly tussling with players who seemed able to beat her with ease.
Meanwhile, the endlessly adaptable Ashleigh Neville looked at times like she thought she was meant to be playing at wing-back, driving forward and then having to chase back, not always successfully. Undoubtedly she wanted to make things happen and felt constrained.
Yet it was only when Asmita Ale, criminally under-used, was brought on as an 80-something-minute substitute that Neville was pushed forward. Why this move was not made earlier is unclear, given that Neville is one of Spurs’ top scorers this season.
Meanwhile, Celin Bizet, excellent against Manchester City, was another late substitute. And Eveliina Summanen, a key part of the Spurs midfield in the games in which the team played their best football (Chelsea, Manchester United), returned from suspension as a second-half substitute.
Aftermath
And that was that. After nearly 24 hours of silence, the club posted on its social media accounts that Rehanne Skinner had left the club.
Skinner’s departure is sad. Anyone who followed Spurs last season when she led a team that never gave up and over-performed expectations will have a long-lasting soft spot for her as a head coach. Since going, she has made a very heartfelt statement about her time at and relationship with the club. There have been messages from players about how much she supported them. We have repeatedly heard about the changes and professionalisation she fought for and won at Spurs. There is a reason the club was so keen that she extend her contract last summer. Her legacy is going to be felt for a long while.
But the nine losses were bad. They were undoubtedly made worse by injuries and scheduling – and a run of games against big teams at a point at which Spurs were actually improving. But there were mistakes, initially an inability to score and then an inability to hold a lead and there were periods of bad football (the pre-Christmas run; this last game against Liverpool) that were not fun to watch and highlighted a raft of unaddressed issues.
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