Each week during the home and away season, Impetus’ writing and photography team covering the A-League Women will nominate a player, coach, and event of the week. We’ll keep a tally of the player and coach votes as the weeks go by, and just before the Finals, will announce our winners for 2022/23 (2/1/23)
Player of the Week:
Above: Casey Dumont – the undisputed choice of our contributors as the A-League Women’s player of the week. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
BEN GILBY:Casey Dumont. An absolute supershow from the Melbourne Victory goalkeeper. With potentially the third goalkeeping spot up for grabs in the Matildas World Cup squad, Dumont’s display should be alerting Tony Gustavsson and his coaching team.
KIERAN YAP:Casey Dumont. Canberra United are a relentless attacking team this season. Victory’s win was due largely to a series of one-on-one saves by the star goalkeeper. It’s hard to think of a better individual performance this season.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS:Casey Dumont of Melbourne Victory. The way that she played against Canberra really proved beneficial for Victory in the final result. Whenever required in the match, she ensured that no matter how many times Canberra tried to score, she was able to successfully deny them.
BEN CAREY:Casey Dumont. She made seven saves against a very aggressive Canberra and kept her third clean sheet of the season, which is the most in the league.
Coach of the Week:
Above: Newcastle Jets head coach Ash Wilson was the choice of both Bens as their coach of the week. Photo: Newcastle Jets.
BEN GILBY:Ash Wilson. Newcastle Jets have been hugely enjoyable to watch this season. They’ve scored a lot of goals and conceded even more. However, their win over a strong Adelaide United team, who appear Finals bound at Number Two Sportsground was magnificent. The task for Wilson now is to ensure her talented side build on this win. There have been too many false dawns in recent years.
KIERAN YAP:Mark Torcaso. Western United are not riding momentum, they are not just in good form. This is a well-prepared, well-organised side that are all on the same page. Five wins in a row with a tough travel schedule is no fluke. This was one of their best. Even through the chaos of the game against Perth, they stayed in control of their own game plan,
RYAN MILLER-WOODS:Mark Torcaso of Western United. There really aren’t many better combinations at the moment than Mark Torcaso and Western United. Their performance against Perth Glory to come from behind to get their fifth straight win to remain undefeated in their inaugural season was seriously impressive. He truly has them playing in such a way that even when behind in a match, they are still able to find a way to keep in the fight no matter what.
BEN CAREY:Ash Wilson. Leading Newcastle Jets to a convincing win against Adelaide United was an impressive achievement.
Event of the Week:
Above: Casey Dumont saving from Nikki Flannery was a key factor in two of our contributors choosing the Melbourne Victory v Canberra United game as their Event of the Week. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
BEN GILBY:Perth Glory v Western United. An absolute cracker as the first game of 2023. Whilst as a fanatical Perth fan, losing a 2-1 lead hurt, it can’t be denied that this was a fantastic game of football. Western United are a heck of a team. The fact that they’ve won every match they have played in their inaugural season despite only having played one game at home all season so far is scary in terms of what potentially they can achieve.
KIERAN YAP: Can I mention Casey Dumont again? Her close-range save at the feet of Nikki Flannery was brilliant and crucial. It looked like a certain goal.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS:Brianna Edwards‘s crucial save to deny Bethany Gordon in the final minutes of Wellington Phoenix against Western Sydney Wanderers. The reaction was really something else and proved to be an incredibly crucial save for Wellington to ensure they gained their first point of this season.
BEN CAREY:Melbourne Victory v Canberra United. What an exciting match full of amazing individual performances, attempts on goals, and fantastic saves from both keepers.
Graphic by: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Ben Gilby reports on the post-match media conferences given by Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis and Western United boss Mark Torcaso, along with Tom McCarthy‘s photo gallery from Macedonia Park (2/1/23).
Above: Sofia Sakalis is sent flying by a challenge against Western United yesterday. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis spoke of his frustration in letting a lead slip twice as his side went down 3-2 to unbeaten Western United on New Year’s Day.
“It’s disappointing not to get something at least. I thought some of our players had their best games of the season, but it’s just these moments in the contests that are hurting us, not going our way.
Above: Cyera Hintzen – who Perth Glory had coach Alex Epakis felt had one of her best games of the season yesterday. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
“Sofia Sakalis is really growing into that position out wide. Cyera Hintzen, Ella Mastrantonio put in a good shift. There were eight or nine players who really put their hand up and put in a great shift. That’s why it’s frustrating as I know they are hurting…It’s important for Hana to get that goal and get the monkey off her back. She’s been putting them away in training.”
The Glory started the season being punished for starting games slowly. Whilst that has been rectified in recent weeks, Epakis recognises that his team’s struggles in putting together 90 minute performances this season are hurting them.
“We weren’t perfect and we get punished for not being punished. We had a really good start. It creates momentum. We also want to finish well and play for 90 minutes. We are tough to break down in general play. It’s just a couple of set-piece moments and in broken play that we look a bit open. That’s a focus point for us and we will continue to develop. We are progressing as a team, but we don’t have as much to show for it as we would like.”
The Perth head coach identified the specific challenges that having a home venue that is as notorious for windy weather as Macedonia Park entails: “It’s two different playing styles. You have to have two different game plans and this is consistent. The wind plays a factor. I can’t do much about it, but we do adjust things at half time depending on whether we have the wind (in our favour).”
Above: Ella Mastrantonio (right) who won praise for her performance from Alex Epakis. Here, she tracks back against Western United’s Emma Robers. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
The defeat leaves Perth Glory third bottom in the A-League Women with a win and two draws to show for their opening seven matches – seven points outside a place in the Finals which many predicted the Western Australians to be chasing. Whilst Epakis recognises that the points tally is not what was hoped for, he is looking at bigger scene.
“We just have to look at the picture that is today and the picture that is tomorrow, not far ahead. We’re not where we want to be points-wise currently, but there is no other solution but to get better internally. The tide will turn, some of those moments will start going for us, we just have to make sure we are focussed on that.”
Torcaso on fighting back amidst the Macedonia Park “mayhem”
Above: Western United goalkeeper Hillary Beall makes a save amidst what head coach Mark Torcaso described as the “mayhem” yesterday. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Western United head coach Mark Torcaso spoke of his deep pride in the way his team fought back from adversity twice to gain victory at Perth Glory on New Year’s Day.
“It’s unbelievable. That game describes where we are as a team and as a club. We just fight. Each week we don’t look at anything other than the next game. We focus on each week as it comes.”
Reflecting specifically on the match which Torcaso described as “Mayhem!” he said, “We knew it was going to be a tough game, a couple of hours on a plane. They are a good side, their coach is building a team over the past few years. I didn’t think it would be that dramatic!”
Despite Perth’s difficult start to the season results-wise, the Western United boss was not surprised by the challenges that the Glory gave his team.
“We expected Perth to come at us. They have some individuals that I know well from Victoria. They are a good team. We had to be ready for whatever came. At half-time, I just said, lets just come away with a good result. It was about us fighting and staying in the game. These girls fight for each other, they dig deep.”
Above: Hannah Keane – whose importance to Western United was emphasised by Mark Torcaso after the match, shields the ball from Liz Anton yesterday. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Torcaso was thrilled by Hannah Keane’s performance, highlighting the influence be believes she has on the team. “Hannah Keane is a special player. She has experience in Europe. I’ve known her for about eight years and I wanted to get her into this team straight away. Hannah is critical for our side. She is quick, she is powerful, and she is big. She has a fantastic shot on her. She causes defences a lot of problems. She’ll claim that last goal every day!”
Speaking once more about the balancing act involved in getting his Matildas star Chloe Logarzo game time, Torcaso revealed that whilst limiting her initial load and managing minutes is the primary concern, he also recognises that players who have started Western United’s winning start also deserve to keep their spots.
“Chloe wanted to start (on New Year’s Day), but she has a few weeks probably to go yet. She was ready today, but we are looking after her. We hadn’t lost a game going into today, so we’ve got to make sure we owe the players who are doing a job. Chloe is a fighter but she understands where she is at. She is driven about being ready for the World Cup.”
Tom McCarthy’s photo gallery from Macedonia Park:
Graphic by: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Above: Wellington Phoenix celebrate home town hero Michaela Robertson’s goal that put them ahead. Photo: A-League Women.
Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers shared the points in a tight match that could have either way thanks to goals by Michaela Robertson and Sheridan Gallagher.
Wellington had the best of it early on. An inception by Grace Wisnewski saw her find debutant Milly Clegg whose shot just went wide for a Western Sydney goal kick.
Clegg had another chance when, via a free kick by Saskia Vosper, her effort was blocked out by Clare Hunt for a corner. Michaela Foster’s flag kick curled towards Alexia Apostolakis and forced Jordyn Bloomer to somehow prevent a goal from being scored on the line as she pushed the ball away for another corner.
Western Sydney Wanderers came close in the 13th minute when Marisa Van der Meer’s backpass to Brianna Edwards was pounced on by former Nix player Cushla Rue who got in a first-time shot at goal in the box which went just went wide of the post.
Above: Wellington Phoenix debutant Milly Clegg was well involved all afternoon. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.
Wanderers used this as the starting point for a flurry of opportunities. A beautiful through ball by Hunt in the 18th minute found Sheridan Gallagher, but after pushing Van der Meer to the ground found Rue, but a poor first touch of the ball allowed the Wellington defence to clear the ball away.
In the 38th minute, Bethany Gordon’s superb effort from outside the box that forced Nix keeper Edwards into an amazing save to put the ball over the bar.
Within three minutes the game’s opening goal was scored. The home side earned a corner which was guided in by Foster. Bloomer tried to punch the ball clear, but only managed to push it up into the air to Wisnewski whose header hit the bar and fell for Wellington-born Michaela Robertson to hit first time into the net.
Western Sydney was able to equalise in the second half in the 60th minute thanks to a great sequence of play by Malia Steinmetz who passed the ball forward to Amy Harrison who then fed a crucial through ball into the box that found the feet of Gallagher with her first-time shot going under Edwards and into the back of the net.
There was one final chance that went the way of the visitors five minutes into stoppage time. Harding crossed the ball into the box, it was headed away initially before falling into the path of Gordon whose powerful shot at goal was brilliantly saved by Edwards.
Above: A point earned for Western Sydney Wanderers, but it is wins that both they and Wellington Phoenix desperately need Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
The result sees both Wellington and Western Sydney claim their first point of the season – but ultimately it is an outcome that advances neither of their causes as the pair remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence had mixed feelings after the match when she spoke to the media. “I think we did enough to win it. We had more shots, we had more crosses and we had more entries into the penalty box.
“I don’t think anyone would have had any complaints if we did win it, but I’m more happy that we didn’t lose. Getting a point helps us build. We wanted to start the new year continuing to build and more points will come.”
She was left to rue missed opportunities. “It’s going to have to be something we continue to work on and get more clinical and a bit more composed. I think we get into those moments and lash out at the ball or lose our instincts a little bit and that probably happens when you’re not scoring heaps of goals.”
But Lawrence was proud how her side responded to Wanderers’ equaliser. “When I look at that second half and especially us pushing and pushing and pushing it shows the heart of the team. We’ve lost games but we’re not just happy with a point, we want to go for the win. That’s something we’re going to try and build on.”
Above: Larissa Crummer, Shea Connors, and Kirsty Fenton scramble to the ball. Photo: Sydney FC.
Sydney FC closed out the year with a commanding win over Brisbane Roar on a sunny and humid Saturday afternoon. The 4-1 win made it two from two against Brisbane, having dispatched them just three weeks before.
The match started out with a flurry of chances up both ends, but the first big opportunity came for Sydney FC in just the third minute after an excellent run from Cortnee Vine who crossed it into Mackenzie Hawkesby. Hawkesby received the ball inside the six-yard box but ballooned it high over the goal, much to the delight of Brisbane’s backup keeper Isabella Shuttleworth, who was making her first start for the season.
The visitors broke the deadlock after only 13 minutes when Princess Ibini pulled off an incredible solo run into the box, past the Roar defenders, and sneaked the ball past the keeper from a very tight angle.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐢, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐓! 👑 🌟
A ✨𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙮 ✨ solo run & finish to fire @SydneyFC in front! 🔥
Just ten minutes later, Ibini turned provider with a quick and low cross to Sarah Hunter, who scored her second goal of the season and Sydney’s second of the match.
Brisbane’s best attempt of the first half came in the 33rd minute from a beautiful, high looping ball from Hollie Palmer, which looked like it was going to sail high over the goal, but dipped late towards the net, hit the left post, and bounced out to safety.
A few minutes later, there was a free kick from Hunter just outside the 18-yard box. Hunter hit a fantastic shot into the upper left corner, which Shuttleworth parried into the post, but the ball fell favourably for Sydney defender, Nat Tobin, who tucked it away to secure Sydney’s third goal of the day.
Just before stoppage time expired in the first half, Katrina Gorry took a good long-range shot on goal, but it hit the crossbar and stayed out. Going into halftime the Sydney backup keeper, Katie Offer, and the goalposts had both made two saves each.
The second half picked up where the first left off, with high intensity from both sides out of the gates. Brisbane had a great chance about five minutes in, after a cross from Palmer found the head of Larissa Crummer, who was in the six-yard box unmarked, but the ball just floated over the crossbar. Crummer was celebrating her 50th appearance for the Roar and would have loved a goal to cap it off.
On the counterattack, Hawkesby set up Madison Haley’s fourth goal of the season. She is now Sydney’s top scorer this season, two ahead of both Siemsen and Hunter.
Brisbane Roar fired back in the 69th minute when Roar captain Ayesha Norrie, weaved through the Sydney defence and slotted the ball between the keeper and the goal post from a very difficult angle. Although it was a consolation goal, Norrie achieved what only one other person, Emilia Murray, has done this season, and that is score against Sydney FC. It showed that the Sky Blues could bleed, and it got the Roar and the decent hometown contingent fired up.
About ten minutes later, Gorry had another fantastic attempt from outside the 18-yard box. The ball was travelling to the top corner and Offer got hands to it, but fumbled as she fell backwards onto the ground. It was something of a Christmas miracle that kept the ball out, and had fans chanting for a VAR review, which of course is absent in the A-League Women’s.
Surprisingly in the last 20 minutes or so, Sydney was relatively happy to sit back and absorb the pressure, perhaps wanting to preserve their favourable goal difference. Brisbane Roar had several good attempts on goal, but these were either blocked by Sydney defenders or the keeper was equal to them. The score remained unchanged for the rest of the match.
Sydney FC proved once again why they are the team to beat. Quick and accurate passing, relentless pressure, and a team bursting at the seams with goal providers and goal scorers, make them incredibly difficult to beat. Sometimes watching Sydney FC play is like watching Barcelona play, when they are switched on, they are just so impressive.
Tobin, Hawkesby, and Ibini had a phenomenal day at the office, all of which either scored or were involved in one or more of Sydney’s goals. In the Roar camp, Gorry was the standout performer with her physicality and the fierce determination of a bulldog always trying to win the ball back and set up her teammates or take shots on goal. Had her two shots that hit the woodwork gone in it could have been a very different match. But that’s football.
Brisbane Roar have a bye next week and Sydney FC will take on the Newcastle Jets, who will be taking some confidence into the matchup, having just scored a surprising win over Adelaide United.
Above: Casey Dumont dives to save from Nikki Flannery. Photo: @gomvfc twitter
Melbourne Victory defeated Canberra United 1-0 in their last game of 2022 at CB Smith Reserve.
Jeff Hopkins’ side was forced into a number of changes to face Njegosh Popovich’s team who arrived in Melbourne looking to reverse their two-game losing streak. Victory were missing Claudia Bunge, and Gema Simon from defence, Elise Kellond-Knight from midfield, and in-form striker Melina Ayres from the attack.
Jessika Nash shifted to centre back to cover for Bunge. Tiffany Eliadis moved into the midfield to partner Alex Chidiac and Alana Murphy. Young Matilda and Bulleen Lions playmaker Paige Zois started for the first time this season, with Danish attacker Rikke Madsen playing as the centre forward.
Canberra United welcomed back Chloe Lincoln in goal, and Ellie Brush started for the first time since her knee injury for Sydney FC last year.
On a hot day, both sides started with intensity, looking to get an early lead and force the other to chase in the unforgiving conditions. Victory began with three quick crosses into the box, but without their familiar target of Ayres in the middle, Canberra were able to clear.
Melbourne almost took the lead through spectacular style. 17-year-old midfield general Alana Murphy lined up from almost 30 yards and her shot had the crowd ready to celebrate. It only just missed the target but was an effort that is becoming typical of the fan favourite.
Michelle Heyman responded for the visitors. The Canberra captain stole the ball from Kayla Morrison and raced into the box, but her shot was dragged wide of the far post.
The two sides played with contrasting styles. Victory looked to attack in numbers, and give themselves options in attack while pressing to keep the ball there. Canberra United used their pace and passing range to launch long counterattacks.
Heyman found Grace Jale behind the Victory defence, and the home side was rescued by a terrific save from Casey Dumont.
One of the more intriguing battles of the day was Michelle Heyman versus Jess Nash. The 18-year-old centre-back was up against the club where she made her name two seasons ago. Heyman was constantly dangerous as usual, and when she got goal side caused the home crowd to hold their breath or cover their eyes. But Nash performed well against very strong opposition and her performance was crucial to the win.
For most of the first half, both sides struggled to convert their chances, until Paige Zois and Alex Chidiac combined in the 44th minute.
Zois received the ball wide on the left, flanked by Canberra midfielders. She only needed a moment to slice open the defence with a perfectly placed through ball for Chidiac to run onto. She ran as close to goal as possible to make it certain and drilled it hard and low past Lincoln to give Melbourne the lead.
Chidiac is so often the supplier of magic passes. This time she got to be on the end of one.
The ball from Paige Zois 🪄 The finish from Chids 👌
Victory’s hero of the day was Dumont. She ensured that Victory went into half-time in the lead after another brilliant save to deny Vesna Milivojevic.
It was just one in a series of match-winning saves from the Victory keeper. Heyman created a seemingly easy chance for Nikki Flannery, but Dumont’s dive denied an almost certain goal.
She stepped up once again to stop Jale from the other side, before being rescued by the crossbar from another Flannery effort. Canberra was trying every sort of attack from every angle and area but could not beat Dumont.
That was the pattern of the second half, Canberra attacked, and Dumont denied. It was a hard-fought win by the home side, and their fourth in a row. It was another tough loss by Canberra United who outplayed Victory for much of the game, but could not find the net.
Above: Lauren Allan celebrates her goal for Newcastle Jets. Image: NewcastleJetsfc Instagram
Newcastle Jets ended the year on a high, as they picked up a much-needed win in the Liberty A-League.
It was a belter of a day on the last day of 2022 at No2. Sportsground, as just under 900 fans watched Ash Wilson’s side pick up a 2-0 victory against Adelaide United, the Jets had lost three games on the bounce before yesterday’s game.
Adelaide had a good chance in the opening stages, as Melinda Barbieri went close with a free kick that was brilliantly saved by Georgina Worth.
United had the better of the chances in the opening half an hour with a few chances but to no avail. They went close again in the 27th minute as Dylan Holmes’ cross was flapped at by Worth and cleared off the line by Cannon Clough.
The Reds finished the half strong with Fiona Worts’ cross-turned shot almost catching Worth off guard as she looped the ball towards the goal and hit the crossbar.
Above: Adeliade United’s Chelsie Dawber battles for possession at Newcastle Jets yesterday. Photo: Adelaide United.
Into the second half and the Jets woke up, as Cass Davis nearly scored from a corner, but it was saved by Annalee Grove.
Adelaide thought they had broken the deadlock in the 53rd minute, but Chelsie Dawber’s effort was ruled out for offside.
Newcastle took the lead 15 minutes into the second half as a great ball from Davis set Lauren Allen away one v one with Grove and despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts, the ball found its way into the back of the net.
Allen bagged her second of the game two minutes from time to see the win as it was Tara Andrews’ turn to play through Allen to slot the ball home in the bottom corner of the net to seal all three points.
After picking their first home win of the season, Ash Wilson’s side will next play Sydney FC on the 7th of January at No.2 Sportsground at 3pm.
Above: Celebrations for Western United who came from 2-1 down to defeat Perth Glory today. Photo: Keep Up.
Western United came from behind twice to maintain their perfect start to their first-ever A-League Women season in a spiky New Year’s Day encounter at Macedonia Park.
This was a game full of drama with goals galore and a real physical edge. Mark Torcaso’s visitors had considerably more shots (23 to nine), but they could never shake off a Perth Glory side that showed occasional flashes of brilliance in attack combined with a hugely impressive performance by Sarah Langman in goal.
The home side welcomed back key striker Rylee Baisden who missed Tuesday’s trip to Melbourne City with a minor injury. Sadie Lawrence also stepped up from the bench to replace the unwell Sarah Cain. Susan Phonsongkham was a sub.
Two weeks on from their previous match, Western United’s Stacey Papadopoulos was back after suffering from concussion against Adelaide United. Kahli Johnson came into the starting line-up along with Julia Sardo.
Whilst it was the unbeaten visitors who gained much of the possession in the earliest of exchanges, the Glory defence, which worked so well at AAMI Park last time out stayed strong.
Sofia Sakalis, who was so impressive with her skillful touches and vision in Perth’s last game was at it again with eight minutes gone with real impact. Out on the left flank, Sakalis gathered the ball, turned her marker, and within one movement, threaded through an inch-perfect pass into the stride of Cyera Hintzen in the box who squared the ball to her right for fellow American Baisden to direct into the net.
Above: Rylee Baisden shows her joy after putting Perth Glory ahead today. Photo: Keep Up.
It was only the fourth goal Western United have conceded in five games this season, and the Victoria side were thrown defensively. Within six minutes Perth could have doubled their lead when Baisden’s ball was deflected into the path of Hintzen, who was just about to pull the trigger when Sardo dived in with a perfectly timed tackle.
The visitors pushed up to set an attack within moments, earning their first corner. Lifted in high from the left, Sydney Cummings beat Kim Carroll in the air to direct a header that Sarah Langman did well to push against the bar, only for Hannah Keane to respond quickest to direct the ball over the line to level the scores.
The game was now alive and becoming increasingly end-to-end. United’s World Cup winner Jess McDonald drove through the centre of midfield and laid a pass off to Keane outside her on the right. A low ball across to the left-hand side of the box found Johnson who directed a shot that Langman got down well to save at the post.
Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors were having more of the possession from an attacking perspective. McDonald earned a free-kick when her cross came off Rigby’s arm just outside the box on the right. The resulting ball came in and led to a corner. With Western United’s prowess from set-pieces growing, the corner from the left came in high once more. Liz Anton blocked one shot from the visitors before Langman’s dive denied Johnson again.
McDonald was becoming increasingly influential. A long ball from Keane curled a clever into her path running into the box. The intelligent length on the ball meant that Langman had to decide quickly whether to stand her ground or advance towards the American attacker. In the end, the Perth goalkeeper opted for the latter and the danger went. The visitors were now well on top and the Glory needed to see out the remaining 10 minutes without conceding again.
Five minutes before the break, controversy centred around Western United goalkeeper Hillary Beale in two incidents within 60 seconds. Baisden split the United defence beautifully to play in Sakalis. A heavy touch handed the advantage to Beale and Sakalis went down in the box. Despite loud claims from the home bench, penalty claims were waved away correctly as there was little in the way of contact.
Above: Perth Glory’s Cyera Hintzen, who linked up well with Rylee Baisden throughout the game, gets away from Sydney Cummings. Photo: Keep Up.
Within a minute, Baisden’s clever link-up play was in evidence once more as her long ball released Hintzen who was met outside the area by Beale in a clash of legs. Referee Caitlin Williams showed a yellow to Beale which provoked more frustration from the home side who believed it was a sending-off offence. The resulting free kick from Hana Lowry curled well over the bar.
There was still time for more drama before the half-time whistle went. Emma Rober’s shot came back off Anton allowing Johnson to fire an effort that Langman tipped over – the latest personal duel between them. It led to a corner, as the visitors continued to cause chaos in the Perth box with set-pieces. This time Anton’s header came back off her own bar. Perth survived for 1-1 at the break.
The second half opened with end-to-end opportunities. Whilst Western United couldn’t quite penetrate, the home side did. Rigby’s slide tackle in midfield drove the ball forward but with a deflection, there was a big slice of backspin on the bounce which Ella Mastrantonio took advantage of to beat Alana Cerne and find Lowry in the box. The locally-born midfielder took control, beat Melissa Taranto, and sidefooted a finish into the right-hand corner of the net.
The visitors responded immediately with McDonald playing a low ball in from the right which Keane slid in for at the near post, but her effort went wide.
On the hour mark, Mark Torcaso introduced Matildas star Chloe Logarzo and she stamped her class on the encounter within 10 minutes. McDonald’s ball across from right caused problems at the back for Perth as Keane’s run blocked off Anton allowing Logarzo to fire home the equaliser.
Above: Within 10 minutes of coming onto the pitch Chloe Logarzo was on target for Western United. Photo: Keep Up.
Keane was involved again shortly afterwards as she broke through the centre and cut in which allowed her to see off the Glory defensive pair of Carroll and Anton before curling a shot towards the top left-hand corner that Langman saved well.
Glory continued to create, and a high ball in from the right saw Sakalis and Gabriella Coleman leap for the same ball and it eventually fell for Demi Koulizakis who fired in shot that Beall blocked.
The game was decided with four minutes left. Alana Cerne earned a free kick outside the box to the right of centre. Melissa Taranto played it in, Langman repelled, but the ball dropped to Keane who shot, Koulizakis tried to clear off the line but only succeeded in helping the ball into the net and United were in front for the first time all afternoon.
All the stats show that Western United deserved the victory. They had the competition’s season’s best XG (expected goals) of over 4.1, but despite this they could never quite shake off the Western Australians who contributed to a hugely watchable encounter.
Perth Glory remain a curates egg of a team this season. They have shown flashes of their potential in every game this season, but have never managed to produce a 90-minute performance to turn that potential into the points that many predicted they would earn this season.
Western United are the real deal. No-one thought they would struggle in their inaugural campaign, but equally not many put their hand up to suggest Mark Torcaso’s side as being in contention for silverware. They certainly are now.
It’s been another great year for women’s football and eight Impetus writers, Ben Gilby, Johnathan Stack, Ben Carey, Emmanuel Faith, Kieran Yap, Darrell Allen, Nathan Edwards, and Kris Goman highlight their team, player, coach, and unsung hero of the year. In true Impetus style, there are representatives from the top-flight and grassroots levels of the women’s game(30/12/22).
Team of the Year:
Above: The Lionesses – a popular choice as our team of the year. Photo: Lionesses.
BEN GILBY:England. It’s more than just becoming the first English national football team to win a major honour since 1966, it’s about what they have done for the sport in the UK. The young girls they have inspired, the new fans they have brought in, and the visibility they still have almost five months on from that game at Wembley.
JOHNATHAN STACK: England. Unbeaten in 2022, became European Champions on home soil and one of best teams right now.
BEN CAREY: There’s no question about it. The team of the year has to be England. Their incredible run at the Euros to claim their first-ever major title was quite simply breathtaking. Some amazing individual performances, but more importantly stellar teamwork throughout the tournament. England also beat the best team in the world, the USA, at Wembley Stadium, which is another incredible achievement. In terms of the club game, Barcelona are worthy of recognition. Dominant in the Liga F with 30 wins out of 30. They also won their domestic cup and made the Champions League Final for the second year running.
EMMANUEL FAITH: While the Lionesses have made history and finally brought the trophy home with monumental performances, The SpanishU17 and U20 youngsters have conquered the world, achieving these goals with style and finesse. With the current standstill between the Spanish senior team and the national football association, we might see some of these youngsters in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Above: Spain lift the FIFA U20 World Cup this year. Photo: Tico Times.
KIERAN YAP: I hate to admit it as an Aussie, but it’s The Lionesses. Their Euros tournament was thrilling to watch, and the excitement was palpable from across the world. It’s hard not to love them.
NATHAN EDWARDS: There have been many great teams at club level and international level this year, once again showing the huge growth of talent in the game, but England finally completed the task of bringing football home, in front of a packed-out Wembley Stadium. It was a great way for Ellen White and Jill Scott to bow out from the game and hopefully, the victory against Germany will be a catalyst for change in women’s football within the country.
KRIS GOMAN: While it’s tempting to go on about Arsenal or one of my favourite Sydney or NWSL teams, or even the Matildas, I really don’t think anything can beat what the English Women’s National Team, the Lionesses, achieved this northern summer at the Euros. Apart from bringing it home, they galvanised a nation and did more for women’s football than any team before them. On social media I watched a country move from “nobody cares” to, not only people knowing their names, but actively supporting them. As someone who’s been banging the drum of women’s football for a while, it was incredible to watch. There was a palpable change of attitude and it was down to this team. To top it off with Jill Scott winning I’m a Celebrity and Beth Mead winning the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, among other awards, it just shows the shift in attitude.
DARRELL ALLEN: University of East Anglia. Promoted out of the tier eight Norfolk Women’s and Girls Football League Division Two in their first season and now ripping it up in Division One with five wins from their opening six games, a stunning League Cup win at Mulbarton in November clinched them this award and there is a lot to come from Tom Peck’s team in 2023.
Player of the Year:
Above: Beth Mead with her collection of trophies after the European Championship Final in August. Photo: Lionesses.
BEN GILBY:Alessia Russo. Simply in terms of how she has grown from January to December 2022. The Manchester United attacker went into the European Championships with seven caps and four goals. Russo wasn’t quite being talked up as a potential household name in the same way that the likes of Beth Mead, Ellen White, and Lucy Bronze were. Yet, by the time of the knock-out stages, Russo was rapidly becoming a superstar who embraced the pressure of a home tournament and was well on her way to becoming a national hero. Four further goals during the tournament, and two more since the tournament have launched the Maidstone-born 23-year-old into the category of sensation. Four goals in seven FAWSL appearances this season for Manchester United so far is another positive reward.
JOHNATHAN STACK: Beth Mead. An absolute baller who had an incredible Euros and a good start to the WSL season until her injury.
BEN CAREY: Beth Mead. She scored 25 goals and 18 assists for club and country. Those numbers are simply astonishing. There were a few strikers who scored more goals, such as Sam Kerr, Ewa Pajor, and Sophia Smith, but they all had far fewer assists. Mead is an absolute team player. She also won player of the match twice during the Euros, and the Golden Player award (player of the tournament).
EMMANUEL FAITH: Beth Mead has had a remarkable 2022, from a superb WSL run where she was part of the team of the season, to winning the player of the tournament and the golden boot at Women’s Euros. Mead has shown the world what she is made up of and it is really heart-wrenching that she injured her ACL recently.
Above: Katrina Gorry – her form has had a major influence on Australia’s recent fine run of results. Photo: Football Australia.
KIERAN YAP: Katrina Gorry. The Matildas looked like a completely different side when Gorry returned to the national team setup. There was more composure and creativity in the midfield, more danger from long range, and she linked the defence with midfield in a way we’ve rarely seen. Gorry has been Australia’s best player as their form started to improve. There should be a royal commission into why previous national team managers ignored her.
NATHAN EDWARDS: Beth Mead. What a year for the Arsenal star! Along with winning the Euros as the competition’s top goalscorer, she finished second place in the Ballon d’Or, only being pipped by the mercurial Alexia Putellas, but one accolade tops it all off. She made history last week, becoming the first female footballer to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, a great and well-deserved achievement. She sadly had her time on the pitch in 2022 cut short due to a heart-breaking ACL injury, but she will come back fighting like she always does when faced with a challenge.
KRIS GOMAN: Beth Mead. I’m signing up for this bandwagon. She’s been on fire for club and country. Obviously, an incredible performance at the Euros but every part of her game has come together. Trying not to think about the ACL situation…
DARRELL ALLEN: Katie Knights. An instrumental part of Wymondham Town’s treble-winning season in 2021/2022 including winning the player of the match award in the Harrod Sports Final at Carrow Road, Knights had more than earned her move to tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East side Norwich City where she has lit up multiple matches and been a huge part of Norwich City’s increased success this season.
Coach of the Year:
Above: Sarina Wiegman – undisputed choice as Impetus‘ coach of the year. Photo: Lionesses.
BEN GILBY:Sarina Wiegman. Unbeaten as England coach, unbeaten in the European Championships. The organisation and belief that she injected into a team who had promised so much but never quite managed to achieve since 2015 was the work of someone at the absolute top of their career.
JONATHAN STACK: Sarina Wiegman. It’s a no-brainer. The FA did remarkably well to get Wiegman from the Dutch National Team where she won the Euros, and she repeated the achievement this year with the Lionesses.
BEN CAREY: Sarina Wiegman led England to a first-ever major title at the Euros, which was amazing. But perhaps even more incredible is that it was Wiegman’s second Euros win in a row, after leading the Netherlands to the title in 2017. Also, she led England to a flawless World Cup qualification with zero lapses in form. 80 goals for and 0 against. That should, quite frankly, be illegal.
EMMANUEL FAITH: Sarina Wiegman. The reasons are obvious, she is an absolute genius on and off the field. Engaging in interviews, and her in-game management are just two of the many qualities that make her stand out.
Above: Melbourne Victory’s Jeff Hopkins, Kieran Yap’s choice as Coach of the Year. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
KIERAN YAP: A little closer to home, and it’s Jeff Hopkins of Melbourne Victory. Despite an injury and COVID-ravaged season, which included a packed February schedule, they won the Championship for a second year running. Hopkins carefully managed his team and trusted his young players to get them through to the finals. He refused to rush star striker Melina Ayres back until she was 100% fit. The results were implausible but glorious.
NATHAN EDWARDS: It has been very England-centric so far, but it that is because of the size of the achievements obtained this year, and the main factor in the Lionesses’ success has been their Dutch coach, Sarina Wiegman. She has added the final layer to this England side and taken them to continental glory, showing off her intriguing character and tactical intelligence along the way.
KRIS GOMAN: Sarina Wiegman. What she’s done for the Lionesses has rocked women’s football. Her second Euros. No losses. And she seems to be a really nice person that the players love. I’ve bought the T-shirt. Literally.
DARRELL ALLEN: Adrian Tink. Someone who conducts himself in a remarkable professional way, out of the noise and out of the limelight. Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers scored 130 goals and finished second last season as well as winning the Plate. They are coached to incredibly high standards and look well placed to do even better this time around with seven wins from their opening eight games so far this season.
Unsung Hero:
Above: AFC Wimbledon’s Ashlee Hincks – the club’s reigning player of the season – male or female. Photo: Glyn Roberts.
BEN GILBY: Ashlee Hincks. The 34-year-old AFC Wimbledon striker capped a sensational season by winning the club’s player of the season award – which, as part of the Dons’ ‘one club’ ethos, saw the club’s female and male players contesting the same award. Hincks comfortably beat off her male counterparts to take the trophy to a standing ovation at a packed Plough Lane stadium. The former Chelsea, Millwall, and Crystal Palace player, who took part in two FA Cup Finals and played for England at youth levels, scored 40 goals in 35 games last season for The Dons, and by the start of this month had already amassed 22 for the FA Women’s National League Division One South-East side. Hincks is an absolute joy to watch.
JOHNATHAN STACK: Alessia Russo. An incredible player who had a strong Euros with an amazing goal against Sweden, and Russo has brought that form into the WSL for Manchester United.
BEN CAREY: Guro Reiten. She had a staggering 11 goals and 19 assists for club and country, consistently performing for Norway and Chelsea (in the WSL, the FA Cup, and the Champions League). In terms of elsewhere, my standout goalkeepers this year were Mary Earps, Merle Frohms, and Manuela Zinsberger. Each of these keepers had over 15 clean sheets for club and country. The defenders that caught my attention were Leah Williamson, Millie Bright, Steph Catley, Mapi Leon, Lucy Bronze, Naomi Girma, Selma Bacha, and Wendie Renard. Finally, there were some incredible midfield performances by Katrina Gorry, Lena Oberdorf, Grace Geyoro, and Alexia Putellas.
Above: Guro Reiten slams home a goal during Chelsea’s WSL title-winning performance against Manchester United in May. Photo: Ben Gilby for Impetus.
EMMANUEL FAITH: Erin Cuthbert. I don’t know how she misses out on all noticeable awards and selections, but what Cuthbert has done for the Chelsea team is beyond comprehension. It’s sad that we won’t be seeing her in the World Cup but if Chelsea’s success last season is to be replicated then the Scot is an ingredient that mustn’t go missing.
KIERAN YAP: Charli Grant. She’s a favourite of Impetus, and her potential has not been a secret for some time, but Charli Grant has been vital to The Matildas in Ellie Carpenter’s absence. Grant has similar attributes to Carpenter and could have tried to play the same way as the Lyon star, but she had brought her own style to the role. Her two-footed passing and off-the-ball movement makes her an asset to the team. Grant has risen from fringe player to one of the real barometers for Australia.
Above: The inspirational Rukhsana Hussain – Nathan Edwards’ choice as Unsung Hero of the Year. Photo: Twitter.
NATHAN EDWARDS: Rukhsana Hussain. Although Hussain isn’t a sports star in the sense of lighting up stadiums and producing magical performances for the world to see, she isn’t even a footballer but a vital part of the footballing community within Leicester. She was nominated for this unsung hero award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards and this is because of her work in growing the sport within the Muslim community of all ages, and it isn’t just 2022 that she deserves this title but for the past seven years.
KRIS GOMAN: I’m tempted to go for someone like Ashleigh Neville that has killer game after killer game both in attack and defence but never gets a call up to the Lionesses but I’m going to go for Millie Bright. An absolute rock in defence and while she’s not exactly unsung, defenders don’t get the same attention as forwards and never get the opportunity to win a golden boot. She played the fifth most minutes of anyone on the team. They only conceded two goals the whole tournament – one against Spain and one against Germany in the final, largely down to her defence. While the whole team has obviously enjoyed the accolades, the spotlight has been on the forwards. I could use a similar argument for Keira Walsh too.
DARRELL ALLEN: Charnelle Riggall. Quite simply one of the nicest and most helpful people in the Norfolk Women and Girls League. Charnelle captains Bungay Town with impressive leadership and people skills. Charnelle is happy to lend a hand, give advice, and all is done with a smile on her face. A true star of Norfolk Football.
Impetus’ Ben Gilby, Kieran Yap, and Ryan Miller-Woods report on today’s A-League Women media conferences at Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory, Wellington Phoenix, and Western Sydney Wanderers – where there is news of a vital new signing (30/12/22).
ADELAIDE UNITED
by Ben Gilby
Above: Adelaide United boss Adrian Stenta sees big things ahead for his team in 2023. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Adelaide United.
Adelaide United go into their New Year’s Eve game at Newcastle Jets on the back of a two-week break, something head coach Adrian Stenta believes makes his side extra hungry for success at Number Two Sportsground.
The South Australians’ last match was back on 17th December at Wellington Phoenix, and Stenta highlighted the positives and negatives of that unexpected change to their schedule.
“It’s been a bit different, challenging at times because we had the bye followed by a postponed game (the return clash with Wellington Phoenix), but we’ve had time to work on things and put plans in place starting with the game at Newcastle Jets.
“Any time you have a larger amount of time between games it allows you to freshen up. We’re excited to get going again. When you are starved of games, it makes the next one coming up that bit more enticing and important.”
Adelaide United journey up to Newcastle tomorrow to take on a Jets side who have the leakiest defence in the competition by some margin, yet only leaders Melbourne City have scored more goals than Ash Wilson’s side. The Reds’ head coach recognises the threat, but understands the opportunity for another win is there for his side.
“Newcastle have the ability to play really attractive, dangerous attacking football,” Stenta said. “They have some dangerous players, particularly in their attack. They can put scoreboard pressure on and score goals. We do feel there are opportunities for us to hurt the opposition and gain advantage. If we are able to execute, then we can beat any opposition on any given day.”
Tomorrow’s game brings down the curtain on the most successful calendar year in the history of Adelaide United’s women’s team. Their head coach believes that 2023 could be even better.
“We’re hopeful to finish the year as we started it, and that’s on a positive. We have high hopes and expectations. The club is moving in the right direction, and 2022 is an example of that. We know we have some big hurdles to climb in 2023, but there is something special in this group. We’re looking forward to doing what we can to unleash that.”
MELBOURNE VICTORY:
by Kieran Yap
Above: Melbourne Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins speaking to the media today. Image: Melbourne Victory.
After winning their last three games, Melbourne Victory are in the hunt for a fourth against Canberra United on Saturday afternoon.
Thirteen days will have passed since Victory’s last match, a 5-2 win over the Newcastle Jets that coach Jeff Hopkins was still effusive about after the Christmas break. “We’ve had a little bit of time to reflect on the performance,” Hopkins told the media. “The first-half performance from us against Newcastle is right up there with the best that we’ve played.
“In terms of our football, in terms of the intensity and the quality and just the way that we finished everything off, is as good as I’ve ever seen since I’ve been at the club I think.”
Victory surged to a 4-0 lead before halftime in their last outing with in-form striker Melia Ayres and captain Kayla Morrison both netting braces. Although Melbourne conceded twice in the second half, Hopkins looked at that as an opportunity for the team to improve as they strive for 90 minutes of consistent football.
“Obviously there were reasons in the second half why we had that little drop-off. Losing Casey (Dumont) was a big part of that. We didn’t handle the transition from her coming off, and Miranda (Templeman) coming on. The Jets scored straight away, and we had a little bit of an anxious 20 minutes or so.
“It showed us an area that we needed to work on. We’re now comfortable if that does happen again, we’re better prepared for that.” Goalkeeper Dumont was substituted with a concussion but has been declared fit to play against Canberra. She passed her return-to-play protocols with “flying colours” according to the coach. Victory will also be buoyed by the return of Grand Final hero Amy Jackson to the squad. The club has been cautious with her this season and refused to rush her back.
Above: Amy Jackson, who Melbourne Victory boss Jeff Hopkins reveals could be back this weekend. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
Hopkins said that Jackson’s availability will have knock-on effects for the whole team. “Amy’s the one, it gives us a few more options. Obviously, we can move KK (Elise Kellond-Knight) around, we can move Murph (Alana Murphy) around. Chids isn’t so stuck in the position that she’s been. That opens things up for us.”
Jackson’s return offsets the loss of central defender Claudia Bunge. Victory will have to face the unpredictable and dangerous Canberra attack without one of the pillars of last season’s success. “That’s the one loss we’ve had,” said Hopkins. “She didn’t come up from the injury a couple of weeks ago, but she was touch and go for tomorrow, but we’ve decided we’re not going to risk her. Hopefully we’ll get her back for next week.”
The immediate test is Canberra United. Melbourne Victory’s performances have been steadily improving over the past month. They have registered a tight win over Wellington Phoenix, an impressive defeat of Perth Glory away from home, and a convincing display against The Jets. Hopkins would like to see that trajectory continue on Saturday.
“It will be interesting to see how we perform from the start but also in the areas that we’ve highlighted,” said Hopkins. “Can we do what we’ve set out to do and follow the game plan and be successful?”
Victory are more rested than this weekend’s visitors who lost 4-0 to Melbourne City before Christmas. However, the Victory head coach is wary of the threats they pose. Particularly Michelle Heyman, who Hopkins described as one of the best strikers in the league.
“She’s got pace, she’s very smart and a great finisher. Two great wide players as well. Their attack in transition is where they’re very very strong. “I think that could be the key to us defensively, to counter the counter-attack as well as we possibly can, not let them attack quickly. “If we can do that, that will go a big way towards negating a lot of their threats.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX:
by Ryan Miller-Woods
Above: Welington Phoenix goalkeeper Brianna Edwards speaking to the media today. Image:Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix face a hugely important game against fellow winless outfit Western Sydney Wanderers on Monday, and goalkeeper Brianna Edwards is confident that her side are going to repeat their victory against the Wanderers from last season.
Despite a difficult run results-wise from the start of the season, Edwards sees definite signs of the team coming together once more under adversity: “I think it’s been character-building. It’s brought out a lot mentally in a lot of the girls and me especially, you know copping goals in the first couple of rounds was hard, but I think it allowed us to steer the team in the right direction, we’re getting closer and closer, the win is coming and conceding less goals. It’s hard but we’re getting there.
“The culture at the (Wellington) Phoenix as a club is great, I think we’ve grown to become a family over the last year and this season. It’s definitely what keeps our team together in the hard times”.
Edwards has been deputising for the injured Lily Alfeld all season to date and has been, to a degree, thrown in at the deep end, but it is a situation that she is embracing: “As an athlete, I think it’s hard to be happy with your performance all the time but I think there’s definitely been moments where I’m like this is how I want to perform, it’s just about being more consistent.
“I think that will come with more experience, you know I’ve only played six games in the A-League (Women). More experience and more games is going to give that consistency.”
While the results haven’t been there for Wellington so far into the season, they have been showing signs that they are on the up, and in at least a few of their matches, luck simply hasn’t been on their side – that has to change at some point, and there’s no reason why that cannot happen on Monday.
Above: Saskia Vosper – the Phoenix full-back believes Wellington’s travails last season are standing them in good stead this season. Image: Wellington Phoenix.
Also speaking to the media today was Saskia Vosper who believes that it is only a matter of time before Wellington Phoenix notch their first win of the campaign.
“I feel like every game we get better and better like from the first game we had (against Melbourne City) probably a first half of a really good performance then we’ve just building and building from there. I’m excited to go out against Western Sydney and show them what we can do.”
Vosper outlined the key role that head coach Natalie Lawrence and her coaching staff have had in keeping confidence high among the squad. “Well, it’s all about staying calm and doing the simple things right and just fighting together as a team and just going out there as a unified team.”
The Phoenix full-back believes that herself and her teammates are benefitting from drawing from their well of tough experiences from last season’s inaugural campaign in the division, and it has made them better people and players as a result.
“I kind of know what to expect (now). Last season I was very naive and I didn’t what the calibre of games (in the A-League Women) were, but this season I kind of know how to prepare myself, both mentally and physically.”
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS:
by Ben Gilby
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers’ new signing, Philippines international striker Sarina Bolden (8). Photo: Sports Inquirer.
Western Sydney Wanderers have announced the signing of Philippines international Sarina Bolden. The 26-year-old striker has most recently been playing in Japan, and has 17 goals in 29 international appearances.
It is an important capture for Wanderers head coach Kat Smith whose side have only scored two goals all season, and gone goalless in their last four matches. “Sarina Bolden… can play across the front three. For us to score more goals this season, it’s a key move going forward,” Smith admitted.
Reflecting further on her team’s showings so far this season, which has seen a number of positive performances undone by an inability to score, the Western Sydney boss praised her squad for refusing to let things get them down.
“There have been moments in games that have been frustrating, moments when decisions haven’t gone our way, but credit to the players, they keep turning up to training. (They are) determined to get better. They are not letting those moments in previous games impact their approach to training and the next match.”
Wanderers face a huge game on Monday when they travel to Wellington Phoenix for a battle of the bottom two, as the only winless teams in the competition go head-to head. Smith said: “It will be interesting to see how Wellington show up. Factoring in the travel, it’s an international flight, but we’re ready to play.
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers’ Danika Matos speaking to the media today. Image: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Defender Danika Matos believes that the strengths new signing Sarina Bolden brings to the club could bring about a change in her side’s fortunes in front of goal.
“Sarina is a great addition to the team. She is a true nine, very strong on the ball, she has great vision, she’s here to score goals, and that is exactly what we need.”
Matos recognised the frustrations around her team’s start to the season, something she puts down to the sheer number of new faces in the squad.
“We’ve had a tough run. We’re still a new team, we’re still trying to gel. We’re finding out each other’s ways of playing and understanding each other’s attributes. Every week we are progressing more. We just want to try and get the ball back in the net.”
Monday’s clash in Wellington is hugely important for both sides, and the Western Sydney Wanderers defender is under no illusions as to how tough it will be.
“Wellington – they are a young team and very aggressive. They come at you a hundred miles an hour. They are in their home-town, they haven’t played many games there, so we’re expecting a fight.”
Ben Gilby reports on both sides’ media conferences this week in the build-up to Sunday’s game at Macedonia Park(29/12/22).
PERTH GLORY
Above: Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis believes his team has proved they are more than capable of mixing it with the best ahead of Western United’s visit on New Year’s Day. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis believes his team can use the positives of pushing league leaders Melbourne City close on Tuesday when it comes to hosting unbeaten Western United on New Year’s Day.
Reflecting on Perth’s showing at AAMI Stadium, Epakis said: “It was a very hard-fought performance. We defended very resolutely against some of the best attacking threats in the competition. I genuinely thought we could have walked away with something a bit more positive (result-wise).”
The Glory boss went with a bench stacked full of dynamic attacking threat which added pep to the final quarter of an hour. Explaining the reasoning behind taking that approach rather than starting with those players, he said:
“We brought on players to bring the energy we needed. Those that started laid a foundation and put a lot of effort in. It’s bitter-sweet. We did a lot of really good things, but unfortunately didn’t get anything (from the match). We do have the belief though that we can mix it with one of the strongest teams in the competition.”
Perth went into the match without in-form striker Rylee Baisden due to a minor injury. Epakis provided an update about the American’s availability for Sunday’s game: “Rylee pulled up a bit sore after the game against Canberra and was a risk that if we played her (at Melbourne City), from a loading point of view, might have had more damage and been out for longer. She should be back (for New Year’s Day).”
Western United’s first-ever visit to Macedonia Park comes in the midst of a tough turnaround of matches against two of the competition’s top teams in the space of five days – a spell that included 1,600+km flights to and from Melbourne. The Glory head coach sees no negatives in scheduling though.
Above: Perth Glory’s Rylee Baisden is likely to return to the squad on New Year’s Day after missing the trip to Melbourne City on Tuesday with a minor injury. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
“I’m happy about that because we don’t have time to sit and frown on the negative thoughts. We can pick ourselves up and I genuinely believe that the players are going to be raring to go knowing that they can take a lot of internal belief out of this match (against Melbourne City) and go out and have a crack at another good opposition ASAP.
“It was tough with the heat and the travel, but we’ll be fine. The players are so focused on the task in hand, that overcomes any fatigue.”
Sunday’s opponents Western United are riding the crest of the wave after a dream start to their first A-League Women season, but it is a start that Epakis is not particularly surprised about.
“I think they are getting exactly what they deserve. When you invest heavily in anything, you always get some level of return, and they are definitely getting that from their playing group. They’ve come in as a new team, but a lot of them have played together in NPL (for Calder United) for a few seasons and they’ve topped that up with top tier recruits, so credit to them for that.”
“Having said that, we’re in a good place in our own business. They are going to come here in good form, but we’re coming in with a fixated mindset on getting a mindset, and I’m positive about what we can achieve.”
Outlining what he expects from the game, the Perth Glory boss said: “I think it will be a transitional one because they (Western United) like to attack quickly. It is going to be end to end. The 4pm gale force winds at Macedonia Park will play havoc and will suit the team who gets possession in the first half.
WESTERN UNITED
Above: Western United’s Mark Torcaso – detailed planning and preparations before his team’s entry into the A-League Women are bearing fruit. Photo: Western United.
Western United head coach Mark Torcaso believes that the extra break that his team have been afforded after the postponement of their scheduled game at home to Newcastle Jets this week has come at the perfect time for his unbeaten side.
United last played on 17th December, when they gained a superb 3-1 win at Melbourne City, and it has allowed Torcaso’s players to rest and recuperate as well as add detail to preparations for their first trip West.
“We’ve been able to freshen a few people up,” the Western United boss said, “We had a few knocks against City. Harriet (Withers) has had a setback with her ankle. She went under the knife on Monday or Tuesday so she will be maybe another eight weeks away. The others are pretty much ready to go.”
After her superb two-goal performance at AAMI Park last time out, Torcaso revealed that his Matildas star Chloe Logarzo could be in line for her first call into the starting line-up this season, although her game time remains a careful balancing act.
“She’s definitely capable of starting, we’re just going through the process of whether she will or not. She has some targets she needs to meet both in-house and Matildas, so we’re just ramping her up.”
In terms of what those targets are, the United head coach identified that it surrounds “Her physical preparation. She wants to be in the best form physically but to be primed ready for World Cup selection. We’re happy with where she’s at and she’s happy with the way we’ve managed it. It’s now a matter to build minutes.”
Above: Chloe Logarzo – seen here scoring her second goal for Western United at Melbourne City – could be in line for her first start for the club on New Year’s Day. Photo: Western United.
Asked if he was surprised by how quickly the members of his squad that have little or no previous top-tier experience have adapted to Western United’s first A-League Women campaign, Torcaso underlined the importance of the long-term planning of the side’s entry into the competition
“We tried to create the set-up at Calder (United) to be similar to A-League Women in regards to all players’ preparations. “I always knew a lot of these players had the ability, it was about how long they would take to adjust. I feel they adjusted pretty quickly. It shows our NPL is one of the better ones in the country if we have players who are able to stand up and compete in the A-League straight away.
“Perth – you have Sarah Cain, Alana Jancevski – girls who have been playing NPL Victoria as well. From that perspective, we have good people and good players around who can step up to the professional level.”
Whilst Perth Glory have only a single win to their name so far this season, Torcaso is well aware that the Western Australians offer his team a real threat.
“They are a good side, they have a coach who has them well organised. It has been a pretty consistent group. He (Alex Epakis) is building in the same way to what Adelaide have (in terms of keeping the majority of a squad together) so they are a dangerous opponent. They have good players individually, but also ones that can link together and play well.
“We’ve worked very hard on what Perth’s strengths and weaknesses are. It’s a long trip, some of our girls will be having their first Perth trip, but if we worry about ourselves we’ll be OK. But they are playing us for the first time, so there’s no expectations on us in that position.”
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