Above: AFC Wimbledon celebrate Ellie Dorey’s goal against Gillingham that sealed the Dons’ place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Photo: Ian Stephen.
AFC Wimbledon progressed to the Fourth Round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on yesterday as they defeated Gillingham from the league above in style.
Another fantastic defensive display included some fine saves from Faye Baker, and a goal from Ellie Dorey secured a safe passage through, and yet another cup scalp of a tier three club – something that the South-West London tier four side has made a habit of over the past two seasons.
The Dons went into the game having not played in more than a month, with the weather playing havoc with their fixture list prior to the winter break. The extended gap between games showed in the early stages as the hosts struggled to get going in the torrential rain at Plough Lane.
Wimbledon keeper Baker was called into action after 25 minutes as she produced a stunning save to keep the scores level. Up the other end, Megan Stow tested the Gillingham keeper a few minutes later but in truth, it was a cagey first half overall.
Above: A midfield tussle between AFC Wimbledon (blue) and Gillingham yesterday in the FA Cup. Photo: Ian Stephen.
Nevertheless, the game came alive in the second half as Ashlee Hincks got on the end of a fine ball from Dorey to force the Gills keeper into her first save of the half with 50 minutes on the clock.
Emma Plewa was introduced just south of the hour mark, which brought about a spell of domination from the Dons as we began to create more chances. This saw the home side take the lead thanks to a neat finish by Dorey from close range.
Rather than sit back and invite pressure a further attacking change was made as Gloria Siber was brought on to ensure we stayed on the front foot. A powerful long-range effort from Hincks produced a fine save from the Gillingham keeper as the visitors kept the game alive. In the dying minutes, it was backs-against-the-wall stuff from the Dons but some fine defending ensured that Wimbledon booked their spot in Round Four and an exciting-looking London derby at home to Championship side Charlton Athletic, with the game scheduled to be played on Sunday 29 January.
More details for the fixture will be announced in due course. Before then, the Dons make a trip to Norwich City on Sunday 22nd January.
by Martin Townley, Impetus‘ Wales correspondent(9/1/23).
Above: Cymru head coach Gemma Grainger, who today signed a new deal with the FAW. Photo: FAW.
Cymru head coach Gemma Grainger has signed a new contract with the FAW to extend her time as the national team manager. The news comes after Cymru narrowly missed out on a place at next years World Cup.
Grainger will guide the Dragons into qualifying for both the 2025 Euros and the 2027 World Cup. The 2023 World Cup campaign was Grainger’s first as Cymru boss and the former England assistant coach took Cymru to their first play-off.
A historic win over Bosnia in front of a record 15,200 supporters at Cardiff City Stadium set up a final against Switzerland. Welsh hopes were dashed by an added time goal in extra time, but the campaign exceeded expectations and saw Cymru go further than ever before.
Speaking about the new deal Grainger said, “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract and extend my journey working with this special group of players. I’m an ambitious coach, these players are ambitious and the FAW are ambitious, so all those things are a great match.
“We want to drive our progress and momentum from the last qualifying campaign, both on and off the pitch, and take that forward into the new year and the next two qualifying campaigns.”
Grainger’s first challenge will come in the Pinatar Cup where her side will face Iceland, Scotland, and the Philippines. This will be a good warm-up before Euro 2025 qualifying begins in the spring of 2024.
FAW Chief Executive Noel Moody is looking forward to continuing the strides the national team have may saying, “We have made huge strides with the women’s national team and our focus now is firmly on qualifying for UEFA Euro 2025 and the 2027 FIFA World Cup.
“This group has captured the imagination of the Welsh public and we have no doubt they will break new glass ceilings for Welsh football in the coming years.”
Grainger, 40 now has the chance to make more history by leading Cymru to their first-ever major tournament.
Above: Committed tackling in yesterday’s Eastbourne derby with Borough in red and Town in yellow. Photo: Jon Smalldon for Impetus.
9/1/23
Impetus welcomes another new photographer to our team. Jon Smalldon was out at the tier eight Sussex County Division One derby between Eastbourne Borough (red) and Eastbourne Town.
In a match played in tough wet and windy conditions at Borough’s Priory Lane stadium, the home side came from 2-0 down to win 4-2. Not surprisingly the goals all went the way of the team who had the advantage of the wind on the Sussex coast!
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 (9/1/23)
Player of the Week:
Above: Grace Maher – a sensational strike from one of the competition’s most naturally gifted players. Photo: AAP.
BEN GILBY:Grace Maher. One of the most naturally gifted players in the entire competition unleashed her magic wand once more to land another addition to her ever-growing collection of sensational goals. Amazing Grace at her best.
KIERAN YAP:Sarina Bolden. Rarely has the influence of a new signing been so obvious. Bolden provided exactly what Western Sydney were missing. They were mobile, dangerous, and creative upfront. The Phillipines international did not score despite coming close, but their impact was exciting and decisive.
JONATHAN TAY: Full of running as always, Mackenzie Hawkesby was influential in Sydney’s hyper-quick start on Saturday, where they rattled in three goals by the 10-minute mark against Newcastle. Had a goal and an assist, played the pass that led to Princess Ibini’s penalty, and could’ve had a second herself.
BEN CAREY: Natasha Rigby. Her superhuman effort against Melbourne Victory kept the Glory in the match and earned them a valuable point against one of the top teams in the league.
Coach of the Week:
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Kat Smith – a unanimous choice as our coach of the week. Image: Western Sydney Wanderers.
BEN GILBY:Kat Smith. Wanderers’ wait for a win stretched for a day shy of 12 months. To finally get that monkey off their back was fantastic. To achieve it against the team who went into the round as league leaders was sensational. Whilst Western Sydney have been generally strong at the back and offered some threats coming forward they have suffered badly for the last two campaigns from a lack of finisher. Sarina Bolden could well help to solve this problem. Whilst one swallow doesn’t make a summer, it’s an undeniable confidence booster.
KIERAN YAP:Kat Smith. The Wanderers did not get lucky against Melbourne City. They outplayed them across most of the pitch. Although City were not without chances, Western Sydney did not look like they were going to lose after Gallagher’s goal. Few would have tipped Western Sydney Wanderers to win this game. Even fewer would have expected them to dominate one of the league’s top sides.
JONATHAN TAY: What a way for Kat Smith’s Western Sydney Wanderers to break their year-long victory drought, upsetting league leaders Melbourne City 2-0 on Sunday. It was deserved too, as Western Sydney took their chances, battled ferociously in midfield, and stifled their opponents’ front three. The Wanderers out-competed City, whilst also limiting them to an expected goals total of just 0.55, and will look to build on the massive win for the rest of the campaign.
BEN CAREY: Kat Smith. Leading the Western Sydney Wanderers, who were equal bottom of the table, to a huge win over Melbourne City, one of the best teams in the league, is such a big achievement.
Event of the Week:
Above: Alana Jancevski holds off Beattie Goad before smashing home her equaliser for Perth Glory at Melbourne Victory. Photo: Kieran Chea for Impetus.
BEN GILBY: Alana Jancevski’s goal for Perth Glory against Melbourne Victory. Jancevski hasn’t had the amount of game time that I honestly expected after a strong season in purple last time round and a fantastic showing in the NPLW Victoria with Bulleen Lions. For me, Jancevski is someone who deserves to be the first pick in the starting XI each week. She is one of those generational players who can create something from nothing. Outrageous skill and stunning finishes are what you get with Jancevski in the side. May Friday’s strike be the first of many. The fact that this strike came against her old side, and in front of her Victorian-based family made it even more special.
KIERAN YAP: Alana Jancevski’s equaliser for Perth Glory against Melbourne Victory. In her home town, against her old side with Perth Glory up against the ropes, Jancevski scored a brilliantly taken goal. It was a huge moment for the player and could be vital for the Glory’s season.
JONATHAN TAY: Negative event of the week, unfortunately, but Rylee Baisden’s injury has Perth Glory fearing the worst. Head coach Alex Epakis described it as “heartbreaking”, and whilst it hasn’t been confirmed to be an ACL injury, he stated, “it doesn’t look good”. It’s a tough blow for Baisden, who currently sits as the joint top goalscorer in the Liberty A-League. If the American is out for the season, it also puts a real dent in Glory’s hopes of making the top four this campaign, especially having shown they can compete with the best, having come from behind to earn a point against Melbourne Victory.
BEN CAREY: This one was tough, but I think it has to be Western United’s Hannah Keane being denied three times by Brianna Edwards and the Wellington Phoenix defence in the 36th minute. I have to give a shout-out to Grace Maher’s incredible long-range goal against Adelaide United as well though.
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Impetus’ Kris Goman was at Wanderers Football Park for us yesterday to capture the best action from Western Sydney Wanderers’ superb win over Melbourne City. Her EXCLUSIVE photos are below:(9/1/23).
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate after Olivia Price put them 2-0 ahead. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Above: Angie Beard is the latest addition to Western United’s squad. Photo: Football Australia.
Western United have announced another hugely impressive signing with the arrival of Matildas international Angie Beard from Danish club Fortuna Hjørring on a multi-year contract.
The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Green and Black and brings significant quality and experience into the side.
Beard has 80 games of Liberty A-League experience – 29 with her hometown Brisbane Roar and 51 with Melbourne Victory, where she was a Championship-winning captain in 2021.
Upon returning to the Liberty A-League, the versatile left-footer said she is thrilled to join the project at Western United. “I’m excited to be here with the girls. Seeing what Mark (Torcaso) and Amanda (Stella) are doing with Western is really inspiring,” she said.
“It’s always good to aim for more silverware and more achievements and this team is a very talented group. I think the team chemistry and what they’re creating on the field and the environment off the field is very attractive for me.
“I’m loving Australian football right now and I’m loving being back in Australia, so hopefully it’s a good fit for both of us.”
Above: Angie Beard jumps for joy during her time with Melbourne Victory. Photo: W-League.
Beard has worked with Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso in the past when she starred in Calder United’s 2019 NPLW Victoria treble-winning team.
Torcaso said he is eager to work with Beard again and that the signing was another important move as United seeks to continue its early momentum in the Liberty A-League.
“The fact that Angie wanted to come here and the fact that we are able to go out and get her is another indication of our ambition in this competition,” he said.
“Angie has been a star in this league already, she’s had big experience overseas and she is going to be a massive player for us and for our league. Her quality as a player is important but her quality as a person is even more vital. I’m delighted and honoured to be able to work with her again and I can’t wait for our fans to see her in action.”
Beard has also played in the top flight in Iceland and has been capped three times by the Matildas, debuting against the Republic of Ireland in 2021.
Her two seasons at Fortuna resulted in second and third-placed finishes in the league and a Danish Cup title in May 2022.
Beard takes the No.23 jersey and will hope to make her debut with United facing two games in four days.
Artwork by: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Above: Sheridan Gallagher celebrates her opening goal for Western Sydney Wanderers. Image: @wswanderersfc
After going almost a calendar year without a win, Western Sydney Wanderers rang in 2023 with arguably the upset of the season, beating Melbourne City 2-0 at Wanderers Football Park.
Goals from Sheridan Gallagher and Olivia Price gave Western Sydney their maiden victory of the campaign, and their first since January 9th 2022, lifting them off the foot of the table.
Melbourne City looked to still be recovering from a New Year’s hangover, strangely unable to create clear-cut chances and missing their usual incisiveness, the loss seeing them relinquish first place in the Liberty A-League.
Ahead of a brutal stretch of three games in just seven days, City head coach Dario Vidosic made two changes, with Sally James back between the posts, and Rhianna Pollicina returning to the starting XI after Emina Ekic’s season-ending injury in the last match round. In the opposing dugout, Kat Smith handed new Philippine recruit Sarina Bolden her red-and-black debut, with Amy Harrison and Olivia Price also rotating into the midfield.
City, as has been the case all season thus far, customarily controlled the majority of ball possession in the game. They created the first chance in the 12th minute; Wilkinson’s sharp shot straight at Wanderers keeper Jordan Bloomer, after Daniela Galic, starting on the left wing, nipped in to force an interception.
The Wanderers though were competitive throughout; tenacious in their duels and resolute in the middle of the park. A wayward pass from Galic led to a glorious opportunity for Price to open the scoring, but with only keeper James to beat, her shot was off-target, having been played through by Bolden.
Above: New Wanderers signing Sarina Bolden impressed on her debut. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
The cagey affair saw both teams struggle to cleanly progress the ball into dangerous areas until Western Sydney surprisingly opened the scoring somewhat fortuitously. Gallagher was found around the right corner of the 18-yard box, and whilst her left-footed shot was deflected off City’s Chelsea Blissett, it caught the wind, looped over James, and inside the back post.
Seeking a response to the unexpected setback, Vidosic brought on Julia Grosso for Leticia McKenna at halftime, with Galic moving back into central midfield. The Melbournians though started the second period shakily, with consecutive turnovers from centre-backs Naomi Chinnama and then Katie Bowen leading to a Bolden shot just clearing the bar, and a Gallagher cross just out of the Filipino’s reach.
The Wanderers didn’t have to wait long for their second though. Another City turnover in their defensive third saw Beth Gordon feed an unmarked Price at the top of the penalty area, who controlled and fired past James, giving Western Sydney an improbable two-goal lead.
Further substitutions could not help Melbourne City break down a compact Wanderers defence, with the Sydneysiders seeming more likely to notch a third on the counterattack instead. Bolden, having been put through one-on-one, almost capped off a memorable debut with a goal in the 75th minute, with keeper James getting fingertips on her strike to deflect it onto the crossbar.
The visitors looked alternately frantic and lost for ideas throughout, uncharacteristically amassing an expected goals (xG) of just 0.55 for the entirety of the match. The Wanderers though, were deserved winners with 15 shots to the Sky Blues’ nine, outworking their opponents and seeing out the game without much fanfare.
City will need to have short memory spans, hoping to rediscover their form against Adelaide United, with a rapid turnaround on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Western Sydney’s giant-killing triumph has jolted their season to life and should give Kat Smith’s charges confidence for the rest of their campaign ahead.
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers celebrate their first win for almost a year. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Above: Grace Maher (right) celebrates with Nikki Flannery after her sensational strike. Photo: Keep Up.
Two goals in a three-minute spell on either side of the half-hour mark at the Service FM Stadium, including a typically stunning strike from Grace Maher, earned Canberra United only their second win of the A-League Women season.
Maher’s effort, from approaching 30 yards, in addition to Michelle Heyman’s clever escape from her marker to fire home, give the capital city side renewed hope of pushing towards the top half of the table.
Going into the match, Adelaide United were without Emily Condon who is suffering from a groin injury. Elsewhere, Paige Hayward was able to play further forward and renew her partnership with Fiona Worts and Chelsie Dawber.
For the visitors, Canberra United head coach Njegosh Popovich handed a first start to teenager Ellen Gett after her move from Brisbane Roar in place of Emma Ilijoski who stepped down to the bench. Hayley Taylor-Young was also given a starting berth for the first time in 11 months.
Kick-off was pushed back over three hours due to extreme heat in Adelaide, but despite the new 7pm start time, the match began in 35c temperatures with two drinks breaks in each half.
Above: Adelaide United’s Maruschka Waldus (right) looks to get past Grace Jale. Photo: Keep Up.
It was the visitors who created the first chance with six minutes on the clock. A trademark run along the right from Michelle Heyman saw her motor away from the attention of two defenders before cutting in and firing a shot across goal that Reds keeper Annalee Grove did well to get a hand to ahead of Nikki Flannery.
Canberra were in receipt of most of the possession, and were targeting the bulk of their attacks in the opening 20 minutes along the right where Sasha Grove and Heyman were able to dictate. Adelaide chances were few and far between, with Nanako Sasaki firing wide and Melindaj Barbieri’s effort blocked by Ellie Brush.
Just before the half-hour mark, the game caught fire with a stunning three minutes of action. It all began with the visitors gaining their reward on the scoreboard. Gaining possession from Grace Jale in the ‘D’, Heyman turned away from her marker Emily Hodgson to create the space to fire home into the left-hand corner.
Above: Michelle Heyman (centre) receives the congratulations of her team-mates after putting Canberra United 1-0 up. Photo: Keep Up.
Adelaide created a chance from the re-start as Dawber played a ball in from the right for Dylan Holmes, but the effort was blocked.
The rapid-fire action continued as Canberra doubled their lead with a piece of magic from the cultured boot of Maher. Positioned almost 30 yards out from goal, to the right of centre, the Canberra legend looked up, saw home keeper Annalee Grove off her line slightly and fired a stunning effort over the Adelaide shot-stopper and in. It was Maher doing what Maher does best as Canberra closed out the half on top.
With the second half more even at the start, clear-cut chances were at a premium. The best opportunity of the encounter’s third quarter came when Heyman once more got free up the right to play in a ball for Laura Hughes who failed to connect properly, allowing Vesna Milivojević to see an effort go wide.
Above: Sasha Grove gets a pass away for Canberra United under the watchful eye of Maruschka Waldus. Photo: Keep Up.
Emilia Murray’s introduction from the bench added some pace and drive along the flank, but Adelaide were unable to make any headway on the visitors.
Jale continued to probe and influence proceedings. Her link-up play and presence in the box is a reminder of exactly what Wellington Phoenix are missing this season.
Adelaide United have now gone down in successive weeks without scoring in games against Newcastle Jets and now Canberra United, teams that Adrian Stenta’s side would have been targeting for victories.
They don’t have the pep up front of last season. With Chelsie Dawber scoring more goals than the rest of her Reds team-mates put together, they need to find a way of getting their offensive threat firing again. Melbourne City’s visit on Wednesday serves as a reminder it’s not going to get any easier for the South Australians.
Above: Lots to ponder for Adelaide United ahead of Melbourne City’s visit on Wednesday. Photo: Keep Up.
Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED(4-3-3): A. Grove, I. Hodgson, Waldus, McCormick, E. Hodgson, Barbieri, Holmes, Sasaki, Dawber, Worts, Hayward. Substitutes: Farrow (GK), Murray, Tolland, Westland, Xiao.
CANBERRA UNITED (4-4-2): Lincoln, Taylor-Young, Brush, Gett, S. Grove, Flannery, Hughes, Maher, Jale, Heyman, Milivojević. Substitutes: Christopherson, Ilijoski, Roach, Segavcic (GK), Taranto.
Scorer: Heyman 28′, Maher 31′.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Attendance: 853.
Graphic by Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Above: Tyla-Jay Vlajnic celebrates her winning goal. Image: @wufcofficial
Western United have won their sixth straight game to maintain their perfect record, but they were made to earn it by a well-organized Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington were without Alyssa Whinham and Paige Satchell from their attack. Western United were at close to full strength, with only Chloe Logarzo unavailable. After snatching a draw against the Wanderers last weekend, Phoenix was looking for improvement, Western were returning home after a dramatic 3-2 win away to Perth Glory and just needed to keep the ball rolling at City Vista.
Western United enjoyed the majority of possession for the first half and attacked from the outset. Hannah Keane, Jess McDonald, and Khali Johnson tried to get in behind the defence at every opportunity. They found space out wide, but the attacks were repelled by Wellington’s back four, marshalled well by Mackenzie Barry.
Grace Wisnewski was instrumental for Wellington’s midfield. Although Western United maintained control of the ball, they were unable to pass forward easily. Western are not a side that needs to dominate a match to get a result, but if the Phoenix were to stand any chance, against the league leaders it was important to pressure them and limit the supply.
When Western’s passing and movement did pay off, Brianna Edwards was there to deny them. Keane raced beyond Marisa van der Meer, but Edwards pulled off a terrific close-range save. The defender blocked the follow-up shot, before Edwards was called into action for a third time in seconds.
The young goalkeeper has been thrown into the deep end in the absence of Lily Alfeld, and has improved since Round One. This was by far her best performance of the season, and she was the most decisive player on the field for much of the game.
Emma Robers found space in the second half, bringing the best out of Edwards once again. A goal looked likely from the in-form midfielder, but Edwards raced off her line, reacting instantly to smother the lofted attempt and keep the scores level.
With the game headed towards a 0-0 result, Mark Torcaso looked to his bench. In a crucial move, Khali Johnson was swapped for Tyla-Jay Vlajnic. Normally a fullback, Vlajnic was deployed further forward, giving Western United more creativity behind the attackers and another attacking option in possession.
It paid dividends minutes later when Vlajnic jumped to head home from Melissa Taranto’s free kick.
Vlajnic is known more for her wand of a left foot and would have been the deliverer of the ball in on most occasions in her career. With Wellington’s defence occupied by more obvious targets, Vlajnic was able to power her header home in impressive fashion.
That goal was enough to win it. Aleks Sinclair was brought on to close out the game and Francesca Iermano was introduced to keep the pressure on. Wellington’s bench was not as deep and once Emily Clegg was withdrawn, it felt unlikely an equaliser would be found.
Wellington’s problems are simple enough on paper, they have not adequately replaced the power, presence, and goal-scoring ability of Grace Jale. It is easier said than done though, not many A-League Women’s teams have more than two experienced and reliable strikers.
In Ava Prichard, they have a promising talent with a nose for goal, but without Satchell and Whinham, they needed Western United to make multiple defensive errors to get a result. This was a big ask against a team that has shown no charity so far this season.
Wellington looked impressive, and this was their best performance of this campaign. Their defence and midfield was well organized. They are starting to build a solid foundation, but Wellington had scored three times going into this game, Western United had 13 before Vlajnic added another.
This was a mismatch on paper that they equalised for the most part on the field. That is encouraging.
Speaking after the match, Phoenix head coach Nat Lawrence said: “There’s a lot of feelings, a feeling of pride in how much we’ve improved and how we really took it to them. I asked them to show strength and courage and they did that and they fought right until the end.
“There’s that coupled with just being gutted. Just gutted for them that they didn’t get the result that they deserved, again. If I look at this game and the Adelaide game we deserved points out of it.”
Lawrence went on to express her frustration about what she believed is a substandard pitch at City Vista Reserve: “I look at this field that we played on today and we’ve trained on better fields. I don’t know how this is A-League standard. There’s patches everywhere. You can see that the ball is bobbling…this field was by far the worst (we’ve played on). It doesn’t set a good standard for A-League football I think.”
Western United just keep on winning and have six wins from six games. Sydney FC sit above them on the table, and the two sides face off on Wednesday when the defending premiers are welcomed to City Vista.
There are few questions remaining about Mark Torcaso’s side, one more win could entrench them in finals favoritism.
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Beall, Papadopoulos, Cummings, Cerne, Medwin, Robers, M Taranto, A Taranto, Johnson, Keane, McDonald Substitutes: Dall’ Oste (GK), Iermano, Dakic, Sinclair, Vlajnic.
Above: Sydney FC celebrate the win over Newcastle Jets. Photo: Sydney FC.
Sydney FC began the new year with a dominant performance over Newcastle Jets on a windy and overcast Saturday afternoon in Newcastle.
The match began in a frenetic fashion, with an action-packed first 10 minutes. The in-form American, Madison Haley, scored the first goal just 20 seconds in after a defensive error from the Jets gave Haley the ball and she ran all the way to the goal and tucked it in past Claire Coelho. It was Haley’s fifth goal of the season. She is now level with Melina Ayres and Rylee Baisden as the league’s top scorer.
A couple of minutes later, the relentless pressure of Sydney FC exposed the frazzled Newcastle defence yet again. Mackenzie Hawkesby hit a smooth ball through to Sarah Hunter who slotted it past the keeper for her third goal of the season.
🔵 WHAT. A. START 🔵@SydneyFC have flown out the gates with TWO GOALS in the first FOUR MINUTES 😱
In the seventh minute, the explosive Cortnee Vine played a beautiful through ball to Hawkesby, who scored her second goal of the season, after converting a penalty against the Western Sydney Wanderers two weeks ago.
Just as the first 10 minutes were about to expire, Lauren Allan made a fantastic break past Sydney’s backline and hit a perfectly waited pass to Adriana Konjarski who tapped it in for Newcastle’s first goal of the match. The goal certainly breathed new life back into the clash.
What is going on in the Hunter?!?!
Four goals in the first 10 MINUTES 🚨@NewcastleJetsFC pull one back via Adriana Konjarski!
Things settled a bit after the first 10 minutes. The Newcastle defensive structure became more solid and reliable, shutting down the visitors’ attempts. Sydney dropped off the attack a little as well. In the 23rd minute, the Jets won a free kick, which Tara Andrews aimed at the top right corner forcing a fantastic diving save from Sydney keeper Katie Offer, who is in for broken finger victim Jada Whyman.
The final 20 minutes of the first half consisted mostly of a midfield skirmish, punctuated by Sydney breaking through the Newcastle backline a few times. Hawkesby, Vine, and Hunter all made good attempts on goal, but Coelho and the Newcastle defence were equal to them.
The second half started off almost as chaotic as the first. Rain had started coming down in sheets and the wind picked up as well. An amazing, high looping corner kick from Cass Davis, in the 48th minute, floated in and was tapped over the line by Andrews, despite frantic efforts from the Sydney defence. Newcastle was now within one goal of Sydney.
GAME ON in the Hunter 🔥🔥@NewcastleJetsFC have pegged another back to make it 3-2 🍿
Soon after the Jets’ second goal the weather began to dry up a bit, and so did the goals, for a while. But in the 63rd minute, there was a foul on Princess Ibini in the box, which resulted in a penalty kick that Ibini converted easily for her second goal of the season, after the stunning angle goal from last week against Brisbane.
Sydney FC closed out the last half hour of the match without too much difficulty, the defensive line shutting down a few probing attacks from Newcastle.
Sydney’s win made sure they have secured their place in the top four as we approach the midpoint of the season. Hawkesby had a phenomenal game for the Sky Blues once again, scoring one goal, providing an assist, and setting up several more opportunities. Vine had an exceptional game too. Her explosive movement and intent to win the ball and set up her teammates was unrelenting, and she came within an inch of scoring herself. Haley, Ibini, and Hunter also had great games, each providing a goal for their club.
Newcastle Jets captain Cass Davis put in a great shift, calming her team down after falling behind 3-0 and pulling a lot of strings in the midfield to try and orchestrate a comeback. If it wasn’t for Ibini’s penalty the last half hour of the match would have had a completely different intensity. Lauren Allen also had an excellent day at the office, with an assist to her name, as well as creating a couple more chances for her team
Newcastle Jets will take on Canberra United next Saturday and Sydney FC will face the red-hot, undefeated Western United in four days’ time away from home. That highly anticipated clash has the potential of being one of the most exciting matches of the season.
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