Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the 12th round of 2022-2023 D1 Arkema season.
Above: Maëlle Garbino (10) celebrated her goal for Bordeaux with her teammates. Photo: Bordeaux web site.
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Rodez
Paris Saint-Germain beat bottom-placed Rodez 1-0 at a gloomy Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Lay where, owing to poor lighting, several areas of the field were almost black. Even though they largely dominated the game, PSG would have been facing defeat if Rodez had converted the opportunities that came in 30th and 56th minutes. Goal: Paris Saint-Germain, Kaddiatou Diani (43, penalty)
Montpellier 2-0 Reims
Reims dominated in the first half and tried to come back in the second half, but their lack of efficiency up front meant they couldn’t score. They may very well regret that there is no VAR in D1 Arkema because as they had two strong shouts for penalties turned down. Goals: Montpellier, Maelys Mpomé (35), Marion Torrent (90+7).
Soyaux 0-3 Olympique Lyonnais
Above: Amandine Henry, Olympique Lyonnais, in August 2022. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
Some might say that the field in Soyaux resembled a potato field rather than a football pitch. Such a surface really wasn’t the best advert for D1 Arkema but the match did feature the first goal from Vanessa Gilles for Lyon whilst Vanessa Gilles is the 100th player to score for Olympique Lyonnais and Amandine Henry scored her 50th goal for the club on her 350th appearance. French international Amel Majri who was injured 15 months ago and has since had a baby returned to the field on 75 minutes. Goals: Olympique Lyonnais, Vanessa Gilles (36), Amandine Henry (40), Wendie Renard (72).
Bordeaux 2-0 Dijon
Bordeaux largely dominated at home Dijon and scored early in the second minute through November’s D1 Arkema Player of the Month, Maëlle Garbino who continued her excellent form. Goals: Bordeaux, Maëlle Garbino (2), Maëlle Seguin (55).
Le Havre 2-2 Guingamp
A good game from both teams saw Guingamp score twice in the first half, before Le Havre came back via their two American players. One goal came at the end of first half and the other at the end of the second. Goals: Guingamp, Sarah Cambot (4, 32); Le Havre, Sh’nia Gordon (45+3), Deja Davis (90+1).
Paris FC 0-2 Fleury
Above: Julie Piga, Fleury, up in the air during the game against Lyon in October 2022. Photo: Jean-Pierre Thiesset for Impetus.
This was a great result for Fleury against one of their main rivals to gain third place and UWCL qualification. On another ‘uneven’ surface at Charléty, Fleury well deserved their win. Paris FC dominated the first half, but could not convert their chances in front of goal. Fleury came into the game more in the second half and scored twice from set pieces: a corners and a free kick with defender Julie Piga involved in both. Fleury now lie fourth in the D1 Arkema table, only one point behind Montpellier. Goals: Fleury, Julie Piga (70), Inès Konan (79).
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 (16/1/23)
Player of the Week:
Above: After missing last season due to an ACL injury, Canberra United’s Nikki Flannery, seen here during the 2020/21 season, is getting back to her best. Photo: Canberra United
BEN GILBY:Sarina Bolden. Western Sydney Wanderers have been a team desperate for a talismanic attacker all season. In comes the Philippines international and her side seal back-to-back sensational victories.
KIERAN YAP:Vesna Milivojević registered two assists and scored one in a terrific individual display. In the absence of Grace Maher, the Serbian international stepped up and helped run the show for Canberra United.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS:Nikki Flannery. It’s been a very good return to the A-League Women from an ACL injury with her performance against Newcastle last Saturday being no exception. The striker was absolutely outstanding with two crucial assists in the first half-an-hour of the match that put Canberra in a very comfortable position for the rest of the match.
BEN CAREY:Hannah Keane. Scoring two goals against Sydney, one of the strongest teams and best defences in the league is an insane achievement. Shout out to Michelle Heyman and Hana Lowry as well though.
Coach of the Week:
Above: Another week, another set of nominations for Kat Smith as coach of the week. Image: Western Sydney Wanderers.
BEN GILBY:Kat Smith. After a run of what could have been demoralising defeats, her team faced fixtures against Melbourne City and unbeaten Western United. Smith’s motivational efforts, her players’ belief and some important forays into the transfer market have reaped the rewards of two sensational wins back to back.
KIERAN YAP: Mark Torcaso. Before the loss to Western Sydney, Western United had defeated Sydney FC to go seven games undefeated. The win over last season’s premiers was a huge statement. Western United have now defeated every one of last season’s top four teams.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS:Njegosh Popovich. One of the biggest positives in Popovich’s first season as head coach of Canberra United has been the fact that Canberra has been extremely strong creating opportunities in attack with 145 shots in just eight matches played with an average of 18.12 shots per match despite going into their match against Newcastle with just 10 goals scored. However, with the team that Popovich put out for the match against Newcastle, he was able to get Canberra playing not only strong in the first half and even better in the second half but most importantly the team was able to take their chances more often with one goal for every 3.6 shots made for arguably Canberra’s best performance so far this season.
BEN CAREY:Kat Smith. Leading her team to a win over the previously undefeated Western United is such a big achievement.
Event of the Week:
Above: Tash Rigby and Perth Glory face a nightmare week in March with three games in six days in three states due to Sydney not being able to find a venue to host next weekend’s match. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
BEN GILBY: The decision by the APL to push back Perth Glory’s scheduled trip to Sydney FC from next weekend to midweek at the end of March. Sydney are unable to stage the game due to pitch conditions at Leichhardt Oval and cannot find another ground to play it at. The impact of this on the Glory is huge with the game rearranged for midweek in a period where the club have a Sunday home game before travelling to Sydney and then another trip three days afterwards to Brisbane Roar – yet another example of inherent inflexibility when it comes to scheduling games for clubs who face huge travelling distances.
KIERAN YAP: Sarina Bolden’s goal vs Western United was a brilliant moment and reward for the impact she has had at The Wanderers already. She could have had more, but just as in their first appearance, Bolden gave Western Sydney a spearhead in attack, and Western United something to worry about.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Canberra United’s first goal against Newcastle Jets was superb. Starting with a great pass made by Michelle Heyman that found Nikki Flannery who ran onto the ball, controlled it with a few touches, and then returned the favour to Heyman who had subsequently made a run into the box, chested down the pass, took an additional touch and beautifully slotted the ball into the back of the net.
BEN CAREY: The tussle between Emma Rolston, of Wellington Phoenix, and Ella Mastrantonio, of Perth Glory, that had them both sent off, was sad but also one of the biggest plot points of the week.
Artwork by: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
EXCLUSIVE photos from Hannah Parnellpitchside at The Emirates(16/1/23)
Above: Sam Kerr makes her point to the Arsenal fans after scoring a late, late leveller at The Emirates. Photo: Hannah Parnell for Impetus.
Big Crowd, Big Performance
Above: Caitlin Foord (left) put in another impressive performance for the Gunners. Photo: Hannah Parnell for Impetus.
Arsenal are making a habit of this now with a third Women’s Super League game at the Emirates this season drawing a crowd in excess of 40,000. On a day when the Gunners’ men’s team were playing in their North London Derby away at Tottenham this is a level of support that cannot be ignored.
46,811 tickets were sold for this Sunday lunchtime blockbuster between arguably the two most successful English teams in the WSL era and Arsenal put in a performance to match the occasion.
From the off, Arsenal were a yard faster and more energetic across the park than their visitors from South West London. Caitlin Foord, in particular, impressed with her movement and passing as Arsenal got in behind their opponents on numerous occasions in the opening half of play.
Cool Kim
Above: Kim Little celebrates after converting from the spot. Photo: Hannah Parnell for Impetus.
There are certainly mixed views on the penalty awarded by referee Emily Heaslip to Arsenal as, whilst Foord fell inside the box, the initial contact from Niamh Charles started outside.
But the pressure was on the penalty taker regardless and it was captain Kim Little who stepped up to take, and convert, the kick – and in doing so sent the thousands of Arsenal fans, and their coach Jonas Eidevall into raptures.
A Champions Result?
Above: Sam Kerr celebrates with Lauren James after her dramatic late equaliser. Photo: Hannah Parnell for Impetus.
Chelsea will feel this was a performance well below what they are capable of with none of their attacking players getting into their usual flow. Sam Kerr was isolated a lot of the time and Erin Cuthbert had a mostly frustrating afternoon.
However, Emma Hayes remained her usual calm and measured self in the technical area and used her substitutes to attempt change the direction of the game. Eve Perisset, Fran Kirby, Jelena Cankovic and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd were all introduced one by one as Hayes plotted a way to recovery.
Just as it looked like Chelsea were heading home pointless, Serb international Jelena Čanković delivered an inch-perfect ball for Sam Kerr to head home and ensure that the match spoils were shared.
Happy and Honest Hayes
At the post-match press conference coach Emma Hayes, with a grin on her face, was clear: “To come to a big title rival and not be at our best, it’s an amazing point for the team”. Chelsea will know they were outplayed, but that was a massive point gained through a late goal that ruined Arsenal’s Emirates party.
As Hayes left the press conference she was positively buzzing and will feel that, with this result, Chelsea have the psychological edge on Arsenal as we begin the second half of the season.
The Title Race
Conceding that late Sam Kerr goal means Arsenal were denied a clear advantage in the title race. So where are we now? Chelsea lead but have played a game more than the rest of the top four, Arsenal and Manchester United sit three points behind with Manchester City six points off top spot.
Kerr, and Chelsea’s grit and attacking threats, probably make them favourites but this is looking like the most competitive title race ever in the WSL. Chelsea v Arsenal is currently scheduled for the penultimate game of the season at Kingsmeadow on Sunday 21st May and that may well prove decisive.
Hannah Parnell’s EXCLUSIVE photo gallery from The Emirates:
Impetus’ Kris Goman was pitchside at Wanderers Football Park to capture the best of the action from Western Sydney Wanderers’ superb win over Western United on Saturday (16/1/23)
Above: All-action midfield tussle for possession between Western Sydney Wanderers and Western United. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.
Ben Gilby reports on both head coaches media conferences and Tom McCarthy delivers top quality photo action from the game Macedonia Park(15/1/23).
Above: Perth Glory’s Cyera Hintzen (right) battles with Wellington Phoenix’s Mackenzie Barry. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis was very much of the “glass half full” mood when reflecting on his team’s performance in their 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix today.
Speaking to the media after the match at Macedonia Park, Epakis said: “It’s a performance that got us the three points, so you are always happy with that. There were phases where we were good, there were phases where we could have been better…I would have liked us to have been more clinical at times.”
Above: Liz Anton (fourth from left) stood out for Perth Glory. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Asked about the coming together of Ella Mastrantonio and Phoenix’s Emma Rolston that saw both players sent off, the Glory boss said: “I haven’t seen it (back) or had a chance to speak to Ella yet. The referee has reasons for it.”
Epakis was enthusiastic about the performance of defender Liz Anton, who responded in style to a challenge he set her before the game: “I told Liz today that I wanted her to be the best Kiwi on the field, and I think she liked that! She really stepped up and rightly so. It was a very good performance, it was calm and physical when it needed to be. Her and Kim (Carroll) really compliment each other.”
Above: Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
Perth now have a three-week gap before their next match away to Western United after the midweek announcement that Sydney FC are unable to stage next weekend’s game against the Western Australians and cannot find another ground to play it at until the end of March.
The impact of this on the Glory is huge with the game rearranged for midweek in a period where the club have a Sunday home game before travelling to Sydney and then another trip three days afterwards to Brisbane Roar – yet another example of inherent inflexibility when it comes to scheduling games for clubs who face huge travelling distances.
“I’m not happy about it. The APL made a decision to postpone our game against Sydney (due to the playing surface being substandard) and not being able to source another venue across a large state, and we’re now going to be punished by playing three games in six days across three different states, which isn’t fair.”
“It compromises the run we have to have, and its a well-being and safety issue. I don’t think it’s going to look good, and I’m not going to sit here and say it looks good. I’ve voiced my concerns (to the APL) but there was no reply to my email.”
Alex Epakis, Perth Glory head coach.
“We have to maintain our intense load on a weekend. You can’t go three weeks without a game and expect to come back strong. We will look to play internally against our Academy Boys outfit and we have a very good Sports Science team here and I’ll look to be guided by them.”
Above: Wellington Phoenix head coach Nat Lawrence. Image: Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Nat Lawrence was visibly frustrated as she reviewed her team’s showing at Perth today.
“We got punished for two mistakes which…we’ve got to hold ourselves accountable for,” Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence told media post-game.
“We need to stop making these mistakes that are leading to these goals and start taking our chances as well.”
Lawrence reflected that the huge travelling involved to get to Perth, along with the hot conditions was a factor, but ultimately her side were their own worst enemies: “We knew that the travel was going to be tough, we knew that the heat was going to be tough and we prepared as much as we could for it.
Above: Wellington Phoenix’s Paige Satchell looked to create along the wing. Photo: Tom McCarthy.
“There’s some fatigue amongst the girls [and] there’s a little bit of jet lag, but that’s not really an excuse that we’re willing to hide behind. New Zealand is where we want to be and where we want to be based and travel is part of it.”
The Nix boss also highlighted her team’s growth during the campaign by saying: “We had more possession, we had better pass completion, we’ve had more shots, we’ve had more final third entries again than any other game this season so we’re building and getting better and better.”
However, the reality is that Wellington are now well adrift at the bottom as the only team in the league without a win.
“Game eight and yeah one point on the board but…we believe that we’ve still got 10 games to fight for. As long as we keep sticking to our process then we believe the outcome will happen.” Lawrence said.
Suvadeep Biswas was at The Bescot Stadium for Impetus to capture the best of the action as Lionesses stars Jordan Nobbs and Beth England made their debuts for their new clubs (15/1/23)
Above: Combative action between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur yesterday. Photo: Suvadeep Biswas for Impetus.
Above: Susan Phonsongkham (left) celebrates after dispatching her penalty to put Perth Glory 2-0 up. Photo: Keep Up.
Perth Glory earned a much-needed win in the first-ever Distance Derby in Western Australia to mark legendary defender Kim Carroll’s 150th W/A-League Women game in style.
A 5,500km journey with a time zone difference of five hours thrown in for good measure is one of the biggest away trips in senior women’s club football. These two sides spend hours on planes for away matches in a normal week, but this one is something else.
Alex Epakis’ side went into the game without Rylee Baisden. The striker, who had scored five of the team’s 10 goals this season suffered a heartbreaking ACL injury in Perth’s game at Melbourne Victory. It’s the third season in a row that the Glory have lost a major attacking player to a season-ending injury.
Perth were aggressive from the off with multiple players looking to press and close down Phoenix every time they got on the ball. The purple and orange shirts maintained a high line.
Izzy Foletta, in only her second game for the hosts, was busy from the start. The former Brisbane Roar player has added intelligence and guile to the Glory backline as an excellent addition to Alex Epakis’ squad.
Whilst Wellington had the greater percentage of the possession, it was Perth who did more with it in offensive areas. Unlike the majority of their games this season, they were able to turn their early opportunities into a scoreboard lead.
Above: Cyera Hintzen shows her joy after putting Perth ahead. Photo: Keep Up.
Local star Hana Lowry picked up the ball just inside the Phoenix half and laid off inside to Cyera Hintzen. The American striker turned her marker with ease, and let fly from over 20 yards with a long range low strike that bounced in at the left-hand post past the desperate outstretched arm of Brianna Edwards.
The Glory continued to probe, and within eight minutes doubled their advantage. Lowry entered the far left-hand side of the box and was felled by Mackenzie Barry and referee, Casey Reibelt had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Susan Phonsongkham to dispatch a low spot kick into the left-hand corner.
For the visitors, Grace Wisnewski and Chloe Knott were battling hard and looking to create where possible, but on the rare occasions that they were able to approach the home penalty area, the high press did its job and forced the Nix into errors resulting in turn over ball.
Ten minutes before the break, Emma Rolston went down under pressure from Ella Mastrantonio. As the Football Fern went down, she managed to get the ball lodged between her legs with Mastrantonio making contact in a bid to get the ball free. Rolston reacted by getting to her feet and reaching out with her hand to make contact with the former WSL player’s face. Not surprisingly both were shown a red card.
Above: The incident between Emma Rolston and Ella Mastrantonio (21) that led to both players being sent off. Photo: Keep Up.
Phoenix had half chances, with a corner coming off the bar and then Paige Satchell found space to gallop down the right-hand flank, beating Foletta in idiosyncratic style before delivering a pacey ball in that Ava Pritchard couldn’t quite get on the end of as the half ticked towards its conclusion.
The visitors had the first chance of the second period when they saw another ball in come off the bar. Shortly afterwards, Michaela Foster brought down Foletta just outside the box in a clumsy challenge on the right-hand edge of the box. Up stepped Phonsongkham to hit a free kick which, although dipping, couldn’t quite come down in time.
The second half then game stretched into an end-to-end encounter before the home side took over once more. Sofia Sakalis’ influence grew as the youngsters’ sparkling footwork and creative vision came to the fore.
Perth forced a plethora of second-half corners, one such came in with 10 minutes left to provoke a playground-style scramble in the box before the danger was dealt with. Sub Abbey Green had a late opportunity when one on one with Edwards after gaining turn over ball from Kate Taylor, but couldn’t get her shot on target into the goal.
Whilst this was a much-needed win for Perth to keep their Finals hopes alive, they left a lot of potential additional goals out there, which could have proved costly against an opponent in better form. Alex Epakis’ side now have a long wait until their next game – 4th February at Western United – to continue their second half of the season surge.
Tom McCarthy‘s photo gallery from the match will follow on a separate article on the site later today along with Ben Gilby‘s coverage of both team’s post-match media conferences.
Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory played out an enthralling draw at Casey Fields with goals by Alex Chidiac for Victory on her 24th birthday that opened the scoring before Hannah Wilkinson for City cancelled out Victory’s goal towards the end of the first half.
It could have been anyone’s match with both sides very much having their chances to have won the derby.
Early into the contest, it was a very even affair but City had the best opportunities at goal with a Hannah Wilkinson header from Rhianna Pollicina’s cross in the second minute that went into the hands of Victory’s Casey Dumont and a shot at goal from outside by Pollicina that went out for a Victory goal kick six minutes later.
Victory hit the front just before the quarter-hour mark. Katie Bowen’s attempted back pass to Karly Roestbakken was pounced on by Chidiac who then got into the box as her low left foot shot towards goal made the slightest contact with Barbieri which left the ball trickling into the net.
Daniela Galic provided a chance to level matters with 10 minutes of the half remaining when her cross found Julia Grosso at the far post whose header went over the bar.
Above: Melbourne City celebrate Hannah Wilkinson’s equaliser. Photo: Keep Up.
Two minutes later, Galic was involved again by providing a great through ball to Torpey who then cut the ball back in the box for Wilkinson on the edge of the box who then had a first-time shot at goal that went past Dumont and into the bottom left corner. The Football Ferns star’s first of the season was a deserved equaliser.
Just before the first half was coming to an end, from a Victory throw-in by Beattie Goad Rikke Madsen chested down, turned and shot but her effort came agonisingly came off the crossbar.
City hit the woodwork with eight minutes remaining when the influential Galic found the feet of Grosso whose shot from outside the box hit the bar and very nearly crossed the line.
In the closing stages, the teams were City playing a tug-a-war of possession with Victory who arguably had the best opportunity of scoring a winner. Tiffany Eliadis made a great run from her own half and had all the time in the world to go one-on-one in the box with Barbieri but for some reason decided to prematurely have a shot from outside the box with the ball going well wide of the goal. And that was that.
Above: Adelaide United celebrate after Chelsie Dawber levelled from the spot. Photo: Adelaide United.
Brisbane Roar drew with Adelaide United in a spirited clash in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon. The Roar came into the match hoping to avenge their humiliating 8-2 defeat to Adelaide from last season. The South Australians was looking to break a three-match losing streak.
Despite the warm weather, there was some very high-energy football in the first 10 minutes of the match with chances up both ends of the pitch. Just shy of five minutes into the match, Katrina Gorry played an amazing ball out to Shea Connors on the left flank, who ran in and crossed it into the box where Indiah-Paige Riley was waiting.
Riley made good connection with the ball and smacked it into the back of the net. However, the goal was immediately disallowed for offside. But it was a warning shot to the Adelaide defence.
Two minutes later, Adelaide had a good chance down the other end, when Emilia Murray worked her way past the Brisbane backline and seemed to have beaten Hensley Hancuff in the Brisbane goal, but she flashed the ball just wide. In the 25th minute, Talitha Kramer, starting for the first time for Brisbane Roar, made an incredible run up the field, outfoxing an Adelaide defender, and took a good shot at goal.
Kramer had beaten Annalee Grove, the Adelaide keeper, but Marushka Waldus, the Dutch international, managed to clear it off the line with a header. But the ball didn’t go very far and was pounced on by the ever-present Riley, who found the back of the net. It was her first game of the season and she already had her first goal 25 minutes in.
Above: Indiah-Paige Riley celebrates her debut goal for Brisbane Roar. Photo: Keep Up.
A few minutes before halftime, Fiona Worts found herself in an acre of space and crossed it into the box, but the closest striker, Emilia Murray, couldn’t catch up to it and it rolled wide.
The last meaningful action of the first half was a skirmish in the Adelaide box. Larisa Crummer managed to win possession and play the ball back to Gorry, who took a first-time shot at goal, but it hit the woodwork and bounced out to safety, much to the relief of the Adelaide supporters.
The second half started with a bang, after a blind attempt on goal from Waldus hit the hand of a Brisbane defender and resulted in a penalty kick being awarded. The Adelaide captain, and all-time leading goal scorer, Chelsie Dawber, stepped up to the spot and slotted it past a diving Hancuff, who guessed the right way but just couldn’t reach the ball.
After the equalizer, Brisbane started applying a lot more pressure to the Adelaide defence, who looked like they were tiring. Understandable, seeing as this was their third game in a week.
Just after the hour mark, Norrie ran past three Adelaide defenders in the box and took a shot at goals but couldn’t wrap her foot around the outside of the ball and it sailed wide. A couple of minutes later, a long throw by Jessie Rasschaert resulted in a high ball, which Gorry took out of the air, but once again the woodwork came to the rescue for Adelaide.
Soon after, Adelaide had an excellent chance on goal, after Brisbane failed to clear it twice. Dawber passed to Murray, who took a shot, but it sailed just over the crossbar. A couple of minutes later, the Roar had perhaps their best opportunity of the half. Connors, being an absolute nuisance in the box, earned a corner kick, which was delivered brilliantly by Gorry into the box. She was able to find her Vittsjö teammate Kasja Lind, but Lind was unable to find any meaningful connection with the ball, resulting in an easy save for Grove.
Ten minutes later, Murray was charging forward, looking very dangerous, but Jamilla Rankin made a superb slide tackle just outside the 18-yard box to deny her.
Above: Brisbane Roar’s Katrina Gorry looks to escape from Dylan Holmes and Paige Hayward (9). Photo: Keep Up.
The closing stages were frantic and nervy. In the 82nd minute, there was a high-energy battle in the midfield, which was won by Adelaide. Dawber found herself in a prime position to slot it through the legs of Hancuff in goal. Thankfully for the home crowd, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. The clash was turning into a tale of near misses and disallowed goals.
In the dying minutes of the match, Adelaide mounted a relentless attack, testing the Brisbane defence and Hancuff to the limits, but the Roar managed to hold on and force a draw.
It was a frustrating draw all round, as both sides were looking to close the gap between them and the top four. Still, it was an entertaining match. It was also a very physical encounter, Brisbane committing 17 fouls and conceding a whopping four yellow cards. Adelaide committed 11 fouls but received no yellows.
While neither team was able to get across the line, there were a lot of standout performances. Gorry’s work rate was impressive, as always, as was her service into the final third, which set up a number of great goalscoring chances. She also hit the woodwork twice. On another day she’d have a brace and Brisbane would be home and hosed. But that’s football.
Riley also had an incredible first game back with Brisbane Roar. She scored her first goal in the A-League since 2020. The last two years she has been playing for top Danish club Fortuna Hjørring. She has already proved to be an effective injury replacement for Mariel Hecher.
On the other side of the field, Dawber had a great game, scoring her third of the season, and helping set up a number of other opportunities through the match. Waldus in defence and Grove in goals also put in an impressive shift, denying the Roar on numerous occasions.
Adelaide United will have a week to rest ahead of their clash with Melbourne Victory next weekend. Brisbane Roar will face the dreaded Western United away from home.
Above: Western Sydney Wanderers’ Sarina Bolden can’t believe it! Photo: Keep Up.
Western Sydney Wanderers provided a massive shock as they beat current league leaders Western United – sending the Victorian newcomers to their first-ever defeat after seven straight wins.
The 2-1 loss at Wanderers Football Park saw Western Sydney’s post their second successive major upset following their win against Melbourne City.
Sophie Harding and new signing Sarina Bolden consistently caused problems for the United defence, and they combined for the opener in the 12th minute.
Philippines international Bolden scored her first Liberty A-League goal in her second game from Harding’s pass.
Above: So much to celebrate for Western Sydney Wanderers today. Photo: Keep Up
Mark Torcaso’s Western United are made of stern stuff, and they responded through in form Hannah Keane, who scored her third goal in four days on the 26th-minute mark with a fine far-post header from a Khali Johnson cross.
It was United’s only effort on target in the first half and the American’s sixth goal of a productive campaign.
The Wanderers’ 53rd-minute winner came from a rare indirect free kick in the penalty area, that was awarded after a backpass.
The ball on the left edge of the six-yard box was played to Amy Harrison who lashed her shot past the wall and into the net.
WSW rise to eighth in the Liberty A-League, while Western United stay top although second place Melbourne City are yet to play. They will take over at the summit if they can beat city rivals Melbourne Victory tomorrow.
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