Jean-Pierre Thiesset summarizes the 17th round of D1 Arkema(22/2/33).
Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 at home against Soyaux. It was a straightforward win for PSG against the team placed 11th in the table. The hosts dominated the game with 72% possession and took the lead after 13minutes. They were unable to increase their lead until the 84th minute. Goals for Paris SG from Sakina Karchaoui (13), Aminata Diallo (84).
Olympique Lyonnais won 3-0 away from home against Dijon. Lyon controlled the game with 67% possession, 31 shots on goal with 11 on target) while Dijon had no shots at all. Even though they played better than last week, there is still a lack of efficiency in front of goal by Lyon. Hopefully, the return of Catarina Macario and Delphine Cascarino to the squad will allow Lyon to quickly improve. Nine minutes into the game, after having winning the ball back in the midfield, Delphine Cascarino delivered a perfect cross for Catarina Macario to score.
Macario scored her and Lyon’s second goal after 35 minutes by a curling right-foot shot from 20 meters which found the right upper corner of the goal. Delphine Cascarino sent another perfect cross on the head of Melvine Malard for the third goal. Selma Bacha produced yet another good performance prior to being injured after 70 minutes. As yet, we do not know yet the severity of her injury. Lyon welcomed back Sara Björk Gunnersdottir four months after having her baby; she played the whole second half. Goals for Lyon from Catarina Macario (9, 35), Melvine Malard (62).
Paris FC away from home won 2-1 against Reims after a hugely controversial ending. In a game dominated by Paris FC with 61% possession, Reims relied on the counterattack. This was reasonably successful as the score was still 1-1 four minutes into stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes. Reims had opened the scoring at the 62nd minute and they would have deserved a draw as they fought as a team during the whole game. Then arrived the fifth minute of stoppage time.
From Paris FC’s attack, a shot went out just on the right of the goal and the referee inaccurately gave a corner to Paris FC, who scored. The ball did not hit a Reims player before it went out of the field and there should not have been a corner awarded. To make matters worse, the corner was taken from the left instead of the right side as stipulated in the rules (a corner must be shot from the corner the closest to where the ball went out of the field). Reims complained and asked for the corner to be taken again and from the right corner, but the referee validated the goal. Reims’ captain wrote immediately a technical communication and the FFF (French Football Federation) commission should look at this during the week which may result in the game being replayed. Goals for Paris FC from Mathilde Bourdieu (67), Ouleymata Sarr (90+5). Goal for Reims from Kethna Louis (62). Red card for Sonia Ouchène (90+6) Reims.
Above: Fleury celebrate in their game against Bordeaux. Photo: D1 Arkema.
Fleury won 2-0 at home against Bordeaux. In this even game, Fleury again showed a great team spirit. The whole team fought very hard to obtain this win and clean sheet. Katriina Talaslahti, Fleury’s goalkeeper, contributed largely to this new clean sheet, producing a good performance with more than 10 saves, clearances, or catches. To be noted also the great performance of Fleury’s young player Rosemonde Kouassi (just 20 years old) from the Ivory Coast who scored once and made a decisive pass to Léa Le Garrec after a run of more than 60 meters. Goals for Fleury from Rosemonde Kouassi (8), Léa Le Garrec (75).
Montpellier won 6-0 at home against Guingamp. If we look just at the statistics, this game was equal (48% possession for Montpellier) but Montpellier was far more efficient than Guingamp and scored six times. Goals for Montpellier from Faustine Robert (3, 60), Nérilia Mondésir (10, 41), Lena Petermann (28), Esther Mbakem-Niaro (88).
Issy won 4-1 at home against Saint-Etienne. In a strange game dominated by Saint-Etienne with 63% possession, Issy scored four times from their five shots on target while Saint-Etienne scored only once with 7 shots on target! Goals for Issy from Julie Rabanne (34), Roselord Borgella (46, 75), Batcheba Louis (77). Goal for Saint-Etienne from Esther Okoronkwo (13).
Above: Eliot Sayavong shoots from the edge of the areafor Pride Park at Wirksworth Colts on Sunday. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
Wirksworth’s pitch is a beautiful setting for a game of football, made all the better on Sunday by the Spring sunshine.
This fixture is one of the more unpredictable games in the Derbyshire Girls and Ladies League Division One, as although the sides are well-matched, games between them invariably feature goals and rarely end in a close score-line (although there was a bizarre 6-6 draw a few seasons ago!). It hasn’t been any different this season as both teams enjoyed wins in their respective home fixtures, 5-3 at Moorways in October, and 5-2 at Wirksworth in January.
Pride Park were pleased to welcome back a number of players missing from last week’s game at Belper.
In the early stages, Wirksworth settled better and were moving the ball well, although without really finding any clear openings. Both teams had a couple of sighters without testing the ‘keepers, before Wirksworth had a five-minute spell in which they threatened to open the scoring; Weaver clearing a corner off the line, a direct free-kick from the edge of the area clearing the crossbar, a shot that went wide of goal and another that ‘keeper Howell did well to get down and hold.
Having weathered that period of pressure Pride Park responded, and after 20 minutes Bryan made a run down the left, got ahead of the defender, and hit the ball low across the face of goal for Laight to finish at the far post.
Five minutes later, from an Allderidge corner, the ball was turned goalwards by Sayavong but was blocked and half cleared, only to fall for left-back Weaver to hit an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the area
The goals settled Pride Park who exercised a degree of control for the remainder of the half and almost extended their lead when Lewis-Wilson played Evans in, but her shot went wide of the post. However, there was a let-off for Pride Park with a minute to the interval, as with the defence turned and running towards goal, they attempted to play their way out and a Wirksworth striker latched on to the ball but hit her shot over, so at half time it was 2-0.
Above: Annie Laight (9) celebrates after scoring Pride Park’s opening goal. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
After the recent spell of wet and then dry weather the pitch was uneven, and the ball was not running true on the surface, the irregular bounce exacerbated by a ball that looked and sounded over-inflated. It meant that the first touch had to be perfect to keep the ball under control, and it was frequently bouncing away from the receiving player or bobbling when played on the floor. As a result, it was often frustrating the attempts of both teams to play the ball on the ground with good moves breaking down – and at the back, it demanded a safety-first approach when under pressure.
Otty Baker had turned her ankle at the end of the first half, not seriously, but enough not to want to risk making it worse and didn’t come out for the second half. The second half opened with Wirksworth pushing in an attempt to pull a goal back, and they enjoyed a spell of good possession and pressure, during which they gradually got closer – with a shot off target, and a shot saved by Howell. Just before the hour, from a throw on the left, Wirksworth worked their way down the wing, before putting in a diagonal cross towards the near post with a Wirksworth player just getting a touch to divert the cross past Howell to get the home side back into the game at 1-2.
The goal gave Wirksworth encouragement and for a while, they enjoyed a good period of possession but without creating any further clear opportunities. Pride Park gradually reasserted themselves and responded with a series of good crosses, but were unable to fashion any clear chances from them.
With twenty minutes to play, Pride Park’s Sophie Ayton came off with a tight hamstring, Laight dropping into the back four, and having started with three substitutes, Pride Park were now down to none. Fortunately, there were no further injuries and having rotated earlier, several players had benefitted from brief rests.
Above: Summer Evans continued her impressive form on her return from injury and scored her 13th goal of the season. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
The Pride started to gain a degree of control again, and Kwiatek, Evans (twice), and Bryan were all foiled by the Wirksworth keeper. There was a half-chance when a Laight free-kick wasn’t held by the ‘keeper under pressure from Allderidge, but Bryan’s attempt was headed away.
Pride Park extended their lead with ten minutes left after good pressing and build-up play on the right, which resulted in Wirksworth being unable to get out or clear the ball, culminating in Sayavong winning the ball back just outside the area and hitting a shot that bounced in front of the keeper and kicked up wickedly, Bryan doing well to follow in and score from the rebound to re-establish the visitors two-goal lead at 3-1.
It was four only two minutes later, as Allderidge’s corner from the right was initially headed out but the clearance was met first time on the half-volley from the edge of the area by Weaver to send another unstoppable shot into the top corner for her second of the game.
The game was rounded off with two minutes to go with a fifth goal for Pride Park, as good patient build-up play down the right by Allderidge, Jones, Evans, Thompson, and Wilsoncroft finished with Bryan laying off for Evans to place a shot inside the post.
Above: Lottie Bryan closes in on goal for Pride Park at Wirksworth. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.
It had been an enjoyable game played by two well-matched teams wanting to get the ball down and play attractive football, which they managed to do in spite of a surface that made it difficult. It was a good all-round team performance by Pride Park and although the scoreline may have been a little harsh on Wirksworth, it was another good display of efficient finishing, built on a solid defensive foundation, with the midfield providing the critical glue in the middle.
The Pride Park squad displayed their versatility once again with enforced changes, meaning Annie Laight started the game upfront but finished at centre-back for the final twenty minutes. Left-back Rachel Weaver had an exceptional game, making countless well-timed interceptions to launch counterattacks and capped by two extremely well-taken goals. With a small squad, it’s a real bonus to have players that can contribute effectively at both ends of the pitch.
Goalkeeper Howell continued her good form, once again showing good positioning, handling, and decision making – her recent confidence exemplified in the first half by coming out to collect a high lobbed ball into the box at the edge of her area to take the pressure off her defenders.
There are no games in the Derbyshire Girls and Ladies League next week. Pride Park are back in action at home to League leaders Draycott Victoria at Moorways on Sunday 3rd April (1.30pm).
Above: Action from yesterday’s game between AFC Wimbledon and Hashtag United at Carshalton Athletic. Photo: Glyn Roberts.
Wimbledon went into Sunday’s game against FA Women’s National League Division One SE league leaders Hashtag United knowing realistically that a win was required to keep their chance of promotion alive but a draw would majorly derail the away team’s chances of promotion.
The Dons had less than ideal preparation for the game with a virus spreading through the camp in the days preceding the game meaning that several players went into the game at significantly less than 100%.
The hosts were also without star striker Ashlee Hincks who was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in last weeks victory against Enfield Town at Plough Lane.
Hashtag United got off to a great start with Faye Baker producing a fine save to prevent the visitors from taking an early lead. The rest of the first half was a very physical affair with Dons physio Steph Cantelo being called into action on several occasions.
The second half was much more open with Gloria Siber having a lot of success including one incredible run starting inside her own half beating several players before having her shot saved by the keeper.
Wimbledon kept building pressure and came close again when Rebecca Sargent’s header from a corner went agonizingly over. With an hour played, Hashtag were reduced to 10 players as Cairns was given her marching orders by referee Lucy Clark after kicking out at Megan Stow off the ball.
The Dons looked to keep building pressure with the visitors down to 10 players coming close to getting a deserved goal on several occasions with the best chance falling to Rebecca Carter whose chip landed on the roof of the net, with the game ending 0-0.
The result leaves AFC Wimbledon 16 points behind the current league leaders with four games in hand over Hashtag. The draw has opened the door for Billericay Town to overtake Hashtag if they win their own games in hand.
Speaking after the game, El Sueno Tequila player of the match Kelly Highman said: “It was a hard-fought game and it felt like it lasted forever but we battled through it. It has been a tough week for us in terms of players that are available and players that are not feeling so great, but we put in a performance today to make it a 0-0 and take two points off of the top of the league side.”
Dons Manager Kevin Foster reflected: “It was a good point. We are proud of the girls. We have had an interesting 24/48 hours with a lot going on in terms of sickness and bits and pieces. There are players playing at 60% health and fitness and they dug in deep and put in a shift and ultimately there is also the frustration of probably missing three or four clear-cut chances to win the game.”
Teams: AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker, Russell, Highman, Sargent (Fowler), Billingham, Mann (Childerhouse), Taylor, Stow, Siber, Lewry (Carter), Stanley (Pickett).
Above: Fiona Worts applauds the Adelaide United fans at the end of their best ever W-/A-League Women season. Photo: Adelaide United.
In a major boost for the South Australian club, Adelaide United announced this morning that English forward, Fiona Worts, the A-League Women’s top scorer for 2021/22 has signed a new deal for next season.
In the meantime, Worts will join Norwegian top-flight club LSK Kvinner FK before returning for her third campaign with Adelaide.
The 26-year-old was in sensational form for the Reds this season, scoring 13 goals in 14 regular season matches, on her way to claiming the competition’s Golden Boot as United experienced the most successful season in its history.
Speaking about committing to Adelaide and her impending move to the Toppserien, Worts said: “The season just gone was the best of my career so far and I hope I can build on that.
“While we did get eliminated in the first week of the finals, we still had a really good season and one that we’re proud of.
Above: Fiona Worts in action against Canberra United this season. Photo: Adelaide United.
“I still feel there is unfinished business in the A-League and I will return to Adelaide with this incredible squad and have another go at competing for a title.
“I’m also looking forward to challenging myself and spending time in Norway during the offseason in a tough league which will only help improve my game and make me a better player when I return to Adelaide.”
Adelaide United Head Coach, Adrian Stenta, said: “Retaining Fiona for next season was a high priority of ours because she is a very important player for us.
“Fiona had a fantastic year not just from a scoring perspective, but she was an excellent attacking outlet with her hold-up play allowing her to combine superbly with her fellow teammates.
“The opportunity to play abroad in Norway is also exciting for her and one that I’m sure will be extremely beneficial for her continued development.”
In two seasons with Adelaide United, Worts has accumulated 24 appearances, notching 15 goals and seven assists.
Words and EXCLUSIVE Photos From Ben Gilby at Kingsmeadow (20/3/22)
Above: Chelsea celebrate Magda Eriksson’s opening goal this afternoon. Photo: Ben Gilby for Impetus.
Chelsea gained a comprehensive victory over Birmingham City in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals, but it took a spell of four goals in seventeen second-half minutes to turn their dominance into a scoreboard lead.
The home side brought back talismanic captain Magda Eriksson for her first start after recovering from a long-term ankle injury. Sam Kerr was rested on the bench with an eye on the club’s midweek game in hand against Tottenham Hotspur which could send Emma Hayes’ team top of the FAWSL.
Chelsea dominated the first half and their one-touch passing football was a joy to behold, but 76% possession only led to one shot on target until the final minute of the half. That was Millie Bright’s sensational long-range effort which cannoned back off of the crossbar. The pressure finally told just before the break when Beth England’s ball was headed home by Eriksson to the relief of all inside Kingsmeadow.
The second half continued in a one-sided manner and Chelsea effectively made the game safe with 55 minutes played thanks to a superb long-range effort by Drew Spence. Within seven minutes a piece of genius from Spence, who backheeled delightfully to Beth England to sweep home from close range made it 3-0.
There were two further goals, a header from Niamh Charles and another low long-range effort from England which completed the scoring.
There was the welcome return to the Kingsmeadow turf of Maren Mjelde from the bench, who was back after a devastating injury in the 2021 Conti Cup Final almost 12 months and one week ago.
Birmingham had a few attacks towards the end, but Ann-Katrin Berger had only one shot to save on target all afternoon and Jess Carter put in some absolutely superb tackles to keep City at arms-length.
The final whistle saw the Blues into yet another FA Cup Semi-Final. With Arsenal, Manchester City, and West Ham United the potential opponents, it will be a tough path to another Wembley Final for Emma Hayes’ side.
Ben Gilby’s EXCLUSIVE Photo Gallery From Kingsmeadow for Impetus:
Click on the arrow on the right-hand side of the image to advance to the next photo.
Teams: CHELSEA (3-5-2): Berger, Bright, Eriksson, Carter, Charles, Spence, Ingle, Ji, Andersson, Fleming, England. Substitutes: Musovic (GK), Nouwen, Reiten, Mjelde, James, Kerr, Cuthbert, Abdullina.Scorers: Eriksson 45′, Spence 55′, England 62′, 72′. Charles 65′.
Above: Melbourne Victory celebrate reaching another Grand Final after defeating their cross-city rivals Melbourne City in today’s Preliminary Final. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory have secured a Grand Final appearance against Premiers Sydney FC after a 3-1 win over Melbourne City in the Preliminary Final.
The last time that these teams met, City dealt out a 5-1 thrashing to their local rivals. Hannah Wilkinson scored a record-equalling five goals that day, and stopping the in-form striker would be a priority for Victory.
After one of the most challenging seasons in his tenure, Jeff Hopkins had his team on the precipice of another decider. Victory has had to deal with significant injuries, COVID outbreaks, and a schedule that had them playing seven games in 23 days leading up to finals.
For the first time since round one, he had a full squad to choose from. With Amy Jackson returning to her favoured midfield position and Melina Ayres starting for the second week in a row, Victory had a familiar structure about them.
City had given up a two-goal lead against Sydney FC in the first semi-final. Crucially, they were missing Tyla-Jay Vlajnic and Melissa Barbieri. Both players were among City’s best this season, Vlajnic is both creative and experienced as a left-back, while Barbieri must be a contender as player of the season for the whole competition.
Above: Melbourne City’s Leah Davidson in possession. Photo: Melbourne City.
The opening stages of the match saw both sides attacking quickly, scoring first would be vital for either side. Melina Ayres had the first chance of the game. The ball bounced awkwardly on the recently watered pitch and fell beyond the City defence.
Ayres took an extra touch for control and tried to find the back post with her stabbed shot on goal. Sally James was beaten but it skidded wide of the goal. Rebekah Stott fired back for City with a long range effort that Casey Dumont saved in spectacular fashion.
Alex Chidiac was busy early, late, and all of the minutes in between. She seemed as surprised as the City defenders when she received the ball behind them and somehow onside.
James was quick to react and close down the space, what looked like a certain goal was another missed opportunity for Victory.
While City were able to move the ball forward, the back four of Victory were able to repel the attacks fairly consistently. They do not play a high line or flirt with off-side traps very often. Jeff Hopkins’ side plays a good, disciplined back four. They get goal side of the attackers and close to them. Rhianna Pollicina was unable to turn and face goal as often as normal and Wilkinson struggled to find space with international teammate Claudia Bunge paying close attention.
Ayres opened the scoring for Victory on the half-hour mark. She intercepted an Emma Checker pass and acted quickly, bursting into the area and sweeping her shot past James to make it 1-0.
Victory fans have waited all season for Ayres to return to the squad. She had a breakout season last year and after dominating with South Melbourne in the NPLW there was real anticipation about what she could produce in 2021/22.
A persistent hamstring injury has kept her out of the side until the final round of the regular season. She scored what turned out to be the winning goal against Adelaide United in the semi-final and her goal in the Preliminary Final proved that it was worth the wait.
Catherine Zimmerman almost doubled the lead after Lia Privitelli found her with a perfect low cross. City could consider themselves fortunate when the ball flew over the bar.
The second goal arrived at the worst time for City but the best time for Victory. In the closing moments of the first half, Courtney Nevin’s corner fell invitingly at the back post and Bunge was on hand to finish from close range.
Victory continued to attack in the second half. Chidiac was tireless and creative and had the City players under pressure in possession and back pedalling when she was on the attack.
She was predictably involved in Victory’s third goal. She got the ball to Ayres in the penalty area who turned it into the path of Privitelli. The captain shot over James to make it 3-0 and give City a mountain to climb with the clock ticking towards the hour mark.
Above: Contested possession between Victory’s Kyra Cooney-Cross (left) and the City duo of Leah Davidson and Winonah Heatley. Photo: Melbourne City.
City had to attack and left themselves open to the counter-attack. Privitelli had the chance to make it four after a swift counter-attack but James saved well in the one-on-one situation.
Minutes later, City had a lifeline. Leticia McKenna sent in an excellent corner kick and Tori Tumeth headed well past Dumont. There were 10 minutes left on the clock, but crazier things have happened in the Dub.
Victory fans were still reluctant to celebrate early, and Hannah Wilkinson reminded them why when she got on the end of a Pollicina free kick in the 85th minute. She had found space, was well-positioned but her effort narrowly missed the target.
That was the last clear chance of the game. Melbourne City’s season was over and although they slumped to the turf after the whistle they should be proud of their season. After finishing seventh in 2020/21 they had climbed to second. They played some spectacular football and introduced some new stars to the game.
Tori Tumeth and Kaitlyn Torpey in particular announced themselves as exciting new talents, while Winonah Heatley and Holly McNamara received Matildas call ups. Rhianna Pollicina is a much-improved player, adding frightening consistency to her considerable talent.
Above: Melbourne Victory players celebrate with their fans at AAMI Park after the match today. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
But the day belonged to Victory and they have a chance to retain the Championship. Jeff Hopkins’ side has overcome every challenge thrown their way this season and will have no fear of facing the Premiers. Sydney will be undoubtedly looking for revenge after last year’s dramatic last gasp extra-time defeat from the right foot of Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Both of these teams boast significant depth and brilliant talent in their squads. Neither has made the Grand Final by chance. Everything has led to next week’s match. Like last season’s decider, it is almost certain to be another classic.
Teams: MELBOURNE CITY (3-4-3): James, Tumeth, Checker, Heatley, Davidson, Stott, Torpey, Blissett, McKenna, Wilkinson, Pollicina. Substitutes: Karic, Majstorovic (GK), Malone, Thomas-Chinnama, van der Meer.
This weekend, the semi-finals of Western Australia’s NPL Women’s Night Series took place. Ben Gilby rounds up the action(20/3/22).
Above: Balcatta Etna celebrate their semi-final win over Fremantle City. Photo: JASP Photography.
Next weekend, Balcatta Etna will take on the Northern Redbacks in the WANPL Women’s Night Series Cup Final after both sides celebrated semi-final wins.
Cup holders Balcatta Etna came from behind to claim a 2-1 win against Fremantle City at E&D Litis Stadium.
Balcatta replied to Freo taking the lead in style. Angelique Alberts levelled matters and a sensational winner from Cawley which now gives the side a chance to retain the trophy – a perfect boost going into the new WANPL Women’s season.
They will now face Northern Redbacks who defeated Perth SC 2-1. After a goalless first half, Jayna Ridley and Larissa Walsh were on target for the Redbacks. Perth had an opportunity at the death to level matters, but to no avail.
Above: Balcatta Etna celebrate a goal against Fremantle City in the WANPL Women’s Night Series Cup Semi-Final. Photo: Jasp Photography.
Ahead of Sunday’s Preliminary Final where Melbourne City host cross-city rivals Melbourne Victoryfor the right to travel to Sydney FC for the Grand Final, Impetus’ Ben Gilby heard from City striker Hannah Wilkinson and head coach Rado Vidosic(19/3/22).
Above: Melbourne City striker Hannah Wilkinson speaking to the media on Friday. Photo: Melbourne City.
Melbourne City striker Hannah Wilkinson opened her media conference by reflecting on the frustrations of last week’s defeat to Sydney FC in the semi-final.
“We were pretty deflated after the match, it was a pretty wild game. We were inches away from getting into the Grand Final. It sucked, it really did. That’s football though, and we have a chance still and we’re fully focussed.”
City go into Sunday’s Preliminary Final with Melbourne Victory without the suspended pair of Tyla-Jay (TJ) Vlajnic and Melissa Barbieri. Wilkinson admitted that those players will be a big loss, but she knows their replacements are more than good enough to step-up.
“It’s an extra bummer losing two key players and we do have depth in the squad. Sally (James) is an excellent keeper. She’s ready and has been pushing ‘Bubs’ (Barbieri) in training anyway and she’s confident. In terms of TJ, we have Chelsea Blissett available. As a squad, we have players ready. We’re ready to bounce back from last week’s war of a game!”
The last time Wilkinson faced Melbourne Victory, she put in an incredible personal performance scoring all of City’s goals in a 5-1 win. The New Zealand international admits that she dreaming of a re-run.
“It was very satisfying for sure. I’d love to see that repeated. It was an ideal team performance. I was there to put away all of the hard work that the team put together. I hope we put together that performance again.”
“Victory are certainly not a team not to be taken for granted. They’ve got some extremely talented players. It will be another fight, they have been in lots of Finals before. It will be different from last time that’s for sure.”
“We need to want it more than them and play the kind of football that we know wins games and scores goals. We’re capable of playing nice football and it is so beautiful to play. We have the players to do it and now just want to go on to the Grand Final and win it.”
Above: Melbourne City head coach Rado Vidosic at yesterday’s media conference. Photo: Melbourne City.
Melbourne City head coach Rado Vidosic dismissed thoughts that his side will go into Sunday’s Preliminary Final on the back foot after defeat at Sydney FC in last week’s Semi-Final.
“No, not at all. We’ve been through the footage of the game and went through a few things. It is not hard to re-motivate the players for a Derby and we are very much still in the competitions. Training has been very good, so we are looking ahead to Sunday.”
Despite last week’s semi-final defeat in Sydney, City’s head coach saw plenty of positives to take out of the game. “We made progress between the last time we played Sydney FC away (a 3-0 loss). We came so close last week to going through and hosting the Grand Final. We can take that progress out of that game. We want another chance to play them in Sydney by winning on Sunday.”
The Sky Blues will go into Sunday’s Preliminary Final without both Tyla-Jay (TJ) Vlajnic and Melissa Barbieri due to suspension. Vidosic outlined the reshuffle he will perform. “Chelsea Blissett will come in for TJ and Sally James for Bubs (Barbieri). It’s player for player and gloves for gloves. A straight swop. Now is not the time to try things out.”
There may be a need for further changes to City’s squad ahead of the match. “We have a couple of niggling injuries. Someone was also sick, but they came back yesterday. We just need to see how those injuries clear up on Saturday before making final decisions. We are happy and ready. Last time we played them, we did well (a 5-1 win on Boxing Day).”
This time though, City will face a very different Victory team to the one they faced previously as the Sky Blues head coach recognized.
“Maybe their current group of players has more experience than our current group. Yet some of us have won before. Melissa Barbieri has been there and done it for 20 years. One thing that we do have is a good lead-up to the Finals. We had good performances and good results. We will show that on Sunday.”
Above: Courtney Nevin (left) and Kyra Cooney-Cross (right)who both signed for Hammarby this week. Photo: Football Australia.
Back for the new season and offering more content and features than before – it’s Impetus’ coverage of women’s football in Sweden. Ben Gilby rounds up some of the transfer news ahead of this weekend’s Svenska Cupen Semi-Finals (19/3/22).
MATILDAS DUO HEAD TO HAMMARBY
Hammarby‘s Women’s Sporting Director Johan Lager has spoken of his joy on the club website at securing the signings of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin from Melbourne Victory this week. Lager also revealed that he has been trying to sign Cooney-Cross for some time.
Above: Kyra Cooney-Cross – finally moving to Hammarby after being trailed by the Stockholm club for some time. Photo: Football Australia.
He said: “In Kyra we get a player who is already established in senior football despite her relatively young age. Since her national team debut in the summer of 2021, Kyra has been selected regularly for Australia, one of the world’s best national teams, and is predicted to have a bright future.
“We’ve been scouting Kyra for a long time and trying to get her here before, so it’s nice that it pays to be stubborn. We get a versatile midfielder who can play in several positions and she is an athletic player. We are convinced that she is a player who will be worth seeing and help us continue to take steps towards the top of the Damallsvenskan. It feels great to finally get Kyra here.”
Cooney-Cross herself is looking forward to the challenge. The former Western Sydney Wanderers player said: “I am very happy to come to Hammarby and take on a new challenge and chapter in my career. I’ve heard very nice things about the club and the team and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Above: Courtney Nevin in action for Australia last year. Photo: Football Australia.
Nevin’s arrival sees one of Australia’s best young defenders join the Stockholm-based side, and that is something that Lager is excited about. “With Courtney, we get a strong defender who can play both full-back and centre-back. She is also a player who is already in the Australian national team.
“Courtney is a fast player and has good character. She will be able to contribute both to our defence but also to our attacking game. With Courtney, we get better coverage in the squad in all positions and we are also convinced that we get cutting edge qualities in the team. We are extremely happy that Courtney choose us over others and we see her as a very important piece of the puzzle to achieve our goals.”
Nevin also spoke about her pride of joining the club: “I am extremely excited to come to Hammarby and am grateful for the opportunity to come to such a nice club and look forward to getting started and meeting my new teammates. The Damallsvenskan is a very good league that will develop me as a player,” she said.
The pair will travel to Sweden after the conclusion of Melbourne Victory’s A-League Women Finals campaign. They face Melbourne City in the Preliminary Final this Sunday.
TRANSFER NEWS IN BRIEF:
Above: Jacqueline Burns, newly arrived at BK Häcken from Northern Ireland’s Glentoran. Photo: Glentoran.
BK Häcken have announced several signings. First, Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns from Glentoran on a two-year contract. Norwegian international midfielder Andrine Hegerberg has additionally joined from AS Roma in Italy. The deal is for two years. A third arrival has seen Marika Bergman Lundin, a midfielder who played for IK Uppsala in the second-tier Ellitettan last season. Also on board is Icelandic attacking midfielder Agla Maria Albertsdottir from Breidablik.
Newly promoted IK Brommapojkarna have announced a couple of new arrivals. First, midfielder Vaila Barsley. The Scottish player had previously played at Eskilstuna United. They additionally brought in Filippa Wallén from Vittsjö.
Above: New Djurgården signing Lova Lundin. Photo: Umeå IK.
Djurgården have brought in two strikers. Lova Lundin has joined from French side Soyaux after previously representing Umeå IK. The second arrival is Swedish U23 international Sara Lilja Vidlund who was at KIF Örebro.
AIK have brought in Jamaican international Chinyelu Asher on a one-year deal from Washington Spirit.
Linköping announce the arrival of Japanese international Saori Takarada from Washington Spirit.
Above: Joanna Aalstad Bækkelund who joined Eskilstuna United from Lyn. Photo: Lyn Oslo.
Eskilstuna United added Norwegian defender Joanna Aalstad Bækkelund who comes from Norwegian side Lyn.
SVENSKA CUPEN SEMI-FINALS
Artwork: Svensk Fotboll.
This weekend sees the last four face off. Today, Hammarby host BK Häcken ahead of tomorrow’s clash between Rosengård and Eskilstuna United.
THIS SEASON’S COVERAGE ON IMPETUS:
Our coverage of the 2022 OBOS Damallsvenskan and second-tier Elitettan is set to be bigger and better than ever as the competitions kick-off next weekend and the weekend after respectively.
Every Tuesday during the season will be our round-up of every match in the Damallsvenskan in words and pictures which, for the first time this year will contain video footage of key goals and moments from matches. The most important games in the Elitettan will also be covered as before.
We’ll also have the weekly league tables, National Team news, transfer news, and gossip from around the Swedish women’s football scene plus coverage of the Swedish clubs in UEFA Women’s Champions League action.
During the season there will also be interviews with players and coaches as well as club profiles. Make Impetus your source of news from Swedish women’s football this season.
Above: Thorpe St. Andrew FC. Photo: Thorpe St. Andrew FC.
In the first of a two-part interview, Thorpe St. Andrew defender Georgie Rumney and manager Tony Allen from the Tier Seven Norfolk Women & Girls Football League sidespoke to Darrell Allenabout their footballing backgrounds, philosophies, and the season to date(17/3/22).
Georgie Rumney is in just her second season of football, and already in her second different position.
“I’ve been playing for Thorpe St. Andrew Ladies for two seasons now, though this is my first full season due to all the COVID disruptions. I started as goalkeeper but, after breaking a finger in the line of duty, I found my true calling as a centre-back and my informal role as the ‘Colossus on the back line’.
In comparison, the club’s manager Tony Allen has had a lot of experience in the game. “It was Paul Neary at the University of East Anglia (UEA) who first got me into coaching. I owe him a great deal, it was a real education and I had a fantastic time doing all sorts of different things with both the men’s and women’s clubs there.
“I’ve been lucky enough to watch and learn from some fantastic coaches and managers like Paul Neary and Ray Harrison, Bex Burton and Harry Diggens at UEA and going back a bit further, Danny Wilson, Ian Butterworth, Chris Turner, and Colin West at Hartlepool United.
“I watch games back now that I originally watched from the Mill House as a fan when I was nine or 10 years old in a completely different way and understand a bit more the factors influencing their decisions.”
Tony also spoke to me about his coaching philosophy. “It is grounded by an unwavering belief in Billy Bremner’s idea of ‘side before self’ where the team is paramount and that is non-negotiable.
“I believe you can learn something from everyone, but I would like to list a few major influences for different reasons: John Beck, Neil Warnock, Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce, Dave Bassett, Johan Cruyff, Graham Westley, Brian Clough, and Ladislaz Lozano who took Calais to the Coupe de France final in 2000 – one day I’ll write a proper tactical analysis of how he did it, the man was a very, very astute football manager and to just call him pragmatic would be to do him and his team a gross disservice. “Not to mention Hope Powell, Gemma Davies, and Emma Hayes – top, top coaches who I sincerely hope I get the chance to meet and work with one day.”
Tony then went on to explain about his time so far with the club. “I joined Thorpe St. Andrew at the very end of last season, so I was able to use the summer to get to know everyone and let the new faces in the squad gel with the group. I see myself as more of an old-school manager. I love nothing more than being out on the grass, but we’ve also got great coaches at the club who are full of ideas, run engaging training sessions for the girls and feed into our decision making.”
Prior to the beginning of the season, there was a re-structure within the Norfolk Women and Girls League and Thorpe St. Andrew found themselves in Step Seven, something that was met with mixed emotions at the club as Georgie told me.
Above: Thorpe St. Andrew’s Georgie Rumney. Photo: Paul Langley.
“Being put into Division One certainly wasn’t something any of us were excited to hear, especially after we had been focusing our pre-season games on getting ready for Division Two, but the team overall was very optimistic. We saw it more as an opportunity to pit ourselves against some very good teams and players and see if we could rise to the challenge.
“In that way I certainly agree the season so far has been a massive success for us, we always turn up and play our best game no matter the opponent and we have improved exponentially as a result”
Tony revealed that he had aimed to field two teams this season, something that the jump up to Division One prevented. “Well, the original plan was to have two teams, one in Division One and one in Division Two. When it became apparent the club would not be able to sustain two teams, it was too late to just enter Division Two and so the lower team had to go.
“I had designed and delivered a really good pre-season to prepare us for Division Two, so naturally that was incredibly frustrating. Charles Dickens was correct: the law, sometimes, is an ass. Our case was a bit different to that of Thetford, Stalham, Beccles, and North Walsham, as by the time of the league restructuring we would have been in Division One regardless of whether it was a two or three league system.
“Therefore, at the SGM I voted for two divisions with gritted teeth and out of pure self-interest – it was made clear to us that there was no chance of us moving down, so having a larger division with teams originally in Division Two was the lesser of two evils for us.
“But at the end of the day what happened, happened. Running a league is a thankless task generally done very well by volunteers. And while there are still unanswered questions about the way our league placement was handled, we can’t change it now and the most impressive thing is how superbly well the likes of ourselves and North Walsham have done to carry on through what we knew would be a demoralizing season.
“We created our own achievable goals and took a long-term view. We could have approached the season with a massive chip on our shoulder and probably would have ended up folding, but we took the opposite approach, lifted all the pressure off the players, and their positive reaction to that says a lot about their attitude and desire to play. And adversity is great for finding out who your friends are in football. Certain managers in the league were incredibly magnanimous and encouraging especially in the early days – things like that stick with you.”
Tony then went on to tell me that expectations have been exceeded this season. “We have had ups and downs as every team does over the course of a season, but I would definitely agree. Of course in adult football you want to win games first and foremost, but the players have absolutely exceeded my expectations with the speed and level of improvement they have shown this season.
Above: Thorpe St. Andrew manager Tony Allen. Photo: Paul Langley.
“It has been a steep learning curve, they needed to adapt quickly, and they have done so, establishing a real team identity and core values, bringing pride back to the club.”
Thorpe St. Andrew’s head coach spoke of his huge pride in the team this season. “Every single player who has pulled on a pink and black shirt this season has been absolutely superb and given everything for the team. I feel like I could burst with pride every time I open my mouth to talk about them. Without going into detail, some of our players have overcome immense personal battles just to get on the pitch this season.
“If I’m going to name a few names, I’ve got to start with Emily Warnes. A true leader who has worked her way through the age groups at Thorpe, her effort and application is second to none – she’s a good communicator, has played all over the pitch, and not once have I ever seen her come off the pitch with anything left to give. She’s just as likely to come up with a goal-saving block or interception in minute 90 as minute one. At Christmas, she was deservedly voted Players’ Player of the half-season by her peers.
“I brought over Madison Wilson from UEA because she is coachable, intelligent, makes things happen, and drives us forward. Mads is another player who like Emily exemplifies ‘side before self’ – her non-stop effort and graft makes her a hugely respected figure in the dressing room.
“We have several girls who have come up from under 16 football into the adult game – that transition is never easy anyway, but our position made it even more challenging – Elizabeth Nichols is a constant threat and has scored some exceptional goals, and Tayla Woodhouse plays with the maturity of someone double her age. Also a huge shoutout to Helen Crook who had never played football before this season but has become a rock in goal, saving us on many occasions – she alone kept us in the game first half at home against North Walsham which we went on to win.
“Many players have got used to different positions, and I’ve challenged them with new formations and tweaks to their roles. Abi Langley’s attitude is superb and she also runs our brilliant team Instagram account. Tash Frankland has always been a classy ballplayer but has improved immensely in the gritty side of her game this season – she is also instrumental to the team’s chemistry off the pitch.
“Ellen Saw has played every position on the pitch without once complaining and has got a couple of excellent assists to show for it. Georgie Rumney, Ellen Boucher, and Abi Simmons are a manager’s dream, three great examples of how applying yourself in training pays off and gives you confidence to perform on a Sunday. Georgie has only been playing a couple of years and is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.
“Chloe Musson has shown great consistency and character, being put in a position she’s never played before, and has absolutely excelled every week, always putting herself on the line for the team and giving me lots of useful information from the perspective of the team. Grace Jackson often goes under the radar but we simply couldn’t play the way I want us to without her. When she has a good day, more often than not the team has a good day. She also volunteered to play in goal when Helen broke her finger which tells you everything you need to know about her character.”
