Above: The Central Coast Mariners after their win in Newcastle. Photo: A-League
Despite going down early, Central Coast Mariners came back from behind to defeat Newcastle Jets 2-1 at Maitland Sports Ground in the F3 Derby.
After a first half filled with both sides having great chances on goal go begging, Newcastle was able to open the scoring early in the second half through New Zealand international Devon Jackson.
A scramble at the top of the box left Claire Adams in the perfect position to play a through ball for Jackson to run on to before putting the ball into the back of the net with a neat left-footed volley.
The Mariners goals came late in the second half in just five minutes, by 16-year-old Tiana Fuller and English international Jade Pennock.
Fuller’s goal, her sixth of the season, was scored after Annalise Rasmussen put a low cross in through the box.
Initially, Izzy Gomez was the one on the end of the ball, but she collided with Jets striker Sophie Hoban who had tracked back to defend.
With the ball free in the box, Fuller took a single touch before putting it away past an outstretched Danielle Kryzaniak in goal.
Minutes later, the Mariners would complete their comeback, taking advantage of a poor decision in the Jets’ defence.
Keeper Kryzaniak had tried to restart quickly, throwing the ball out to Lauren Allan, who tried to give it back to her but didn’t put enough on the pass.
A lurking Jade Pennock was able to snap the loose ball up and fire on target from a tight angle, securing all three points for the Central Coast and bragging rights in the F3 Derby.
Should the rest of this weekend’s results work in their favour, Central Coast can finish as high as fourth on the table, meaning they would play their elimination final next week against the team that ends their season in fifth on the table.
Melbourne Victory have had a solid tune-up for finals after defeating Brisbane Roar 2-0 this afternoon. The Victory were in control for much of the match, and goals from Nikki Flannery and Alex Chidiac saw them come away with the chocolates.
The initial stages of the match saw the Victory dominate in terms of the territory battle, but a tight pressing Brisbane defence meant that the Victory never really looked like scoring. The Roar did eventually even out the territory battle, but a well-positioned home defence meant that the Queenslanders also did not really look like scoring.
As the half progressed, the field play really opened up. Although scoring threats rarely came, the match was really free-flowing and intriguing to watch as one-on-one battles became a key part of it.
Victory thought they might have had the first goal of the match about 40 minutes in, after Rachel Lowe tapped in from a well-timed Flannery cross, but an offside call made it invalid.
Flannery did not have to wait too long to score a goal that counted, though, after she curled in a shot from out wide and right into the opposite top corner of Brisbane’s goal mere minutes later.
The half time stats told a very interesting tale.
The Victory were comfortably leading the possession tally (55.6% to 44%), but the Roar finished the first half with four more shots on goal than the hosts recorded. However, both of Victory’s shots were on target, while only one of Brisbane’s six shots was.
The home side had a second goal not even 10 minutes into the second half after Chidiac nutmegged poor Keeley Richards, and the ball went into the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Roar not even five minutes later when Momo Hayashi was given a straight red card and Leia Varley was forced off the field due to injury.
Brisbane did have a few moments of spark in the second half, but the Victory were in control. They held more of the possession and got very close to scoring again on several occasions.
As a sign of how in control of the match Jeff Hopkins felt his side was in, he really utilised his young bench and gave some decent rest to some of the hardest runners in his team. This also saw a first appearance for the season from the much-loved Paige Zois, who is now back from injury just in time to influence her team’s Finals campaign.
by Isabelle Campbell with EXCLUSIVE photography from Rob Lizzi(18/4/25)
Above: Melbourne City celebrate their Premiership success after their victory over Perth Glory today. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Melbourne City swept Perth Glory away in style to clinch their fourth A-League Women Premier’s Plate – their second in a row – to complete an unbeaten season in the competition.
Needing just a point to clinch the Premiership, Melbourne City wasted no time asserting their dominance in the season finale, striking within just three minutes of kickoff.
A superb corner delivery from Alexia Apostolakis found the head of Taylor Otto, who directed the ball home to give the visitors an early lead. Barely three minutes later, City doubled their advantage, through Bryleeh Henry, leaving Perth Glory facing an uphill battle early on.
The home side found a lifeline in the form of a penalty soon after when a scramble in the box led to a handball by captain Rebekah Stott. Susan Phonsongkham stepped up and confidently converted the chance, reducing the gap and bringing some life back to the home side.
Above: Susan Phonsongkham (far right) converts from the spot for Perth Glory. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Izzy Dalton had a chance to level matters for Glory but failed to generate enough power to trouble Malena Mieres in goal. Then, in a moment of déjà vu, Apostolakis once again linked up with Otto from a corner, with the American heading in her second goal of the night to restore City’s two-goal lead at 3-1.
Glory nearly struck back after capitalising on a sloppy pass inside the box, but the opportunity slipped away and City were left untouched. Glory’s ongoing injury struggle was deepened when Megan Wynne was forced off, with Kelli Brown coming on in her place.
It wouldn’t be a Melbourne City match without a Holly McNamara goal, and true to form, she did what she does best, finding the back of the net to put her side even further ahead. The strike extended her season tally to an impressive 15 goals.
Brown nearly responded with a powerful effort at the other end, but Mieres was equal to the task, parrying the shot to safety.
Glory pushed from the opening minute of the second half, with Phonsongkham looking to get her name on the scoresheet once again. But the defensive presence of Mieres was too strong, and after a tense few seconds in the box, the danger was eventually cleared.
Above: Melbourne City substitute goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri makes a stunning save. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.
Lourdes Bosch fired an effort towards goal, but a brilliant goal-line clearance from Onyi Zogg was enough to keep the scoreline unchanged.
In the 61st minute, Izzy Foletta was brought on, marking her 50th appearance for the club, a milestone moment for the childhood Glory fan. But the celebrations were short-lived. Perth local and former Glory Leticia McKenna put City even further ahead with a superb strike, burying the ball into the top left corner to make it 5–1.
With just ten minutes left to play and the game far from winnable, Glory looked to simply minimise the gap. Captain Dalton had an excellent chance after a well-timed pass from Grace Johnston, but the opportunity went begging. Looking to join her sister on the scoresheet, although for the opposing side, Tijan McKenna powered a shot at goal, only to be denied by the keeper.
Perth Glory continued to fight, but the result was beyond reach. The final whistle marked the end of the 2024/25 regular season for both sides, with Melbourne City finishing unbeaten and capping off their campaign with a dominant 5-1 victory, securing the league title in dominant fashion. They now host a semi-final in a fortnight’s time and are going all out to take the Championship too.
For more of Rob Lizzi’s images from the match for Impetus, check out our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball
Above: Robert Vilahamn Credit: Chris Cowlin: Spurs Chat Podcast & Tottenham News via YouTube
Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa at Brisbane Road this Sunday, in a game where results are sure to define both sides ultimate standings on the Barclay’s WSL table.
When asked what successful performances for his Tottenham side could look like in these concluding games of the season, manager Robert Vilahamn detailed the importance of “gaining as many points as possible”. He also highlighted the need for growth in the team’s dominance; so that they are able to go into next season in a positive position to “compete and close that gap…that we haven’t done this season”.
Achieving these positive results requires player welfare at the forefront. This reflects a debate in the women’s game, following a growing injury crisis during the April international window.
Vilahamn confirms his Spurs side was not exempt from the growing list of injuries across the league.
Charlie Grant returned from international break with an unspecified “minor issue, [meaning] that she probably cannot be in the squad for this week”.
Luana Bühler, also returns with an unspecified injury that leaves her unavailable for “at least the first upcoming games, perhaps the [last] four games”.
Hayley Raso is confirmed to be nursing a quad injury. Her early departure from the last block explained, having picked up the injury “in the last training before the Leicester game”. She was “sent to Australia to make sure they can have a second opinion”.
There has been growing speculation that Raso’s absence from the team sheet extends beyond injury. To which Vilahamn responded by ensuring that the two of them are “working good together”.
Optimistically, captain Beth England is in contention, Vilahamn detailing “she trained well this week and hopefully she is in the squad for this weekend”.
Above: Beth England’s return to training. Photo: Beth England Instagram @bethanyengland4
Positive news on the pitch, as England has proven on countless occasions that she is a key component in Tottenham’s ability to secure goals on the multitude of chances they are capable of creating. And, off the pitch, Vilahamn praising England’s voice in the locker room and her leadership skills.
In terms of Vilahamn’s analysis of Aston Villa as an opponent, he praised manager Natalia Arroyo’s intelligence in adapting her sides starting eleven, to secure the points necessary to clear the relegation battle her side is currently facing.
Vilanhamn also alluded to the outcomes of the weekend being defined by if Villa play “for points or for their identity”.
Tottenham vs Aston Villa kicks off at 2pm Easter Sunday and is available to stream live on the Barclay’s WSL YouTube channel.
Above: Mariona Caldentey celebrates. Photo: Arsenal Women.
Prior to tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final, Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey and manager Renee Slegers spoke on the fitness of Kelly and Russo, the squad’s hunger for a title and their “respect” for Lyon.
Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly are “fully available” again and will feature in tomorrow’s match day squad. Slegers said that “both players have been working really hard with the medical team to get to this point” and stated that “they’re available for a lot of minutes tomorrow”.
On the other hand, Daphne Van Domselaar is still out with injury, alongside Lotte Wubben Moy. Van Domselaar is “progressing really well” and staff are waiting to “see when she can be available”.
Having forwards Russo and Kelly included in tomorrow’s squad will be vital as the team hope to utilise their home advantage to get the best possible result. With 40,000 tickets having been sold, an enormous crowd is expected at the Emirates and Slegers’ team are “going to take the opportunity by the throat” as they “know that tomorrow is [their] chance”.
Providing a player’s perspective on the upcoming fixtures, Mariona stated that the team are ready for this first game “at home with [their] fans”. Slegers reiterated this point when she said: “we’re playing at the Emirates, and with the hunger and belief we have at the moment, we’re going to go and play the game the best we can”.
This game will have small margins as “it’s two top teams playing against each other”. Slegers understands the “challenge” that Arsenal will face in Lyon who have been in this position many times before and she has “huge respect” for their history, players, and staff. Mariona reiterated the respect that the team have for their opponents when she described their players as “dangerous” and having “such talent”.
As Slegers said, “football’s unpredictable” but Arsenal is hoping to “start fast and go for it at the Emirates” with the knowledge that at the end of tomorrow’s match it is only half time so, no matter the result, there will still be “a lot of work to do in Lyon”.
This semi-final, where Arsenal plays at home in the first leg, “is a different scenario” to the one they faced in the quarter-finals when they clashed with Real Madrid at home in the second leg. Arsenal were defeated in the first leg, which was played in Spain, but forced their way back into the competition during the second leg, finishing the semi-finals with a 3-2 win on aggregate.
This is an example of how “the team keeps on proving time after time what [they’re] capable of”. They were “so happy” to beat Real Madrid and their game at home “was a big moment” as they maintained “composure under pressure” and played the game at “a very high level”.
Like the women’s side have done, Arsenal’s men’s team have reached the Champions League semi-finals after beating Real Madrid in the quarter finals. Slegers is “very happy for the men’s team” and the whole club is excited as it is the first time in its history that both the men’s and women’s team have reached the Champions League semi-finals. Arsenal men played their first quarter final leg at home and Slegers found the way that they went about the two legs “inspirational”.
Arsenal women are also gaining inspiration from the footballers within their own squad; Mariona herself has won the Champions League three times, and her experience is something that Slegers is “learning a lot from”. The manager was keen to compliment Mariona who smiled as she was described as a someone who wants to win everything that she does.
After Arsenal beat Leicester City on Tuesday, Slegers also praised Mariona, stating that she makes everyone around her play better. The Spanish attacker makes frequent contact with the ball, something which she “loves” to do. She finds it “easy” to play with the Arsenal team stating that she is “ready for whatever the team and the coach ask” of her.
Her exceptional play has been recognised beyond Arsenal; just before she spoke to the media, it was announced that she’d been named the PFA WSL Fans’ Player of the Month for March. Mariona said: “It’s amazing when you feel everyone recognises your work and your effort”. It’s evident that during her first season at Arsenal Mariona is making her mark on the club which she described as feeling “like home from the first day”.
Mariona is certainly hoping to have a further impact on her club during tomorrow’s match which she says, “will be a tight game”. She said: “The team has the mentality of winning, I think that’s a bit contagious as well”, adding that “everyone is hungry for a title”. Mariona and her teammates are three games away from winning the Champions League. The four “best teams in Europe” are left and Arsenal are one of them, but they still “want more”.
Arsenal is not the only English side remaining in the Champions League, Chelsea are set to face Barcelona in the semi-finals, with their first leg being played away on Sunday. Mariona hopes that “one English team will be in the final” and really hopes that that team will be her own.
Getting this far in the Champions League requires more than talent; Mariona highlighted how hard work, fitness and teamwork are crucial. She believes that this is being built at Arsenal.
The importance of these factors is emphasised to young Arsenal players when they train with the first team. Jessie Gale, a young Gunner who is currently dual registered with Watford, was present in today’s training session but will not feature in tomorrow’s squad. Slegers said that Gale “comes and trains” with the first team “once or twice a week” and that they “like to have her with [them]”.
It’s not only the high-level sessions with experienced players that benefit these young footballers, but also the introduction to the Arsenal lifestyle. Slegers said that it is “good for them to get used to the routines of an Arsenal player”.
It’s likely that these young players will be watching tomorrow’s game which kicks off at 12:30pm and can be streamed on TNT Sports and DAZN. Despite the “task” that Arsenal must do tomorrow, Slegers is “excited” and will remind herself “to enjoy the moment”. Mariona will do the same, stating that enjoying the match is a “gift” that players have to give themselves.
Arsenal firmly believe that they “deserve” to be at this stage of the Champions League and “want to go for it” tomorrow at the Emirates.
Above: Adelaide United’s two-goal hero Fiona Worts (red shirt) battles away against Sydney FC today. Photo: Adelaide United.
Two goals from Fiona Worts against her former club ensured that Adelaide United came from behind to end Sydney FC’s unbeaten run and go into their home Elimination Final next weekend on a high.
Conversely, Sydney FC ended their disappointing season with a result that encapsulated their failure to play Finals football for the first time in the league’s 17-year history. Those two strikes from Worts cancelled out Maddie Caspers’ opener for the visitors, which ensured that Ante Juric’s side ended the campaign having lost a potential 13 points from winning positions.
Adelaide, guaranteed to finish in third place and claim a home Elimination Final next weekend, regardless of what happened in this encounter earned the first chance in this match, with just three minutes played.
Fiona Worts was played in and ran towards the by-line on the right-hand flank before finding Lucia León behind her who played in a first time ball high for Dylan Holmes, who was unmarked in the centre of the box and directed a header towards the bottom corner of the net, but was denied by a super save by Jasmine Black.
Sydney responded 10 minutes later when Maddie Caspers used her strength to win turnover ball from Nanako Sasaki, and advanced into the right-hand edge of the box before hitting a shot that Claudia Jenkins repelled with a spectacular diving save before her defence cleared.
However, with 20 minutes played, Caspers had better luck. An excellent move on the left-hand flank, which started inside their own half with Abbey Lemon combining with Princess Ibini before the latter found Amber Luchtmeijer who threaded a centimetre-perfect low crossfield pass that dissected the Adelaide midfield and defence for Mackenzie Hawkesby to supply the pass between Zoe Tolland and Ella Tonkin for Caspers to take a touch sweep home from 10 yards in a central position.
Back came the Reds, and six minutes later, a piece of individual magic from Worts almost levelled the scores. León headed the ball towards the English striker, who had her back to goal, around 25 yards out. Despite being tightly marked by two players, Worts gained control and used her skill to break clear, turn and fire a rocket of a shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Adelaide conjured up several further chances in the last 10 minutes of the half. Black was called upon to deny Holmes twice more, first from a shot in the box, and then from long range. Also in this spell, Worts’ goal-bound shot was cleared by Jordan Thompson.
Finally, the home side got their equaliser, a minute into stoppage time at the end of the first half. Sydney were on the attack, but Emily Hodgson snaffled up possession for Adelaide on the edge of her own box and supplied a pass to Sarah Morgan, positioned centrally inside her own half.
Morgan, in turn, played a long ball through to Worts. The striker’s first touch, which enabled her to beat the only player near her, Nat Tobin, was sublime, and allowed her to side-foot with aplomb into the bottom right-hand corner.
The home side continued to create the bulk of the half-chances in the second half, with Emily Hodgson, Tonkin, and Sian Dewey being denied in the opening 20 minutes.
Sydney opportunities were much fewer and further between, with Ibini seeing an effort blocked by Dewey with 68 played.
Adelaide, dominant in possession, finally hit the front with just under a quarter of an hour to play. Healy found fellow substitute Tiarna Karambasis in the middle of the park to release León on the right flank to turn a low ball into the near post, where Worts showed all her poacher’s instinct to side foot home.
The margin of victory could have been greater five minutes later when Black denied Worts her hat-trick in some style. Receiving the ball on the far side of the 18-yard box, the striker fired in a first-time volley that needed a diving save to push the ball away.
Thompson also made another potential goal-saving block in the final stages when the defender ensured that Healy’s effort didn’t hit the back of the net.
Sydney had two golden opportunities to claim a point in stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes when Luchtmeijer was fed in the box by Faye Bryson, but the youngster put her shot wide of the right-hand post. Ibini’s effort was also repelled by Jenkins.
Adelaide United go into only their second Finals campaign in a confident mood. Whoever ends up travelling to Coopers Stadium will be real underdogs against the Reds.
Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner has told his team to expect a tough game when they face West Ham this weekend in the Women’s Super League.
Heading into the final weeks of the WSL season, Manchester United face arguably the toughest run-in of any team in the league. Following a trip to London to face a resurgent West Ham, they face Chelsea and Manchester City at Old Trafford before finishing the season away at Arsenal.
It is make-or-break time for the Red Devils; continue their good run of form and they continue to cement their third-place finish (and the potential for Champions League football next season). Manchester City are seven points behind their cross-city rivals, and will be eager to pounce on any dropped balls from United.
Speaking about their run-in ahead of the visit to London, United manager Marc Skinner echoed the need to be at their best over the next few weeks:
“Every game is so important now and I really think they [players] are really looking forward to the game, which I think is great as it is a big game. It’ll be tight, it’ll be tough to beat West Ham – they are always tough to beat, especially at that ground.”
West Ham have had a good season; currently seventh, they have beaten Brighton and done the double over Tottenham. Draws against Manchester City and Chelsea have been recent highlights, and Skinner is not underestimating the Hammers and their head coach, Rehanne Skinner (even though the two share their last name, they are not related).
The two head coaches know each other well; Marc Skinner worked as the West Ham boss’ assistant for a season at Leicester City. Discussing his former mentor this week, the United head coach shared:
“Rehanne’s super strength is consistency. Even when she’s under fire, she’s consistent with the messages and, you know, I think that her team are thriving on that, and she’s obviously recruited well on the budget.”
West Ham are known for their ability to defend and counter-attack. In their recent draw with Chelsea, they limited the blues to two big chances, winning more ground and aerial duels (51% and 57% respectively), and making nine more tackles (31 to Chelsea’s 22).
The Hammers also had one more shot on target (six to Chelsea’s five), two of which were provided by the German youth international Shekiera Martinez.
Speaking on what he expects tactically, Skinner echoed the need to avoid complacency against a team that on-paper, United should expect to beat:
“Rehanne knows very well how to stop teams playing and how to hit people on the counter. She’s super organised. I think it’s going to be a really tough game, but we’ve got to try and do what we do, which is, take the victory”.
Manchester United face West Ham on Saturday 19th April. Kick off is at 12pm UK time, and will be streamed on Sky Sports in the UK.
Above:Essendon celebrate their winning goal against Bulleen.
The Essendon Royals defeated Bulleen Lions 1-0 in a cagey, but entertaining game in Round Fives of Victoria’s NPLW.
Over the 12 months, this fixture has fast become one to circle on the calendar and eagerly anticipate. Last season, they newly promoted Royals were the only side that Bulleen could not overcome on their way to a very convincing premiership, and although the lineups for both sides looked different to 2024, this was bound to be another intriguing contest.
The major caveat for this game was Bulleen’s injuries. They travelled across town without the services of attacking midfielder Hollie Massie and target striker Taylor Golden.
Bulleen were reliant on the trickery and pace of wingers Danella Butrus and Anais Josefski and the pair were inches away from delivering the opening goal. Butrus broke clear and hit a ball across the face of goal that somehow evaded both the net and the outstretched boot of Josefski.
Royals striker Airi Fujiwara was a menacing presence in the Essendon attack and replied with an effort of her own. She elected to shoot from the corner of the box, and might have been better off crossing to an unmarked Grace Paradis at the far post.
Avan Groba was next to threaten for the home side, and set up Sasha Coorey who crafted a promising opening, but Bulleen’s defence was able to scramble to ball clear. The Royals were creating the better opportunities up to half time, but Bulleen remained dangerous, particularly on the counter-attack or when Josefski backed her pace.
Butrus remained a threat for the visitors, the NPW March Player of the Month drew the best out of Zara Board in the Essendon goal. Her clever control and turn gave her just enough space for the shot. Board was wrong footed by the effort, but somehow reacted quickly enough to pull off a remarkable save.
The game was decided by a slightly scrappy goal. Fujiwara’s turn and half-volleyed effort forced Emily Shields into an athletic save, but Cobi Wilbert buried the rebound with a composed and difficult finish.
The game opened up following the goal, Ava Groba almost doubled the lead but her shot missed the target.
Bulleen did not make the same mistakes that led to a late loss to Preston two weekks ago, but could not find the equaliser despite the best efforts of Butrus and Josefski. Butrus ended the match in pain after being on the receiving end of a tough tackle one moment and then a ball to the body after getting in the way of a clearance.
This is Bulleen’s third consecutive loss, but there was a lot to like about the performance, and given the chances they created, it is hard to ignore the missing players in attack. \
Essendon’s win saw them rebound from a loss against The Preston Lions in Round Four, and the display today particularly in attack, will gives supporters and players confidence that they can reach the heights of 2024 again.
In other games, Anna Liacopoulos was the hero for Bentleigh Greens with a brace and a 94th minute equaliser. Erri Yamashita scored for Spring Hills FC, who also got one through an own goal.
Alamein and Heidelberg United played out a 1-1 draw. Emma Runnalls opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Sawa Matsuda equalised before half time.
FV Academy earned their first points of the season with a 2-2 draw at home to Box Hill. The Academy side were in a leading position thanks to an own goal and an Alice Francou strike until Isabella Flanigan pulled one back and Ameera Makunja levelled the scores in the 82nd minute.
Boroondara-Carey Eagles defeated Preston 2-0 in a reminder that this is a tough, and delightfully unpredictable competition. Speedster Priya Savarirayan and Emily Collier with the goals.
In the final match of the round, South Melbourne continued on their winning ways with a 3-1 defeat of Brunswick Juventus. Meisha Westland was the star once again with a stunning long range, second minute goal which was added to by Akeisha Sandhu and Nikki Furukowa. Alyssa Smith scored for the visitors.
Above: Stephen Peters talking to the media at Perth Glory’s Fremantle HQ today. Image: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory’s season can be summed up in one word – frustrating. A never-ending injury list, a number of results not matching the performance, and not quite managing to pick up an away win.
However, that frustration reached a whole new level last weekend in the team’s last gasp defeat at Sydney FC, a result that ended the Western Australian side’s Finals hopes.
Head coach Stephen Peters reflected on those issues today, and it both looked and sounded like it’s still as raw for him as it is for anyone who describes themself as a fan of his team.
“We felt like we had four key refereeing decisions go against us – a red card, two penalties, and a rugby tackle before a goal, which the player who should have been sent off scored…on a rugby pitch by the way!
“I would describe (the pitch) as completely horrendous, and I would probably say that if I was in charge of that football club, the groundskeeper would have probably lost his job.”
Those sources of frustration are clear because the final result and the way it happened cover up what had been a strong showing on the road to the reigning champions.
“We were quite pleased with the way we played, and we know we had a couple of chances to win it late ourselves, so to not do that and then cop the goal was a little bit frustrating, and it hurt us on the day…but with a little bit of reflection, everyone can see we probably deserved a little bit more from that game – and by a little bit, I mean a lot more, and we’re quite pleased with the style of football we played and the approach we had.”
Above: Perth Glory’s Izzy Dalton in action last weekend at Sydney FC. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Perth felt strongly that the scorer of Sydney FC’s winning goal in the depths of second-half stoppage time, Princess Ibini should never have been on the pitch to do so, having gone in studs-first into Glory captain Izzy Dalton’s leg. Ibini was shown a yellow card. Fortuntately, Dalton is OK to play this week in the club’s final game of the season.
“Luckily. On another day, I think that could have been pretty bad – and by bad, I mean a broken leg. It’s hard to justify how it goes unpunished, but she’s got some pretty bad grazes on her leg and some bruising. She’ll probably wear a bit of padding and get on with it, I’d say.”
Peters also revealed that goalkeeper Casey Dumont trained today, which brings her back into contention to play against Melbourne City on Friday.
The upcoming final game of the season at the Sam Kerr Football Centre has a lot riding on it still, with the Sky Blues looking to complete an unbeaten campaign and clinch the Premiership. The Perth boss wants his side to channel the frustrations of last week into ending the season by doing something no-one else has managed in the league.
“Melbourne City is a team that everyone has a lot of respect for, the quality that they possess. We want to try and spoil the party. They won the Premiership in Perth last year, so we want to not let history repeat itself…
“They are definitely going to want to put it to bed early because they want to control the game…we’ve got to be really ready for that. Holly McNamara is a brilliant player – we have to be ready for her, Speckmaier, Pollicina, McKenna, Bosch – good side! They’ve rotated two starting elevens all season, so a nice position to be in!
“We’re going to try to take the game to them and do what we’ve done at Sam Kerr (Football Centre) in every game, which is try to bring the crowd into it and make an entertaining game, and hopefully, we can put a couple of goals in and take the three points and keep the fans happy.”
With Peters coming to the end of his first season in charge at the club, he reflected on what’s happened and sees a lot of reasons to be positive for next year.
“We’ve all learned a lot…the more we look at it, the more we see there’s some incredibly missed opportunities there where we feel that six or eight points better off would have got us in the top six.
“If you look at all the tight games we’ve had, the tight losses, the draws and stuff, there’s a lot of opportunities there we left out on the park…there’s a lot of reflection required, but I don’t think we’re a long way from being a top six, even higher side.”
Above: Ella Abdul-Massih speaking earlier today. Image: Perth Glory.
Young Perth Glory star Ella Abdul-Massih is determined to build on the positives of last week’s trip to Sydney when they face Melbourne City on Friday night.
“We looked at the positives from the game. We thought, collectively, it was a very good game. We were happy with our performance in that game. There were some controversial calls in the game, but all round, we were happy with that performance, and we want to bring that into this weekend, our last game of the season against City.
“They obviously haven’t lost a game all season, so that brings us a bit more fire to be the only team in the league that can hopefully beat City.
“City are a great team…first game of the season we played them, and we were in the lead, so going into this game, it would be great to beat City…we’re aiming for that.”
The 18-year-old from New South Wales admitted to me earlier this season in an interview for the club website (https://perthglory.com.au/news/alw-in-focus-ella-abdul-massih/) how hard at times she found the move 3,800+km west away from her family, and it’s been a situation made harder by injuries as well. However, she’s definitely in a much happier place now and credits her teammates and coaching staff for ensuring she has fully settled into life in WA.
“It’s been difficult. It’s a mental game as well. I’ve played three seasons and I’ve never had as many injuries as I’ve had this one season, so it’s definitely been hard, and it hasn’t been little injuries; it’s been a few weeks out, a month out, a month and a half out, so it’s been difficult building connections and consistency in games, so when you haven’t played for a month and a bit and then play, it makes it difficult.
“I’ve learned a lot on the field and off the field. Off the field, living by myself without my family – there’s seven of us at home – and now it’s just me and my cousin, so that’s a big difference.
“On the field, I’ve learned so much having Stephen (Peters, head coach) and (Tiana) Gauci (assistant coach)…I’ve found we try to play more football. Where I’ve been previously, we’ve been a bit more direct…but I do like the football style that we’ve been trying to incorporate into our game (in Perth).”
In terms of her personal high point of the season – there’s no contest – that 93rd-minute free-kick to clinch three points at home to Brisbane Roar at the end of January. It’s an achievement that still makes her smile.
“Definitely the top! It’s taken me so long to score! It felt great. It also felt great to do it with that team as they obviously backed me to take that free kick, and I definitely want to be able to do it again this week!
Above: Ella Abdul-Massih (20) in action for Perth Glory at Sydney FC last weekend. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.
Above: Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, and Tameka Yallop celebrate. Image: Football Australia.
By Genevieve Henry (16/4/25).
With the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup looming and Australia’s most beloved generation yet to win a major trophy, Impetus’ Genevieve Henry discusses the label of “the Golden Generation” and why it slows down the future while stopping us from properly celebrating the past.
Australian women’s football has experienced a tremendous rise in popularity over the past few years, with the Matildas achieving both global and local recognition for their impact on the sport. The 2023 Women’s World Cup transformed the sporting landscape of Australia, the home tournament drawing unbelievably large crowds, endearing the national team to the general public, and inspiring a surge in registrations for both young girls and boys. The Matildas have become one of the most popular teams in the country, competing with sports such as cricket, rugby, and AFL, which have dominated popularity for years. The players have become household names, with the average Australian not only able to name Sam Kerr, the figurehead of the side, but other members of the Matildas with Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter, and Mary Fowler among the most beloved.
But, with this widespread recognition comes immense pressure. For years, the Matildas have been at the precipice of greatness. Since around 2017, the football world has had eyes on this team, waiting for the right place and the right time for Australia to finally achieve something. This ongoing era of promise was led by a freakish goalscorer in Kerr, alongside an especially talented group of players around the same age; Foord, Steph Catley, Kyah Simon, Emily Van Egmond, Katrina Gorry, Hayley Raso, Mackenzie Arnold, Tameka Yallop, and Alanna Kennedy are all among the names. They have been labelled as a “Golden Generation” by many fans and pundits. But, their achievements have been largely off-field, winning hearts but no major trophies.
Australia has been stuck in cycles of excitement and disappointment. When the Matildas fell short in a tight game to Japan in the 2018 Asian Cup final, we looked to the 2019 Women’s World Cup. After the nightmare in Nice, we regrouped and looked to the Tokyo Olympics. The hope and celebration from coming fourth in that tournament gave the Matildas and their fans a massive confidence boost going into the 2022 Asian Cup. It was the perfect tournament to make their mark and hopefully ride the wave into a World Cup on home soil. But, in arguably the hardest game for fans to relive ever, Australia once again fell short. Every tournament, we pretend we can focus on the next.
The 2023 World Cup was the pinnacle. It was the moment to prove that Australia could compete with, even beat, the best in the world. For a while, it looked possible; the success that Australia had dreamed of was almost tangible. But, we all know how it ended; fourth, again. While this was a remarkable achievement in the ever-competitive and improving landscape of women’s football, it simply did not live up to the expectations that the Matildas had set for themselves. The Paris Olympics had similar expectations, yet far worse results and an utter lack of excitement. So, all we have to show for all the hype are some friendly tournament trophies and an all-time high FIFA ranking of 4th in 2017. Will the Matildas break the pattern with this Asian Cup, or will they continue to fluctuate between near-success and total capitulation?
Above: Many of the “Golden Generation” posing together with the Cup of Nations trophy. Image: Player Instagram.
The 2026 Asian Cup on home soil may very well be the last chance these players have to win a major trophy. The 2027 Women’s World Cup isn’t much further, but it’s likely that it could be the “Golden Generation’s” final cycle. Realistically, the Matildas have the talent to win this upcoming continental tournament. They have the home advantage, arguably the biggest name players, and perhaps the most incentive to bring it home. But, with the uncertainty of the coaching situation, it’s hard to see the Matildas beating Japan, the most threatening opponent in Asia. Over the next few years, fans, especially newer ones who have only known this generation, have to come to terms with their imminent retirements.
Labelling a group as a “Golden Generation” is not only misleading but actively harms the achievements of the players of both the past and future. It is crucial to recognize the contributions of those players who helped to lay the groundwork for women’s football in Australia. The term detracts from the talent of the generations that came before and built the Matildas. What about Angela Iannotta, Cheryl Salisbury, and Julie Dolan? The continued focus on the “golden” players of today risks erasing the history of the women who played a pivotal role in bringing the sport to prominence in Australia.
It also minimizes the upcoming talent and gives them a benchmark, a team that they can never beat in terms of public adoration. The “Golden Generation” label implies that the current group of players is a once-in-a-lifetime collection of talent, which can create unrealistic expectations for the future. For the Matildas’ next generation of players, this could create immense pressure to replicate or surpass the successes (as individuals and as a team) of the likes of Kerr, Foord, and others. While it’s vital to celebrate achievements, positioning these players as the pinnacle of Australian women’s football may inadvertently stifle the development of younger talent, who could feel as though they have to match or outdo the “golden” players’ achievements just to be considered successful.
Additionally, even if the Matildas were in a “Golden Generation”, other nations may have their own talented cohort. As male footballer Kevin De Bruyne famously expressed, it’s not fair to compare the successes of one country’s supposed best with others going through a similar era of promise. So, how can we say our “Golden Generation” should have achieved more when they are going up against the “Golden Generation” of England, Spain, and other powerhouses? It’s even more unfair when one considers the seemingly continuous stream of talent produced in countries like the USA and Japan. It reduces the quality of all parties involved instead of recognizing the ebbs and flows of national team football.
Another downside to the “Golden Generation” label is its suggestion that Australian women’s football may have reached its peak. If we focus too heavily on the achievements of this specific cohort of players, there is a risk of complacency in terms of investment, development, and long-term strategy for the sport. In order to find success in the future, Football Australia needs to invest in the continuous evolution of women’s football. By suggesting that the Matildas have already reached a “golden” zenith of sorts, Australia risks failing to keep pace with the growing global competition in women’s football. The Matildas need sustained investment at the grassroots level, as well as in coaching, infrastructure, and support systems, to ensure that future generations continue to thrive.
Above: The Matildas celebrate a goal. Image: Kris Goman for Impetus.
The “Golden Generation” label reinforces the idea that this group of players is a one-off success story, rather than part of an ongoing, evolving program of excellence. Women’s football is still growing, and Australia is a country where the potential for sustained success is high. By presenting the Matildas’ rise as part of a “golden” era, we may inadvertently convey the notion that they are an anomaly, rather than a product of a system that should be improving year by year. It becomes a narrative that doesn’t truly reflect the collective, sustained work behind the scenes necessary to push the sport forward.
Instead of labeling the generation as “golden,” we should embrace the notion that women’s football in Australia is an evolving landscape. Each new generation builds upon the successes and lessons of those who came before. The focus should be on development, recognition of diverse talents, and the long-term commitment to making Australian women’s football a world leader—not just basking in the glory of a singular “golden” era.
Of course, the achievements of this group of Matildas should be celebrated, but not elevated to a level that implies that their success is once-in-a-lifetime. By shifting the focus to the continued growth and investment in the sport, we can ensure that the Matildas’ current success is just the beginning of many future triumphs in Australian women’s football. The ultimate goal should be sustainability and progress, not simply a moment of brilliance that fades over time.
What our “Golden Generation” achieved was bigger than a trophy–they became a figurehead of Australian sport, an inspiration to little kids, and a symbol of female power and achievement; by shedding the “Golden Generation” label, we allow the celebration of the ongoing Australian contributions to women’s football and create a future where success is a continual, evolving story.
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