Above: Isabel Gomez in action for Central Coast Mariners
A 23-player squad has been announced by Matildas Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni ahead of the team’s two game series against Argentina, made up of long term Tillies and some new faces.
“It’s a fairly mixed squad,” said Sermanni, “it’s a balance of a group of our senior international players and quite a few young players.”
One of the new call ups includes Central Coast Mariners’ midfielder Izzy Gomez, who is currently preparing to take on Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women’s Grand Final this Sunday.
Gomez was previously called up in November of last year, but a knee injury cruelly kept her from making it to camp.
“She’s just continued since she’s come back from injury, week in week out, to be a dominant player in midfield,” he said.
“She offers a combination of things, she’s very tenacious but at the same time has a really good midfield skillset. Her passing is good, her decision making is good and obviously as you saw on the weekend managed to score a goal that was apparently just onside,” Sermanni said, referring to the controversial game winning goal Gomez scored to help her side into the Grand Final and break Melbourne City’s unbeaten streak.
Striker Kahli Johnson, who recently made the move from Western United to Calgary Wild FC in Canada’s new National Super League, where she has already scored twice, is another name to make it into the final 23 for the first time
“It’s been quite significantly hit with injuries and withdrawals so the upside of that is it gives opportunities to other players,” Sermanni said.
Players such as Mary Fowler, Tameka Yallop, and Mackenzie Arnold will all miss this window due to injuries, while other players such as Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry have withdrawn themselves for personal reasons.
Sermanni was also asked for comment on the now very likely possibility that he will be succeeded by Joe Montemurro, who currently coaches Olympique Lyonnais Femenin.
“Joe would do fantastic in the job, he knows the players intimately, he’s coached at the highest level for a very long time and been extraordinarily successful so there’ll be no issue with Joe coming in,” he said after jokingly saying that Montemurro would be, “terrible,” in the role, but only because he’s from Melbourne.
Speaking moments after the history making win, the joy that Mariners coach Emily Husband was feeling was clear for all to see.
She said that in that moment she was “just really proud. Really proud of the girls and what they’ve done this season and what they’ve achieved and the performances that they’re repeatedly putting on.”
“Just really, really proud of them.”
Heading into the game, Husband said that the mindset had not changed too much after the first leg of the tie.
“For us it was very similar, but I think we just needed to be a little bit more attacking and a little bit better in possession,” Husband explained.
“Obviously, we weren’t anticipating the game to go the way that it went, but I think for me, the great thing about this bunch is that we’re so flexible and adaptable to be able to take whatever the game throws at us.”
Things got significantly easier for her side early when Melbourne City lost two of their first choice starters to injury (Holly McNamara) and a red card (Lourdes Bosch) respectively. However, that did not alter things too much for Husband in terms of her and her side’s approach.
“Look, obviously a sending off will always affect a game in one way or another,” Husband did.
“So we knew that we might see a little bit more of the ball. But ultimately for us it was continuing to focus on what we could control and what we can do with the ball and, and to try and create as many opportunities as we could. “
The match winning goal from Isabel Gomez came with mere minutes left in stoppage time of extra time, but Husband said everything was ready to go in case the game did end up going to penalties.
“We were already set if it went to pens, everyone knew exactly what the plan was. Everybody knew what their role was, so everything was already set,” Husband said.
“Like I said, the girls were ready for whatever the game through today, so that was a massive part of us also wanting to leave Gomez on for as long as we could do, because you give her an opportunity and she’ll always take it.”
Looking ahead to the big dance, Husband already has a plan for how she and her team will prepare for the biggest game of the club’s history since their return to the league.
“We’ll go back over the last few games that we’ve played,” Husband confirmed.
“We’ve played them three times already this year, so we’ve had plenty of practice at it, and now it’s just about us again taking our moments when we’re creating.”
The Mariners will be the underdog in the clash against Melbourne Victory next weekend, but that’s not an issue for the Mariners’ boss.
“Yeah, look, we’ve always been in the underdogs, right?” Husband said.
“The club that we come from, it gives us that title, and we’ve only been in the league two years, so we’re never going to come in all guns blazing. It’s probably where we’re best, where we’re fit, and we’re obviously good at it.”
Above: Chelsea celebrate their sixth successsive title win. Photo: Chelsea FC Women.
Now that yet another WSL season has come to an end, there is time to sit back and reflect on one of the world’s most exciting women’s leagues. Whilst Chelsea took home the title for a sixth consecutive year, there were surprises.
Who could have foreseen Tottenham finishing one above bottom after reaching the FA Cup final last year? Did anyone see the exodus of head coaches coming? Who would have thought that Arsenal would ship five goals to Aston Villa?
There were some standout head coaches, players, and games over the course of the 2024-25 season. Eleven members of the Impetus team have voted on their standouts, with the results presented below.
Head coach of the season – Sonia Bompastor
If there is one winner that is entirely self-explanatory, it is Sonia Bompastor as the coach of the season. Coming in to replace Emma Hayes – who had been at the club for over a decade, winning every trophy possible (barring one), many pundits anticipated a period of transition like Manchester United have experienced since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
In contrast, Bompastor has taken Chelsea to new heights, building on the work of Hayes and adding her own flair to the champions.
Above: Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor with the WSL trophy. Photo: @ChelseaFCW on X.
Coming in second was Villa head coach Natalia Arroyo. Arroyo has guided Aston Villa away from relegation by claiming five wins from their last five games of the season, including statement wins over Arsenal (5-2), Tottenham (3-2) and Liverpool (2-1).
Arriving midway through the season after previous head coach Robert De Pauw left under a cloud of accusations of inappropriate behaviour, Arroyo has steadied the ship to leave Villa in seventh place.
Results:
Sonia Bompastor – 8
Natalia Arroyo – 2
Renee Slegers – 1
Head Coach – Special mentions
Although Bompastor took gold in a landslide in our polls, we also asked our contributors which head coaches they would like to give a special mention to – the top three were Dario Vidosic, Renee Slegers and Rehanne Skinner.
Vidosic was hired by a Brighton that are pushing to become one of the most progressive clubs in England. From building a stadium for their women’s team to investing in experienced players like Lionesses Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, the Seagulls are on the rise.
Vidosic has deployed an exciting brand of football, leading Brighton to fifth in the WSL, a major improvement on last season where they finished in ninth place.
Slegers took over an Arsenal side that were languishing – losing both in the league and in Europe, slipping further and further behind their rivals. Slegers has revitalised the Gunners’ attack through minor tweaks to formation, building on the positives that were there before her arrival.
Rehanne Skinner has significantly transformed West Ham United Women since her appointment in July 2023. Taking over a team that finished 11th in the 2023–24 Women’s Super League (WSL) season, Skinner implemented tactical changes and fostered a positive team culture, leading to notable improvements in performance.
This season, the Hammers finished ninth – important wins against Tottenham and Brighton and draws against Manchester United and Chelsea sealing the perception that they are a very hard team to beat.
Results:
Dario Vidosic – 4
Renee Slegers – 3
Rehanne Skinner – 2
Natalia Arroyo – 1
Player of the season – Mariona Caldentey
Spanish star Caldentey has had a stellar inaugural season for Arsenal. The 29-year-old has started 20 of the Gunners’ 22 games, scoring nine goals, with 1.6 shots per game and one shot on target per game. She has added five assists to this total, and has created 13 big chances during the season, second to fellow Gunner Katie McCabe (16).
For her first season in the WSL, it is arguable that she couldn’t have done more – she has also been recognised with the WSL player of the year award (voted for by fans of all clubs). Accepting that accolade, the player told the BBC: “I’m super happy because I really enjoyed my first season here. Everybody helped me.”
Above: Mariona Caldentey with her Player of the Season trophy. Photo: @UWCL on X.
Player of the season special mention – Olivia Smith
We also asked our team if there is a player they would like to give a special mention to. Olivia Smith joined Liverpool last summer from CP Sporting, and the 20-year-old Canada U20 international has not looked back. She has revolutionised Liverpool’s attack, causing chaos for any backline she has faced.
Smith has started 20 of 22 games, scoring seven goals and having 2.5 shots per game. She has registered the third-most successful dribbles per game (behind Manchester City’s Kerolin and Leicester’s Missy Goodwin, 58%), and the biggest issue for Liverpool will be trying to keep hold of the forward.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce had an outstanding WSL season, her first as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper. Stepping into big shoes after Lioness Mary Earps’ departure, the American shot-stopper played all 22 league matches, recording 13 clean sheets – the joint-highest in the league alongside Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton – conceding only 16 goals.
Beyond traditional metrics, Tullis-Joyce ranks top for goals prevented (6.89), showcasing her shot-stopping ability. Her impact was acknowledged by United with a new three-year contract extension and by Emma Hayes with her first cap for the USWNT.
Above: Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Photo: @ManUtdWomen on X.
Results:
Phallon Tullis-Joyce: 6
Hannah Hampton: 3
Daphne van Domselaar: 2
Defender of the season – Maya Le Tissier
The WSL’s youngest captain is Impetus’ defender of the season. When she was handed the armband at Manchester United last summer, there were questions over her youth. However, those questions have been answered over the course of the year, as Le Tissier led United to a third-place finish amidst the usual external noise that accompanies the club.
Statistically, Le Tissier’s defensive prowess was evident: she recorded 32 tackles – eight more than in the previous season – and won 29 aerial duels, surpassing her 2023–24 total. Notably, she was dribbled past only seven times throughout the season, and had the most accurate long balls – seven, surpassing Leah Williamson’s 6.5.
Above: Maya Le Tissier. Photo: @ManUtdWomen on X.
Results
Maya Le Tissier – 4
Millie Bright – 3
Kerstin Casparij / Nathalie Bjorn / Laia Aleixandri / Emily Fox – 1
Midfielder of the season – Mariona Caldentey
As discussed above, Caldentey has had a standout inaugural WSL season with Arsenal. Rather than repeat her ‘player of the season’ analysis, here are a couple of quotes from her teammates on what she brings to the team:
Emily Fox to OneFootball: “She’s so good. Very hard to defend…she has everything in her toolbox.”
Alessia Russo to OnlineGooner: “She’s been great since she’s come in… I feel like I learned a lot off of her too, she’s obviously a world-class player, and a person too.”
Results:
Mariona Caldentey – 3
Grace Clinton / Erin Cuthbert – 2
Johanna Kaneryd / Yui Hasegawa / Kim Little / Ella Toone – 1
Forward of the season – Alessia Russo
England’s first-choice striker Alessia Russo has had what is arguably the best season of her career. Praised particularly for her work-rate both on and off the ball, she has developed rapidly since arriving at Arsenal in the summer of 2023. This season, she shares the golden boot with Manchester City’s Bunny Shaw (12 goals each), additionally registering two assists.
She had 73 shots overall – 3.5 per game, joint second with Vivianne Miedema (Shaw is first with 3.7). She is joint first with Shaw and Miedema for shots on target per game (1.6) and has been careful with discipline – receiving no cards across the entire season.
Above: Alessia Russo for Arsenal. Photo: @ArsenalWFC on X.
Results:
Alessia Russo – 5
Aggie Beever-Jones – 3
Mary Fowler / Bunny Shaw / Lauren Hemp – 1
Club of the season – Chelsea
Club of the season was never going to be too controversial: the team who won the league won it with two games to spare, recording a record number of wins and going the entire season unbeaten. If that was not enough, they also made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League and won the League Cup; they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final next weekend. The club of the season had to be Chelsea.
Results:
Chelsea – 7
Manchester United / Arsenal – 2
Above: Chelsea celebrate. Photo: @ChelseaFCW on X.
Game of the season – Manchester City 2 – 4 Manchester United (19th January 2025)
Although the last Manchester derby of the season had more at stake (a Champions League spot for next season), the chaos of the earlier encounter between City and United at the Etihad is unforgettable.
From goalkeeper gaffes to a hattrick for a childhood United fan, the game had it all. City’s commitment to playing out from the back, even under pressure, proved costly – and is something subsequent opponents went on to use to their advantage.
The victory propelled United above City into third place in the WSL standings, enhancing their prospects for League qualification. The win also marked United’s first league triumph over a fellow ‘big four’ team in nine attempts.
Above: the Manchester derby. Photo: Richard Sellers / PA.
Results:
Manchester City 2 – 4 Manchester United, 4 votes
Arsenal 4 – 3 West Ham, 2 votes
Arsenal 4 – 3 Manchester United, 1 vote
West Ham 7 – 1 Crystal Palace, 1 vote
Aston Villa 5 – 2 Arsenal, 1 vote
We will be waiting with baited breath to see what the 2025/26 WSL season has in store – a new champion? Will London City Lionesses stay in the top flight?
Above: Caitlin Doeglas, who scored a hat-trick and contributed two assists in Perth RedStar’s 6-2 win over UWA-Nedlands today. Photo: Rob Lizzi.
Perth SC 1-1 Fremantle City
Fremantle City continued their strong run of form by coming from behind to gain a point at unbeaten Perth SC this afternoon.
The opening quarter of an hour was a real arm-wrestle between these two in form sides. Freo, after a tough start results wise, came into this game unbeaten in three. It was the visitors who conjured up the first opportunity as Abbey Green showed great footwork along the left flank, combining excellently with Sophie Meaden in a move which ended with the latter getting a shot away that Dayle Schroeder saved.
The Azzurri then put together an incisive move with Jess Flannery providing a centimetre perfect long pass through for Louise Tana to the right of centre. Her low shot went across Freo keeper Megan Phillips, and Lincoln was only denied at the back post by a superb covering block.
Perth were now on top, and Flannery’s eye for on point passing showed once more with 22 minutes played as she found Daisy McAllister who broke through but hit her shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Just two minutes later, the Azzurri were ahead. Sam Mathers held possession and found Lincoln outside the box to lay off to Flannery who returned the favour. Under close attention from two defenders, Lincoln showed great poise to play the ball back to Mathers, who was stationed just outside the box. Mathers looked up and saw Flannery outside her. She turned Alex Poad and then bent a stunning shot into the right hand corner.
Freo looked to hit back with 11 minutes of the half remaining as Leyna Wood supplied a pass along the left for Mikayla Lyons at the near post, but Schroeder saved.
Perth had an excellent chance shortly afterwards to double their advantage, as McAllister gained possession from Hannah Reynolds and broke through to the edge of the area where she found Lincoln whose shot went over the top.
Then, just two minutes before the interval, the port city side levelled. Phillips’ high goal kick bounced inside the Perth half for Wood to feed Lyons who ran through and finished calmly under the onrushing Schroeder to ensure the sides went in level at the break.
Above: Perth SC goalscorer Jess Flannery (azure shirt) seen here in action against the Football West Academy last week. Photo: Rob Lizzi.
Defences were on top in the second half with clear cut chances few and far between. The best opportunity fell the Azzurri’s way just three minutes in when, from a free kick inside the Perth half, Annabelle Leek played the ball backwards towards Reynolds who was put under immediate pressure by Lincoln. The Perth attacker won the ball and advanced one on one with Phillips, but the visitors’ keeper pulled of an excellent save.
Much of the reminder of this encounter was akin to an arm wrestle with both sides having plenty of possession, but out and out chances were extremely limited.
There was one half chance apiece in the dying minutes. First, Lincoln held off her defender, but Phillips held onto the shot. For the visitors, Catherine Adams saw a shot go narrowly over the top a minute into stoppage time.
Freo will no doubt be the happier of the two sides with this outcome, but it could be argued that the real beneficiaries from this outcome is Perth RedStar, who are now within a single point of the Azzurri.
Subiaco earned their second win over Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) in a fortnight, and rose to within touching distance of the top four as a result.
Subiaco were on the front foot from the get-go this afternoon when Jaalah Rudd posed a threat to with a powerful stride up the wing, an impressive preview of what was to come.
Just 12 minutes in, and the home side had confidently inhabited their favourable end of the pitch. Positioned in a spacious right corner of the box, Greta Bailey made an excellent break. The break allowed a cross to fall at the feet of Soyi Kim, positioned at an open goal. Kim’s one touch securing the home side an early lead.
The visitors were visibly unsure of their tactical identity, enabling Subi to generate a substantial number of chances in the first half alone. MUM’s Gabriella Saraceni’s authoritative stride up the centre midfield at the 33-minute mark, being one of few displays of dominance.
Visiting goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mohan was the redeeming asset to the away side, repeatedly denied promising attempts at goal from the hosts. One of her key saves in this spell came with her blocking a crossbar rebound from a corner, from entering the goal at the 35-minute mark.
Ultimately capitalising on the many opportunities at goal created by Subiaco, a long ball fell at the feet of an offside open Kim. With Mohan off her line in an attempt to save the ball, Kim exploited a now open goal, leaping over the keeper, and raised the scoreline to 2-0. The goal was ultimately allowed; however, the question of offside was a valid one.
Creeping into the mere minutes of added time, Subiaco’s attack from the left side of the box called for Mohan’s immediate attention. Subiaco’s Tayna Campos, able to beat the keeper to it, left the Subiaco goal exposed. Ana Denona skillfully neutralised the threat posed by Campos, kicking the ball out of play, centimetres from the goal line. An exceptional defensive display.
Kim opened the second half in a comparable approach at goal. A long ball from the centre circle, found the feet of an open Kim. Dribbling away, the South Korean calmly netted the home side’s third goal.
Kim continued to emerge as a threat to MUM’s defence, as she netted yet another goal. However, the effort was from an offside position.
Today’s matchup was also one of mutual frustration, with a total of 22 fouls recorded. A foul committed by Denona outside Subiaco’s box resulted in a free kick in prime position. Stella Zampogna’s effort failed to add a fourth goal for the hosts.
MUM made a promising eleventh-hour attempt at goal 88 minutes in, with Sophie Patience and Eduarda Mello making a convincing run up the centre midfield. However, the attempt was whisked out of danger by Brooke Burdett centimetres from the goal line.
With the league now taking a week’s break due to the State Cup, Subi will be looking to hit the top four when they resume NPLW WA duty in a fortnight’s time at home to UWA-Nedlands.
Balcatta Etna hit back from their disappointing defeat to Perth RedStar last time out to defeat ladder leaders Football West Academy (FWA) at their first home game this season.
Home Group Stadium was back up and running after extensive renovations over the close season, which has meant Pete Rakic’s side had to play all games up to this stage away from home. This was a vital win to get Balcatta back up and running, as they condemned the FWA to a second successive loss.
It was though the visitors who hit the front after seven minutes through Cate McAuliffe, a lead they held until the break, when the home side re-grouped and came out firing.
Within two minutes of the second half, Abbey Meakins was positioned just outside the box on the left-hand side and lifted a shot straight over Sofia Borg and in.
Nine minutes later, Meakins was involved again. Her free-kick from the left came back out to her to fire back in again for Alyssa van Heurck to turn and fire home from inside the six-yard box.
The teenage visitors grabbed an equaliser with 22 minutes of normal time in some style. Nelli Johnson beat Rachel Jarvis to the ball and hit an absolute stunner from over 30 yards past a diving Rebecca Bennett.
Then came the real drama. Just as the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Jamie-Lee Gale’s corner came in from the right. The visitors couldn’t clear, and Carys Davis lashed home from the left-hand side of the box.
Then, five minutes into stoppage time, up stepped Meakins with one of her long-range specials, as the midfield star was found unmarked by Monique D’Opera to send in a shot from approaching 25 yards that bounced in front of FWA keeper Borg and landed in the left-hand corner of the net.
Balcatta now re-enter the top four on goal difference from Subiaco, and with two games in hand, could well stay there.
Perth RedStar won theirthird successive match, taking their goalscoring tally to 19 in the period, with this win over UWA-Nedlands at RedStar Arena today.
The match was punctuated by a superb contribution from Caitlin Doeglas, who scored a hat-trick and added two assists, with Renee Leota also hitting three, as RedStar moved ominously within three points of ladder leaders Football West Academy after this latest success.
The home side hit the front with 11 minutes on the clock when Renee Leota pounced on a ball played across her own box by UWA-Nedlands’ Isabelle Dadswell to turn the ball into the net.
The Kiwi star was at it again just before the half-hour mark when a low cross in from the left from Doeglas found Leota in acres of space to tap home from close range.
Three minutes later, however, the visitors got a foothold back in the game. Melina Franklin was fouled five yards outside the box on the left-hand side. Chloe Rodrigo’s low free-kick came in. Hannah Seeley’s first shot was blocked, and the clearance came back to her to hit a follow-up shot in.
Ten minutes before the break, the hosts re-established their two-goal cushion. Four loose touches in a row from the visitors ended with Doeglas crossing in from the left, and an unmarked Leota pounced to complete a 24-minute hat-trick.
With 55 minutes on the clock, Doeglas got on the scoresheet herself in style. Released along the left by a superb pass from Abbey Woolley, the Perth Glory A-League Women striker ran into space before lifting a quality finish from just inside the area.
RedStar gained their fifth after a sumptuous passing move which ended with Grace Monteiro finding Doeglas on the left to hit a first-time shot from the edge of the area across UWA-Nedlands keeper Janina Sauer and in.
Two minutes later, Doeglas completed her hat-trick when her cross from the left hit the arm of Ginger Cain, and the attacker fired the resulting penalty to the right of centre of the net.
The visitors pulled another back in stoppage time at the end of the game when RedStar keeper Gabby Dal Busco’s clearance fell kindly for Franklin, who lifted a first-time effort straight in.
RedStar are now hitting their straps and after the break for the State Cup, they travel to the Sam Kerr Football Centre to face league leaders Football West Academy. Win that, and the march of the Red Army is well and truly on once more.
STATE CUP 1st ROUND: Friday: Football West Academy v Fremantle City (WD1). Saturday: Mandurah City v Perth RedStar. Sunday: Subiaco (WD1) v Murdoch University Melville, Subiaco (NPLW WA) v UWA-Nedlands (NPLW WA), Balcatta Etna v Sorrento, Queens Park v Hamersley Rovers, UWA-Nedlands (WD1) v Fremantle City (NPLW WA), Perth SC v Perth AFC.
NPLW WA ROUND 9 – Saturday 24th May: Football West Academy v Perth RedStar. Sunday 25th May: Murdoch University Melville v Perth SC, Fremantle City v Balcatta Etna, Subiaco v UWA-Nedlands.
Above: The Mariners celebrate a dramatic win. Photo: A-Leagues
The Central Coast Mariners have pulled off arguably the biggest upset of this A League Women’s season, pulling off a 1-0 win over Melbourne City to not only move through to next weekend’s Grand Final, but end Melbourne City’s invincible season.
It was an at times chaotic match, and the sides were unable to be split until the dying moments of the second half of extra time, when Isabel Gomez popped up and scored that deciding goal.
It was a pretty free flowing beginning to proceedings, with a lot of end to end, non congested action on display.
However only 10 minutes into the match disaster struck for City, when Holly McNamara went down after a heavy collision with Mariners keeper Sarah Langman. After a significant delay, City was forced to substitute their star striker, while Langman was able to continue.
Things went from bad to worse for City at the 25 minute mark when Lourdes Bosch was shown a straight red card for assaulting Brooke Nunn after letting her frustrations get the better of her.
Nothing was going right for City, but it was not necessarily because of anything the visitors were doing. Their list of playable players was decreasing fast, and they just could not make the most of any goal scoring opportunities.
As the first half progressed, momentum certainly shifted and although there were no goals to show for it for either side, the Mariners looked a lot calmer on the ball than City did, and also looked the more dangerous of the sides.
After a whopping eight minutes of extra time at the end of the half, the score was still nil all, Emily Husband would have certainly been the happier of the two coaches heading into the half time break.
Perhaps as a sign of their awareness of their predicament, Melbourne City went on the attack early in the second half, with plenty of attacking momentum despite their numerical disadvantage.
The Mariners did have some moments of potential, with Gomez starting to become lively and create really movement after moving to a more central role, but the visitors just could not quite find the back of the net.
As the minutes started to tick down, neither side really looked like scoring, so extra time was looking more and more likely, and extra time was eventually needed.
Through the first half of extra time it was City who dominated possession despite having a numbers disadvantage.
However despite the best efforts of both sides a goal just could not be found, and the score remained at nil all heading into the second half of extra time.
It was clear that their efforts were starting to take a toll on the City players, with several players pulled from the field due to cramps, with the City coaching staff not taking any chances.
Just as it looked like the match was heading to penalties, Gomez broke the hearts of the home fans, chipping the City keeper to finally find a goal in stoppage time of the second half of extra time. It was a goal that caused huge controversy with claims that Gomez was offside. Referee Molly Godsell was not moved, and the goal stood.
City did not stop attempting to find the equaliser even with so little time left, but a resolute Mariners defence denied every attempt they made, and the history-making win was theirs.
Check out our Instagram feed @impetusfootball to see Beck Hartley’s stunning EXCLUSIVE set of images from the game:
Above: Arsenal celebrate their win. Photo: Arsenal Women on X.
On the final day of the WSL season, Arsenal welcomed Manchester United to London. Despite being at opposite ends of the country, the two were neighbours in the table, both aiming to be league runners-up. For Impetus, Arsenal fan Ella McShane and United fan Catherine MacKenzie break down the action.
The context
Although the most important positions in the WSL were already determined – Crystal Palace were to be relegated, Chelsea champions, Arsenal and Manchester United completing the top three – there was still a lot to play for at the Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal were one point ahead of United at kick off, and by avoiding a loss would clinch second place. This is important because it gives them an extra week off ahead of the new season; the third-placed team will play an extra qualifying game ahead of the Champions League. This game is scheduled to take place soon after the conclusion of this summer’s European Championships, meaning players would get less recovery time.
Both teams also have a major final to play soon – Arsenal will face Barcelona in the final of the Champions League, and United will face Chelsea in the FA Cup.
The United Analysis – the importance of Jade Riviere
By Catherine MacKenzie(10/’05/2025)
United came into the game off the back of a 2-all draw with neighbours Manchester City; a result that cemented a top three finish next season for the reds. Team news ahead of Saturday’s match was concerning, as right-back Jade Riviere was ruled out of the trip to London after sustaining an ankle injury against City.
Riviere has been a revelation this season, playing in every game and making two assists since the start of the year. Her link-up play with winger Celin Bizet has been particularly joyous to watch, and fruitful; Bizet has six assists this season, mostly for Elisabeth Terland.
With Riviere out of contention and left-back Gabby George also suffering a knock, United changed formation. Normally opting for a back four of Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner, and George, the players who form part of the league’s best defence were forced out of position. The back four became a back three (and at times in the second half, a back two) of Janssen, Turner and Le Tissier.
The back three struggled to cope with Chloe Kelly, and it was obvious that the formation was new to the team, particularly at the back. Janssen normally plays as a central defensive midfielder for United – and has been a solid presence protecting the backline and controlling the ball.
The Janssen-Turner partnership has not really been tested, and there were numerous times when they seemed to think the other would claim a ball or shut down an Arsenal attack.
In the first half, United also missed Elisabeth Terland – the club’s top goal scorer enjoys defensive work – and, as Phallon Tullis-Joyce put it last week, “can be terrifying”. Whilst United had their chances in the first half and looked more clinical than Arsenal, in Terland’s absence Galton and Malard left more space behind them for Arsenal to play into.
Above: Elisabeth Terland thanks fans. Photo: Manchester United Women on X.
The unusual formation held out for the first half, however this changed when Arsenal received a penalty early in the second half. This seemed to flick a switch for both teams. Whilst Arsenal looked substantially more dangerous, United became sloppy and seemed fatigued. Efforts to play out from the back often went awry so United opted for the long ball, of which only eight (29%) were accurate (compared to Arsenal’s 14 for 44%).
The scoreline at 70 minutes was 4-1, due to a rampant early second half from Arsenal. Elisabeth Terland made it 4-2 on the 70th minute, and Maya Le Tissier converted a penalty six minutes later. This set up a nervous final twenty minutes for both sides and seemed to provide United with the impetus to get back into the game. A full comeback was not to be, however, and both sides had a few minor chances to change the scoreline before the fulltime whistle.
For United fans, the concerning part of the game is not the loss, or the fact that we conceded four goals (conceding more than three for the first time since the six-nil demolition at the hands of Chelsea in the final game of the 2023-24 season).
Above: United thank traveling fans. Photo: Manchester United Women on X.
The concerns are twofold: one, that there seemed to be such a capitulation in the opening period of the second half, a time that Arsenal are known to dominate (they are sometimes called ‘second half-enal’ after all), and secondly that the injuries sustained to Riviere and George seemed to disrupt the team so greatly.
There is a week until the FA Cup final, and United fans will certainly be hoping that both will be back fit by then.
The Arsenal Analysis – Starring Chloe Kelly
By Ella McShane (10/05/2025)
The fruit of a second-place finish to the WSL season weighed on both Arsenal and Manchester United. Chloe Kelly’s cracking opener of a goal set the tone for an ultimate 90 minutes of hot and cold.
Above: Chloe Kelly with her Player of the Match trophy. Photo: Arsenal Women on X.
The spark ignited by Kelly’s creativity was quickly extinguished in the quarter of an hour following. United’s backline starved the gunners of possession. Manuela Zinsberger refusing to take her foot off the gas, tipped Grace Clinton’s on target shot away from the Arsenal goal 11 minutes in.
Arsenal attempted to cool down the Red Devils, playing potential forward chances back, in an attempt disperse United’s organised defence.
Although both sides were level at the halftime break, Arsenal’s eventual attempts to play the ball forward, came much closer to securing the goals required for a comfortable second place finish.
Arsenal introduced the second half with the composure required to maintain possession. The term “composure” used solely when referring to the maintenance of possession.
Today’s matchup recorded a total of “30 fouls” (BBC sport). Referee Melissa Burgin’s efforts in keeping the match up fluid, being extremely commendable.
One of said fouls was committed inside the Arsenal box. A penalty and Mariona Caldentey’s trademark composure ensured the score line was raised. Instilling a confidence in the gunners not seen since the second leg of Champions League Semi Final.
Arsenal’s confidence kept the ball in their favourable side of the pitch, for a healthy portion of the second half. With forward balls courageously continuing momentum. Although not all chances were promptly capitalised on, resulting in frustrating missed chances.
An emphatic 6-2 win for Melbourne Victory over Adelaide United on aggregate at the Home of the Matildas has secured their place in the A-League Women’s Grand Final.
Entering the game 3-1 ahead from last week’s game at Coopers Stadium left Victory in prime position to punch their ticket for the final, and Adelaide with a very tall mountain to climb.
Unfortunately for the visitors, they picked the wrong day to underperform against a side that failed to put a single foot wrong across the 90 minutes.
It was a particularly aggressive free kick taken by Alana Jancevski that opened up the chance for Victory to score.
Having committed five to the wall, Adelaide were left scrambling when Claudia Jenkins made the save but didn’t keep hold of the ball, allowing Rachel Lowe the time and space to push the ball over the line.
The home side doubled their lead in the second half through Sara D’Appolonia, who caught Adelaide off guard at the top of the box to receive a cutback pass from Nicki Flannery. In all kinds of space, D’Appolonia had the time to shoot on her non-preferred left foot and beat Jenkins.
The third goal was put away by Lowe, her first brace of the season, when substitute Holly Furphy was released down the right side and able to find Lowe in the box.
Adelaide managed not to leave empty-handed, however, finally finding a goal in the dying minutes of the game through Izzy Hodgson, when Dylan Holmes’ perfectly weighted cross found her in the box and she was able to sneak it past the previously impenetrable Courtney Newbon.
With a final aggregate of 6-2, Melbourne Victory have now earned their place in the Grand Final to be held at AAMI Park, with their opponents to be decided tomorrow between Melbourne City, thus far undefeated, or Central Coast Mariners who are locked together at 2-2 after the first leg.
To view an excellent photo gallery from Impetus’ Adrian Geremia’s at the match, visit our Instagram feed @ImpetusFootball
Alamein have continued their strong start to the 2025 season with a 4-0 win at home over Brunswick Juventus. A long range stunner from Neve Duston opened the scoring before a second half blitz of goals delivered the home side their fifth win of the season.
Alamein began this game with intent. They attacked from the opening whistle with fullback Estelle Bougias enjoying space and opportunity to deliver crosses and shots from the right.
On the opposite flank, Savanna Anastasopoulos was a constant menace for Alamein and the attacking gameplan made for some rushed passes and hurried touches but kept the visitors on the back foot.
The opening goal came in spectacular fashion in the 38th minute. Duston unleashed a furious drive from the left wing and the ball flew beyond Brunswick goalkeeper Payton Woodward from about 30 yards out. The goal had been coming, but the method of its arrival was a mixture of shock and awe.
Paige Clemenson scored the second goal on the hour mark that started a flurry of goals in the second half. Anastasopoulos intercepted a throw in and slalomed her way through the Brunswick defence. She was unable to get the shot away but shifted the ball wide where Clemenson finished emphatically from the right side of the box.
Anastasopoulos finally got reward for her effort in this game with a goal of her own in the 69st minute. A hopeful ball forward looked easy for Brunswick to deal with, but Anastasopoulos intercepted the back pass, stayed composed and tucked the ball away from close range.
The player of the match brought up her brace after finishing off a flowing team move just two minutes later. She swept the ball into the net with a cushioned volley after a Zoe Houghton cross from the right to make it 4-0 and give Alamein their best result of the season so far.
In Round Seven’s other games, Bulleen Lions defeated Bentleigh Greens 1-0 thanks to a 90th minute winner by Taylor Golden. The substitute scored her second in as many weeks with a back post header from a last-minute corner kick.
Football Victory Academy continued to improve their performances with a 2-2 draw against Preston Lions. Lara Aitken opened the scoring in the third minute, and Clancy Westaway gave the youngsters a two goal cushion in the 52nd minute before Preston clicked into gear and levelled the scores through Eri Narita and Mizuho Yamada.
An Olivia Anderson equaliser denied South Melbourne a win for the first time this season. Spring Hills FC held on for a draw against the league leaders despite Alana Burn’s opening goal and their defence being under siege for most of the 90.
Three first half goals from Heidelberg United was enough to see off Box Hill 3-0 at home.
Cameron Barreiro was instrumental in the first two, first delivering a pinpoint corner onto the head of Keeley Lockhart in the fourth minute.
In the 32nd minute her long cross from the left founds its way to Samantha Curwood-Wagner via a Sawa Matsuda layoff. The finish across goal, through a crowded defence doubled the lead in style.
Matsuda put the home side in cruise control with a third before half time. Kathryn Vlahopoulos threaded a through ball into the path of the Japanese attacker who kept composed to provide an unassailable lead by the 38th minute.
Essendon Royals thought they had rescued a draw against Boroondara Carey Eagles with Emma Langley’s 90th minute equaliser. Eagles speedster Priya Savarirayan opened the scoring in the 24th minute and as time ticked away that looked like it might be enough.
A long range effort from Kendrah Smith bounces off the crossbar and Langley tapped home the rebound to make it 1-1 with only added time remaining, but Hayley Geurts stepped up with a late answer to win the game. The three points were delivered in the most dramatic way possible from a direct free kick at the edge of the area. There was no room for error as Geurts won the match with the last kick of the evening.
No Geurts, No Glory! 🥹
The Boroondara captain delivers a stunning free-kick from outside the box to secure the Mitre NPLW Round 7 Goal of the Week! pic.twitter.com/Pty6K7ecXA
Above: Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Photo: Manchester United.
Speaking to Impetus’ Catherine MacKenzie alongside other media, Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce shared her experience watching last year’s FA Cup final from the sidelines, how she deals with the pressure that comes with being Manchester United’s no.1, and what this year’s FA Cup final means to her.
At the end of the 2023-24 season, surprising news came out of Manchester. United and England legend Mary Earps – at the time voted the World’s Best goalkeeper – would leave United for pastures new across the channel in Paris. It was a fitting end that her last action as a United player was to lift the FA Cup trophy at Wembley, hot off the heels of a 4-0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur.
Following Earps’ departure, United had two senior goalkeepers in their ranks: there was highly regarded but young and inexperienced academy product Safia Middleton-Patel, and unknown American import Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who arrived the previous summer from Seattle. Tullis-Joyce was given the nod as United’s new no.1, allowing the club to spend its relatively modest funds elsewhere, and neither she nor United have looked back since.
In a season of transition for United – Earps’ departure coincided with other high-profile players leaving the club, such as captain Katie Zelem – Tullis-Joyce has been a constant, starting every game but one (an FA Cup duel with Wolverhampton). It is telling that despite these departures, a key feature of this United side has been togetherness. The squad work together as a team, win as a team, and lose as a team. Speaking to Tullis-Joyce, it is clear this approach is something that suits her. Asked what she is looking forward to ahead of the FA Cup final, the keeper said:
“I am excited to be with my teammates. It’s just the chemistry is really what makes it so special to get to this moment. I think it’s just building upon the legacy of the women that started it here. Because it could not have been easy to be a part of those first teams and they’ve already gotten the hardware with that first trophy, and being able to witness that from the sidelines was super special. Now we want to keep adding to that shelf.”
For evidence of the team’s cohesion, one only needs to look at how they defend. Whilst Tullis-Joyce has proved solid in providing cover, making standout saves at crucial moments, the team in front of her also play their part – something the keeper is keen to acknowledge.
“Terri [forward Elisabeth Terland] can be terrifying. I think we’ve seen that this entire time. She’s always just dead set on helping the team in any way that she can.”
The sentiment of whole-team defending is shared by club captain and center-back Maya Le Tissier: “We all love defending. I love blocking, I love doing anything I can to keep the ball out of the back of the net. And that goes for every single player on the pitch. The way that we press helps us massively. It’s a massive team method.”
It is not all about her fellow players, though. Tullis-Joyce also highlights the guidance she has received from Manchester United goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock, who will depart United at the end of the season to join ex-United boss Casey Stoney’s team at the Canada WNT.
“I have the best time with Wilco. I’m super grateful. He was actually the person that I had a phone call with who helped me make that decision to come to Manchester United, because he came with the whole presentation of the things I already did well and things I could improve on, and he actually got me excited about the game again. I knew that I would grow massively under his tutelage, and you know, I was pretty correct with that and I will miss him greatly.”
Above: Tullis-Joyce with Mary Earps, Middleton-Patel and Ian Willcock with the 2024 FA Cup trophy. Photo: Ian Willcock on X.
Whilst Willcock will travel to Canada, Tullis-Joyce’s roots are further South – born and raised in New York City, the keeper was first called up to Emma Hayes’ USWNT in October 2024. Although she did not debut in that camp, she did not have long to wait, earning her first cap for the United States against Brazil in April 2025. She made six saves to keep a clean sheet, and the US won the match 2-0. On her experiences in camp, the keeper shared:
“They’ve been really, really accommodating to me. And you know, I’m just grateful to the staff here and getting to know the staff there, they’ve just been great people.”
Representing a country like the United States comes with a pressure – just as there is a pressure to play for a club like Manchester United, particularly given their legacy of world class goalkeepers like Edwin van der Sar, Peter Schmeichel, David de Gea, and now Mary Earps. Although she arrived in Manchester from Seattle Reign, which has its own large fanbase in the NWSL, United no.1 is an impossible position to prepare for – not only for the size of its fanbase, but also for the size of its ambitions in one of the world’s toughest leagues:
“You have to adapt to survive in this league”.
This strength of mindset is something that Tullis-Joyce has shown time and time again this season. From going down to ten against Manchester City at Old Trafford to making five saves against Chelsea the evening that they became Champions – Tullis-Joyce has proven adept at managing stress and pressure with maturity. Asked specifically about the pressure she encounters as part of both United and the USWNT, she spoke of the importance of being in the moment:
“I think I just have to do the thing. That’s what I tell myself every single day, and every single game day. You know, as nervous as you are, as stressed as you are, as much pressure as there is, there is just one step in front of the other. Which is like a quote from a Christmas movie!”
Above: Tullis-Joyce after her first USWNT cap. Photo: USWNT.
Adding more pressure are the inevitable comparisons to Earps, who cemented a place in the hearts of many across England due to her heroics in both the 2022 European Championships and the 2023 World Cup. It is easy to imagine that the goalkeeper to replace her at club level would feel the pressure of these comparisons, inevitable as they may be. However, the American steadily bats away the notion:
“I think for me that pressure was never related to Mary. I never let myself go down that route. I know that I am a different keeper. Every single keeper is a different keeper. So I never really let that affect me. The pressure is making sure that I keep to the same standard that is expected of a Manchester United goalkeeper.”
Her refusal to be drawn into a rabbit hole of comparison provides evidence once again of the importance of mindset for Tullis-Joyce. The goalkeeper shared that she sometimes leans into the pressure she feels, resulting in excitement rather than stress: “I think it makes every game that much more fun. Just knowing how much is at stake and how much the standard that we have for this club…is something to honestly look forward to each game.”
Some may think that this focus on the moment lends itself to periods of reflection. However, she has a different plan for the summer period: “As soon as the season ends, I’m getting in the ocean.”
Whilst Bayern Munich goalkeeper Mala Grohs is passionate about engineering and Georgia Stanway about tattooing, for Tullis-Joyce, it is the water. With a degree in marine biology and certifications in scientific and scuba diving, the United player once compared her teammates to different species of fish, in a video filmed for the club’s media channels. Stanway has her tattoo studio, Tullis-Joyce has her ocean.
There is something unique about the way that many players in the women’s game seem to have passions outside of the football world. Perhaps a symptom of needing a ‘back up plan’ in case professional football does not work out (or purely for retirement planning), there is a theme of players recognising what time not thinking about football gives them.
“I think it’s helped me tremendously just to have something that’s completely and utterly separate from my career here on the field. And I even took up free diving as well. That helped me understand my bodily physiological responses to stress. So now I’ll be able to kind of sense my stress a little bit faster. That let me be my best self on the field because now I am not carrying that stress with me. From day to day, I am actually able to get a pretty major release just by being able to let go through nature.”
Tullis-Joyce has two major games to manage before she can get in the ocean: a trip to the Emirates to face rivals for second-place Arsenal, and the FA Cup final at Wembley against Chelsea. Asked if she used the recent USWNT camp to ask Hayes for tips on beating her old club Chelsea in the FA Cup final, Tullis-Joyce was coy: “I think her loyalties are to Chelsea”.
Whilst the goalkeeper may be dreaming of mako sharks and blue whales, she is also excited to be in the starting lineup this time around: “I am pretty excited for the final. I think it’s been really fun to be a part of that journey, but now to have a bigger role and make it to the final to see what it’s all about.”
Manchester United face Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday 18th May 2025 at 13:30. The match will be streamed live on BBC One in the UK.
Above: Brighton’s Amex Stadium. Photo: Brighton and Hove Albion FC Website.
In January 2025, Brighton & Hove Albion FC announced plans to design a custom-built stadium for their women’s team by the 2027-28 season. In her debut for Impetus, Clare McEwen asks some key questions: is a new stadium really needed? What could a purpose built stadium for a women’s team look like?
Brighton & Hove Albion are breaking ground in women’s football: metaphorically and soon to be literally. Their purpose-built stadium project, the first of its kind, is bidding to push women’s football further down its own unique path whilst asking a question of other WSL clubs.
Brighton are investing heavily in their women’s team: building the squad this season with marquee signings including England internationals Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, they are now also planning their new women’s stadium – all signs are pointing to club bosses realising the opportunity women’s football presents and seizing the initiative.
Currently, the team play most of their games at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium, but deputy club chairman, Paul Barber, hopes they will have their own purpose-built stadium for the 2027/28 season. Although we’ve seen a shift towards women’s teams playing more games at the clubs’ main stadiums, there are many advantages to these teams having their own stadiums.
Above: Broadfield Stadium. Photo: Frank Jasperneite.
As much as the sport is the same regardless of who’s playing it, in reality, the needs of players and fans are different. And then there is the attendance at women’s matches. One day the crowds will rival those seen at men’s games but until then, there is a need to be realistic.
There’s no doubt the main club stadiums provide a great experience for everyone. Players get to play at iconic stadiums in front of bigger crowds than can be squeezed into their home grounds. Families get to enjoy the major club stadium vibe but with accessible ticket prices and an inclusive atmosphere (rather than the more hostile and hugely expensive men’s games). But there are downsides. It’s expensive to run a big stadium so ticket sales have to cover expenses. And as much as this won’t be a problem in the future, at this point in time, it is.
That’s not the only concern. Teams (and fans) get a much better atmosphere when stadiums are full. It’s probably not great to play in a massive stadium with a few thousand spectators rattling around in it. The atmosphere at Chelsea games played at Stamford Bridge has sometimes been described as disappointing by fans. It must also be disappointing for the players. You lose some of that home advantage if there is no audible ’12th woman’ in the stands.
These high profile games also only get played when the men’s teams are not using the main stadium; the women’s teams work around the men’s schedule — such as when Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich was moved to Meadow Park instead of the Emirates so that the men’s team could play Crystal Palace in the League Cup. In the future, this balance will surely shift, but for now, even Champions League games mean making the journey out of central London for Arsenal fans.
This is why purpose-built, mid-sized stadiums are the logical next step in the evolution of women’s football. Currently, although Arsenal and Leicester City regularly use the club’s main stadium, most WSL teams have either smaller grounds of their own (Chelsea and Everton) or share their grounds with academy teams, non-league teams, English Football League (EFL) teams or rugby teams.
Chelsea’s Kingsmeadow is too small for bigger games – and Everton’s Walton Hall Park will soon be too small for WSL requirements (Goodison Park is currently being looked at as a possibility now that the men’s side will be moving out). Although Manchester United’s Leigh Sports Village is bigger and well-suited to the size of the fanbase, it is shared with Leigh’s rugby team and the United men’s academy team.
Above: Manchester United’s Leigh Sports Village. Photo: Castleford Tigers Website.
It seems Brighton are currently the only club seeking to make purpose-built women’s stadiums a reality. If they get it right, it may become the blueprint for other teams. Brighton and Hove City council gave the go-ahead for the club to look for a site for a purpose-built 10,000 capacity women’s stadium facility. This would become the first football stadium in England to be specifically built around the women’s team. With Brighton leading the way, it’s surely only a matter of time before other clubs follow.
There is a chance for Brighton to build the facility from the ground up: size isn’t the only consideration. Women’s football attracts a different audience to men’s, so it’s important to find out who comes to women’s matches and how to redesign the football match experience around them.
Making it more family-friendly should be a consideration — family rooms, baby change facilities, buggy parks, different food and drink options, family-friendly ticket options, and easy (and plentiful) parking areas, for example. Seat tiers are currently designed for a male height and size. How could this be designed to make viewing easier for women and children? Could they build in areas for people with sensory overload concerns, blind people, and other disabilities that would extend beyond just a couple of wheelchair spaces?
For the players, changing rooms designed for them would look different to those built for men and Brighton are already considering whether the pitch surface itself should be different — do different surfaces alter injury risk? Pitches have always been created for male players and maybe a different surface would reduce the injury risk in females.
Leaving no stone underturned, Brighton are planning their own research into whether pitch preparation could be altered to better suit the female physique. If a club is building a whole new stadium specifically designed for women, it is sensible to look at everything and Brighton seem to agree.
Their project offers an opportunity to revolutionise stadiums for different players and a different audience. Paul Barber, deputy club chairman, has said that a purpose-built stadium would give “respect and focus” to the women’s team and help them build an audience that isn’t yet there, but he believes will be in the future.
The club is thinking of a modular approach to building the stadium so that it can grow with the audience. They’ve already thought about a mid-sized stadium and maybe a purpose built pitch for female athletes.
Brighton could lead the way in many areas of purpose-built stadium design. Fans, players, and other clubs will all be watching, hoping this is the start of a new era in women’s football. Ideally, other clubs will get on board quickly and help build the research pool with Brighton, but for now, Brighton & Hove Albion are pioneers. Maybe they even will revolutionise women’s football.
impetusfootball.org 