Above: Chelsea’s starting lineup for the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. Photo: Chelsea FC Women.
Goals from Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones ensured Chelsea reached their fourth FA Cup final in five years.
Chelsea have had their sights set on the quadruple since the beginning of the season. The goal has always been to have a domestic clean sweep and with the League Cup already in the cabinet, beating a resilient Liverpool team was a daunting challenge they had to overcome.
Last season, Emma Hayes’ Chelsea lost the FA cup semi-final to Manchester United thanks to two early goals from United. Lauren James pulled one back at the end of the half, but it wasn’t enough to see the Blue Army through. This time, they started on the front foot, dominating from the opening minute, while Liverpool’s defense had to be alert to every danger.
Against the run of play, it was the reds who opened the scoring after the Canadian wonder Olivia Smith put a well-placed strike past Hannah Hampton.
Above: Liverpool celebrate Olivia Smith’s opener. Photo: Liverpool Women on X
Liverpool, aspiring to reach their first final since 1996, gained more confidence and could have doubled their lead through a leaping header from Marie Höbinger in the 28th minute.
Chelsea rallied towards the end of first half and their pressure paid off after Erin Cuthbert got her goal, latching on to a loose ball from Ramirez.
The second half opened with a flurry of chances; the current WSL champions stepped on the gas, however the Merseyside team were dogged and determined, preventing threats from Baltimore, Nusken and other blues.
Liverpool had the chance to go 2-1 ahead after Taylor Hinds redirected a curling shot towards Chelsea’s goalpost but she hit the bar thanks to a finger-tip save from the Lionesses’ current number one.
The game was heading for extra-time until English whiz kid Aggie-Beever Jones put a thumping header past the Liverpool shot stopper after connecting with a brilliant cross from Baltimore.
Above: Wieke Kaptein and Aggie Beever-Jones celebrate. Photo: Chelsea Women on X.
Even when it didn’t look glaringly obvious, Chelsea dominated the game in possession (60:40) and attempts (24 to six), and their last-minute win could almost be described as typical for what they have given the fans this season. This will serve as a reminder to their opponents that it is never over until it is over.
The Blues will play a team from either side of Manchester in the final next month, while hoping they bring the FA Cup back to Kingsmeadow. For now, all eyes are on the UWCL semis as they take a trip to Spain next week, hoping to end the jinx against their familiar foes, Barcelona.
Above: Canberra United celebrate their winning goal. Photo: Canberra United
The penultimate round of the 2024/25 Ninja A-League season held great importance for both sides.
Visitors Wellington Phoenix required a win in order to maintain any hope of a top six finish.
Canberra United on the other hand, looked to maintain their place within the top sides, as taking the points home will be essential to not be overtaken by Brisbane Roar.
The vitality of this meeting was apparent from the first touch, with a sense of urgency overwhelming the pitch at both ends. Wellington took charge of possession at the very start, but Canberra’s determination and clever footwork made it difficult for them to maintain, causing quite an even, yet aggressive match up at the start.
A chance from Annalie Longo almost put Wellington in the lead in the seventh minute, however the ball bounced off the crossbar, following too high of a shot. Although the strike was ultimately missed, it left the nix slightly dominant, with the first goal now looking to come from the visitors.
The Nix had another great chance shortly after, with captain Annelie Longos’ pass, allowing Lara Wall to take a well-intended , yet too wide shot.
Canberra quickly fough back, when a run from Michelle Heyman almost caused disaster for Wellington. Although this shit was missed, th home side took the lead almost immediately following the strike, when Madison Ayson tucked the ball to the back of the net following a corner.
A scramble from the Pheonix defense prevented Canberra from extending their lead in the 31st minute, when the run of Hayley Taylor-Young looked to find the hosts a second goal of the afternoon. Although Taylor-Young got dangerously close, as she headed towards the box, it was a last minute interception that kept Wellington in the game.
As the first half came to a close, Canberra continued to capitalise on their home advantage, taking the dominance in both the midfield, and the attack, with a second goal seeming imminent, it became only a matter of if they would double their lead before or after the break.
There was no change in momentum at the top of the second half, with Canberra’s Maja Markovski making a dangerous strike from inside the box just a minute into play, unsettling an already shaken Wellington side.
It was the impeccable keeping of Sally James that kept Canberra United in the lead during the second half, as a shift in Wellingtons energy allowed them to find effective space, and finally capitalise on their opportunities, unnerving a confident Canberra side.
As stoppage time approached, the action did not slow down, with it becoming more unclear where a second goal would come from. Although Canberra remained technically dominant, the Nix response to a disappointing first half created quite an unpredictable and exciting final minutes, as the visitors took over possession.
With a string of extremely close chances at both ends, it seemed quite unlikely that the score would remain as is, however as the final whistle approached, it was beginning to look quite concerning for the Nix, as a win is crucial for their finals hopes.
The 84th minute saw Canberra get dangerously close to doubling their lead in the final minutes, when a set piece from Annalie Longo was almost finished by an Alivia Kelly tap in, but ultimately was scrambled out of the box.
As time ran out, the added seven minutes were as intense as ever, as the Nix pushed for the two goals needed to dominate this game. Despite their lead, the impetus within the Canberra side did not falter, with the hosts showing no signs of settling for a 1-0 win, as they searched for a second goal.
Despite efforts all around, Canberra was able to hold onto theory 1-0 victory, solidifying a place in the top six as finals approach.
The final round of the Ninja A-League season, ahead of finals, will see Wellington Phoenix head home to Porirua Park to face Western United. Although finals hopes have been diminished with this afternoon’s loss, the Nix will surely be looking to end their season with a home win, as they look to add a silver lining to a disappointing end to their campaign.
Meanwhile, Canberra United will head to CommBank Stadium to take on current 12th place holders Western Sydney Wanderers, where they will be the favourites to win this away fixture, in the lead up to what is set to be an exhilarating few weeks of finals.
Above: England celebrate a goal against Belgium. Photo: Shell Lawrence for Impetus.
Last week, England’s Lionesses faced Belgium twice in a double-header in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Post-camp, head coach Sarina Wiegman has focused on the potential for learning to promote growth. So what have the fans, players, and head coach herself learned about England as a result of the double-header?
Fans
Whilst it has been argued extensively that we saw the best and worst of England in their double header against Belgium, it is also arguable that we have seen the best and worst of fan and media reaction to them. Following Friday’s riot in Bristol which saw the Lionesses score five and concede none, there were claims of “we are going to win the Euros”; a sense that the team was building momentum ahead of this summer’s European Championships.
There was a build-up of belief that England had figured it all out, that they would not lose a match again anytime soon. Wiegman chose a typically more measured assessment, claiming that whilst her team were moving in the right direction, there was still a lot to improve on.
The overwhelmingly positive reaction to the match from fans and media was tempered with the news that Lauren James and then Alessia Russo would withdraw from camp due to injuries picked up in that 5-0 drubbing. This is where the change in narrative started; suddenly Wiegman was receiving threats from Chelsea fans convinced James should have been rested, and there was a sense of impending doom due to the sheer volume of injuries this squad was dealing with.
If we like to build up the Lionesses to impossible heights, we also seem to enjoy seeing and hastening their fall. After 30 minutes in Leuven, the Lionesses were down by three goals. The injury to James meant Aggie Beever-Jones was playing on the left, and her lack of back-tracking combined with an uncharacteristically poor performance from Niamh Charles meant the left flank was completely exposed.
The response to the opening 30 minutes echoed the response to the Lionesses’ performance against Germany in October 2024 – although that was a friendly match used to experiment with tactics, there was a sense that the Lionesses and their head coach were ‘finished’, and that action needed to be taken to prevent a further fall.
Above: Gulia Gwinn celebrates scoring her second against England. Photo: Zac Goodwin/PA
Reviews of the game in Leuven by fans and media alike focused on the injury situation – but instead of providing context for a loss that felt avoidable if one or two more creative players were fit – the reviews focused on an inability to adapt to injuries in key positions.
This would be a stronger argument if one or two important players were missing, but in Belgium the Lionesses were missing what is arguably half of their ideal starting line-up: Georgia Stanway, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood are all likely starters if fit.
As fans, we choose how to respond to wins and losses; we choose what to focus on and what we spend our energy thinking about. This is not to say that criticism is invalid; rather that criticism without context enhances the potential for abuse and a world that is irrevocably black and white, that is dangerously reactive and that breeds negativity.
We have enough of that in the football world already, and as women’s football is still growing, we can make our community different. It is our responsibility to make the most of the opportunity we have.
Players
Whilst Wiegman spoke of “expecting a different game” in Leuven and the need to avoid complacency, their performance overall suggested that her players may have needed to hear a stronger message. There was a feeling during the game that the Lionesses had perhaps underestimated their opponent due to the five-nil drubbing days before, and that Belgian captain Tessa Wullaert could be dealt with without too much effort.
We have seen this complacency before from the squad in games where they have the tag of being strong favourites. We know that the Lionesses can ramp up their performances when under pressure – during tournaments and when, for example, they needed to win against France last summer to retain hope of finishing in the top two of their Euro qualifying group.
The away leg against Belgium has hopefully reinforced the message that in a time when many countries have improved their national teams dramatically, there is unlikely to be an ‘easy’ game anymore. If the fans must learn this lesson, then the players must too.
Head coach and staff
For Wiegman, this has been a mixed window. Her team’s performance in the first leg was widely praised, as was their head coach for her substitutions. Heading towards a summer tournament, the biggest learning that Wiegman can take from these games is who has already guaranteed a seat on the plane to Switzerland in July, and who is looking set for a spot in the starting eleven.
Above: Sarina Wiegman in Leuven. Photo: AFP.
With the last few games of the club season fast approaching, she will also be hoping to avoid any further injuries – and that some of her missing players can build up some game time before the WSL ends.
There has also likely been a learning around the fans’ expectations, especially following strong wins against Spain and Belgium in the first leg.
Perhaps most importantly, Wiegman will have learned the areas her team must focus on ahead of this summer. From defensive lapses in concentration to the importance of being clinical in front of goal, the head coach will be keen to plug these gaps ahead of the remaining Nations League games against Portugal and Spain.
Above: Adelaide United celebrate a goal. Photo: Adelaide United
Adelaide United were convincing in a 3-1 victory over Western United at Ironbark Fields. Lucía León led the way with two goals in a match that kept Adelaide comfortably in third place.
Adelaide United made the trip to Ironbark Fields to face Western United in a clash between two sides sitting in the top four of the A-League ladder. Coming into the match, Adelaide held third place with 39 points and a comfortable buffer over Western, who were in fourth on 32. While there was still a gap between the teams, both were eager to build momentum heading into the final rounds of the season. Their last meeting back in January ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for another closely contested encounter.
Adelaide United took control from the opening whistle, dictating the tempo and dominating possession early at Ironbark Fields. Their strong start was quickly rewarded in the 8th minute when Lucía León latched onto a well-placed pass from Emily Condon inside the box and buried her shot into the back of the net. Just six minutes later, Condon was involved again, setting up Sarah Morgan, who unleashed a stunning long-range strike to make it 2-0, her first goal of the season.
Western United began to find their rhythm as the half progressed, Catherine Zimmerman, looking to spark something in attack made a run in behind the defence but was flagged offside before she could get her shot away. Moments later, however, the home side made their pressure count. Keiwa Hieda timed her run to perfection and slotted home confidently to pull one back and give Western a glimpse of hope. Fiona Worts responded not long after for Adelaide with a typically composed finish, but her effort too, was ruled out for offside.
As the half wore on, both teams looked to add to the scoreline further, with Adelaide continuing to threaten while Western pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The intensity remained high but neither side was able to break through again before the break. The teams went into the sheds with Adelaide holding a deserved 2-1 lead.
The sides returned for the second half, and Adelaide continued to look the more dangerous side. It didn’t take long for the visitors to threaten again, with Lucía León delivering a cross into the box that found Emily Hodgson, but her effort sailed over the bar. Adelaide wouldn’t have to wait long for a third, though, in the 55th minute, León took matters into her own hands, breaking through Western’s defence and finishing clinically to secure her second goal of the match and extend her side’s lead to 3-1.
Fiona Worts remained determined to get on the scoresheet and forced a strong save from Western United goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, who kept her side within reach. Western were handed a chance to respond when a foul by Dylan Holmes earned them a free kick just outside the area. The strike was well taken, but Adelaide keeper Claudia Jenkins was able to position herself well and get her gloves to the ball to deny them.
Western continued to push for a way back into the game, but Adelaide held firm. The visitors remained organised, and defensively sound while still looking threatening on the counter. As time ticked down, clear-cut chances became fewer for both sides, and the match finished 3-1 in favour of Adelaide, who maintained control throughout and made the most of key moments.
Western United will look to gain back both confidence and points when they travel to Wellington next week to take on the Phoenix. Adelaide United will return home and face off against Sydney FC.
Teams: WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3): Lincoln, Medwin, Mihocic, Maher, Grove, Dehakiz, Eggesvik, Berryhill, Hieda, A.Taranto, Zimmerman. Substitutes: Dall’oste, De Domizio, Ibarguen, M.Taranto, Sardo.
Goals: Hieda 23’
ADELAIDE UNITED (3-5-2): Jenkins, E. Hodgson, León, McNamara, Tonkin, Tolland, Holmes, Morgan, Condon, Sasaki, Worts. Substitutes: Melegh, Clarke, Karambasis, Mullan, I. Hodgson.
Above:Sydney FC’s Mackenzie Hawkesby (left) battles with Perth Glory’s Georgia Cassidy today. Photo: Sydney FC.
Princess Ibini’s stunning goal in second-half stoppage time ensured that Sydney FC got the win that they needed to keep hopes alive of maintaining their incredible record of making Finals football in every season of the competition’s history.
It was a choker for Perth to take, as the visitors believed vehemently that the attacker should have been sent off for a studs-first challenge on captain Izzy Dalton midway through the second half.
However, it was not to be for Stephen Peters’ side against a Sydney FC outfit who somehow always find a way to do what they need to in order to win vital games such as this one.
There were but three opportunities on goal in an arm-wrestle of an opening half. The first of which went the hosts’ way with six minutes played.
Indiana dos Santos clipped in a corner from the right that Tori Tumeth pushed forward with a side-footed volley that bounced and rolled goalwards before Sarah O’Donoghue swept it away from danger at the back post.
Three minutes later, dos Santos was influential again for Sydney as she gained possession from a Glory error in trying to play out on the left and lifted the ball through for Mackenzie Hawkesby to slam in a shot from the edge of the box that Miranda Templeman pushed away brilliantly.
Just under nine minutes before the break, the visitors had a sight of goal themselves. Susan Phonsongkham showed great strength and superb footwork to advance up the left flank and hold off Tumeth to advance. In the battle, the Perth star went down as O’Donoghue simultaneously swept a shot into the side netting.
Perth upped the ante at the start of the second half as Phonsongkham continued to stamp her class on proceedings. Her cross came in for Ella Abdul-Massih, who appeared to brought down by Tumeth as she tried to reach the ball, but referee Sarah Jones was non-plussed.
Sydney had a chance of their own with just under 20 minutes remaining. Ibini held off a challenge on the left-hand edge of the box to lay off the ball for former Glory striker Millie Farrow, who gained instant control, beat two defenders, and laid off for Shea Connors to hit a shot from around 15 yards from the right of centre that Templeman pushed over the top.
Phonsongkham remained a dangerous outlet, and with five minutes of normal time remaining, conjured up a glorious chance for the Western Australian side to win it.
Megan Wynne took the ball up the right and fed O’Donoghue to take up possession with her back to goal. A quick turn and immediate pass found Phonsongkham, who danced past Tumeth brilliantly and drove in a low shot from the edge of the box that Jasmine Black saved well with her feet before instantly gathering.
Then, 44 seconds into stoppage time at the end of the game came the decisive moment. Dos Santos’ cross in from the right was too high for Grace Johnston to reach and fell for Ibini, who took a touch and curled a stunning strike into the far right-hand corner.
A dramatic conclusion to a vital match – one that both sides will feel they had chances to have won.
Matters, though in the Finals race are out of Sydney’s hands. They need to win their final game away to third-placed Adelaide United and have to hope that both Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers can do them a favour against Canberra United tomorrow and next Saturday respectively, to give them a 17th successive place in the Finals.
Head over to our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball to view two exclusive set of images from the game courtesy of Impetus’ Kris Goman and Ryan Miller-Woods.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Black, Tumeth, Tobin, Thompson, Lemon, dos Santos, Bryson, Johnson, Tallon-Henniker, Hawkesby, Caspers. Substitutes: Farrow, Connors, Ibini, Mason-Jones, Sullivan.
Above:Melbourne Victory celebrate an important win thanks to Claudia Bunge (3)’s goal. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory have kept their premiership hopes alive after defeating Central Coast Mariners 1-0 at Industree Group Stadium.
A solitary goal scored by New Zealand international Claudia Bunge was the difference between the two sides.
Alex Chidiac’s corner delivery was a left-footed inswinger that was perfectly placed for Bunge at the back post. The Football Ferns star did well to shake off her defender in Sarah Rowe and nod the ball into the back of the net.
Central Coast remained their own worst enemy for the evening; a single point from this fixture would have secured them a finals berth, as every shot they took was unable to be converted.
Two good chances came to Englishwoman Jade Pennock during the first half, with one shot being sent straight into the boot of Victory keeper Courtney Newbon and another going over the bar.
The visitors received a late scare to their success when it looked like a penalty could have been awarded because of Alana Murphy taking down Brooke Nunn right on the edge of the box.
The result was a free kick on the edge of the area for Central Coast that turned into a shot from Annabel Martin but was sent directly into the keeper.
While the Mariners may have lost the game, they did see the return of their long-term captain Taren King, who had been absent from football for over 450 days with an ACL injury.
This result leaves the Premiers Plate up for contention in the final round of the season, with Victory’s only hope of winning it comes with a catch: they have to win their final game at home to Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City have to lose their first game in the League all season when they travel to Perth Glory.
by Alyce Collett at AAMI Park for Impetus (11/4/25)
Above: Holly McNamara (Sky Blue shirt, centre) celebrates with Taylor Otto. Photo: Adrian Geremia for Impetus.
Melbourne City’s invincible season is still intact after defeating the Newcastle Jets tonight 4-1.
In an at-times chaotic match, City were too strong for a Newcastle side who was its own worst enemy at times. The home side’s goals came from Rhianna Pollicina, Bryleeh Henry, and a brace to Holly McNamara on her return from Matildas duty. Deven Jackson was the one to peg a goal back for the Jets.
One thing that was really evident from the first moments of the match was City’s intent on the ball, no matter who was in possession. Particularly when they did not have the ball, the defensive pressure was intense, making the Jets turn over the ball on a number of occasions and not giving them much time to think or room to move into advantageous positions.
However, as good as City were defensively, that last pass into attack before a forward could shoot just was not quite working for them in the early stages.
As the half got to its halfway stage things started to open up a bit, the game became more of an end to end spectacle, and Newcastle started to find its way to goal much better.
City’s first goal eventually came in the 20th minute, when McNamara pounced on a week pass Newcastle made it its defence and slotted a goal right into the bottom corner of the Jets’ goal.
Things went from bad to worse for the Jets not even 10 minutes later when Sheridan Gallagher was sent off after picking up a second yellow for the match.
McNamara had her second goal just over the half-hour mark after heading in a Leticia McKenna cross.
The second goal saw the momentum really start to shift in City’s direction, and it almost felt like a metaphorical fog of pressure was lifted off the game.
Things got even worse for the Jets just before halftime when Lorena Baumann became the second Jet sent off after round housing Karly Roestbakken.
Ultimately, the score remained at 2-0 at the break, but there was a sense that more goals could very much be on the way in the second half.
Above: Newcastle Jets’ Deven Jackson (11) gets up highest. Photo: Adrian Geremia for Impetus.
City began the second half much like they played the first, dominating the attacking play and racking up the shots on goal, albeit not racking up many shots on target.
Then, completely against the run of play, Newcastle managed to snag a goal back after knocking the ball into the goal in the middle of a goal mouth scramble. Official reports credited the goal to Jackson, but closer inspection saw that it had perhaps come off the body of Emilia Murray.
Newcastle’s resurgence was short-lived, though, as City scored two more goals within the following five minutes to really put to bed any hopes of a resurgence from the Jets. The goals came from Pollicina and Henry, who both struck beautiful shots from inside the box.
Despite having a comfortable advantage on the scoreboard, City did not take their foot off the pressure pedal at all, continuing to pile on the pressure as any quality side would.
To view more of Adrian Geremia’s images from the game for Impetus, check out our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball
Above: Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner with the FA Cup. Photo: Adam Davy/PA
On Sunday, FA Cup holders Manchester United face cross-city rivals Manchester City in a blockbuster semi-final at a sold-out Joie Stadium.
United’s FA Cup win last year was their first piece of major silverware, and the road to the trophy was not easy. They faced Chelsea in the semi-final, winning against the blues for the first time to progress to a final where they dominated Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, winning 4-0.
The FA Cup win offset a disappointing season in the Women’s Super League; after finishing second behind Chelsea the year before, they fell out of the Champions league spots in the 2023-24 season, ending up in fifth place.
Above: Manchester United celebrate winning the 2023-24 FA Cup. Photo: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian.
Whilst the cup win was enough to see United head coach Marc Skinner receive a new contract, Manchester City come into Sunday’s game off the back of a recent change in leadership.
Long-serving City head coach Gareth Taylor left his post and previous City coach Nick Cushing returned to lead them ahead of a ‘quadrilogy’ of games against Chelsea; City won one and lost three of the games, seeing them lose the League Cup final and fall behind in the race for a top-three WSL finish.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Skinner was asked about the changes Cushing has implemented at City, and the extent to which facing them will differ to their duels under Taylor:
“There are definitely signs of Nick’s influence on the team, however I’ve said this before; each manager of a Manchester City team adapts and evolves it slightly, but there is still a playing style, still a structure in the way that they play.” He added: “…for us it is about understanding his traits but also knowing that Manchester City do what Manchester City do”.
Skinner can rely on one of the league’s best defences; United have conceded nine goals across the season. This equates to an average of 0.56 goals conceded per match, compared to 20 goals conceded (1.25 goals per game) for Manchester City.
Whilst Skinner praised his entire defence for their role in the team’s defensive record, he highlighted goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who recently earned her first cap for the USWNT under Emma Hayes. The 28-year-old took over the reigns from the World’s Best keeper Mary Earps, who departed for PSG last summer:
“She [Tullis-Joyce] is a very intelligent woman, which is important. She is aware of what is needed to do the role…she is having to get used to what it is like being Man United’s no.1, but I don’t think there is any greater audition for her to win this year’s golden glove than what she has produced. I am so pleased with her performances.”
Above: Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Photo: Manchester United
Focusing on what his team will need to win the game; Skinner also highlighted the importance of his attacking line. Although United have had a multitude of goal-scorers this season, their most prolific goal-scorer is Norway’s Elisabeth Terland.
Terland has scored nine goals for United in this WSL season, including a standout match against Crystal Palace in February 2025, where she scored twice in a 3-1 victory for United. She also scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in October 2024. On Terland, Skinner said:
“…she’s been incredible this season. I hope that continues of course in these next five slash six games. She’s hit the ground running here and I think she’s done a fantastic job.”
Manchester City vs Manchester United kicks off on Sunday at 3pm UK-time, and will be broadcast on BBC Two and streamed on BBC iPlayer.The winner will face either Chelsea or Liverpool at Wembley.
Above: England celebrate U19 success. Photo: The FA
While much of the attention on UEFA this international window has been on the senior Nations League competition, it is not the only competition that has been running.
The confederation’s best and brightest Under 19 stars have also been in action, battling it out in the hopes of qualifying for this year’s Under 19s Euros, set to be held in Poland this June. That Euros tournament will also be UEFA’s qualifier for this year’s Under 20 World Cup, which is also set to be held in Poland in September this year.
After a first round of qualifying took place late last year, 28 countries were still left in the running to make the tournament.
After a series of round robin mini tournaments, the eight qualifiers were decided.
England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain all qualified after topping their qualification groups, while Poland had already qualified as hosts of the tournament. However, since Poland also topped their group this meant that the best of the seven group runner ups also qualified, and the beneficiary of this was Sweden.
RESULTS – UNDER 19S EUROS QUALIFICATIONS ROUND 2
G – games W – wins D – draws L – losses GF – goals for GA – goals against Pts – points
Group 1
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Netherlands
3
3
0
0
11
0
9
Denmark
3
2
0
1
4
2
6
Greece
3
1
0
2
4
7
3
Romania
3
0
0
3
0
10
0
Denmark: Beat Greece and Romania, lost to Netherlands
Greece: Beat Romania, lost to Netherlands and Denmark
Netherlands: Won all three games
Romania: Lost all three games
Group top goal scorer: Jade van Hensbergen (Netherlands) – 4
Group 2
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Portugal
3
2
1
0
8
2
7
Norway
3
2
1
0
3
1
7
Iceland
3
1
0
2
4
4
3
Slovenia
3
0
0
3
2
10
0
Iceland: Lost to Portugal and Norway, defeated Slovenia
Norway: Defeated Slovenia and Iceland, drew with Portugal
Portugal: Defeated Iceland and Slovenia, drew with Norway
Slovenia: Lost all three matches
Group top goal scorer: Leonete Correia, Neide Guedes and Anna Marques (all Portugal) – 2
Group 3
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
England
3
3
0
0
21
1
9
Austria
3
2
0
1
7
6
6
Belgium
3
1
0
2
5
10
3
Ukraine
3
0
0
3
1
17
0
Austria: Defeated Ukraine (via forfeit) and Belgium, lost to England
Belgium: Defeated Ukraine, lost to Austria and Ukraine
England: Won all three games
Ukraine: Lost all three games
Group top goal scorer: Princess Ademiluyi and Ava Baker (both England) – 4
Group 4
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Italy
3
2
1
0
13
2
7
Sweden
3
2
1
0
4
0
7
Belarus
3
0
1
2
2
9
1
Slovakia
3
0
1
2
2
10
1
Belarus: Lost to Italy and Sweden, drew with Slovakia
Italy: Defeated Belarus and Slovakia, drew with Sweden
Slovakia: Lost to Sweden and Italy, drew with Belarus
Sweden: Defeated Slovakia and Belarus drew with Italy
Group top goal scorer: Marta Zamboni (Italy) – 4
Group 5
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Spain
3
3
0
0
17
0
9
Switzerland
3
2
0
1
5
3
6
Scotland
3
1
0
2
4
8
3
Czechia
3
0
0
3
0
15
0
Czechia: Lost all three games
Scotland: Defeated Czechia, lost to Spain and Switzerland
Spain: Won all three games
Switzerland: Defeated Scotland and Czechia, lost to Spain
Group top goal scorer: Pau (Spain) – 3
Group 6
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
France
3
3
0
0
7
4
9
Wales
3
1
1
1
2
2
4
Republic of Ireland
3
1
0
2
2
3
3
Serbia
3
0
1
2
4
6
1
France: Won all three gamesRepublic of Ireland: Defeated Serbia, lost to France and Wales
Serbia: Lost to France and Republic of Ireland, drew with Wales
Wales: Defeated Republic of Ireland, lost to Wales, drew with Serbia
Group top goal scorer: Mélinda Mendy and Justine Rouquet (both France) – 2
Group 7
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Poland
3
2
0
1
8
2
6
Germany
3
2
0
1
4
2
6
Finland
3
2
0
1
4
2
6
Israel
3
0
0
3
1
11
0
Finland: Defeated Poland and Israel, lost to Germany
Germany: Beat Finland and Israel, lost to Poland
Israel: Lost all three games
Poland: Defeated Germany and Israel, lost to Finland
Group top goal scorer: Tilda Råtts (Finland) – 3
It was a strong tournament for England, winning all three of their games and finishing with a goal difference of +20, which was the highest goal difference in any of the seven groups.
It was not such a positive tournament for England’s neighbours Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland finished third in their groups, and Wales only finished second on goal difference ahead of the Irish.
Above: Michelle Heyman (right) in action for Canberra United. Photo: Canberra United.
by Genevieve Henry(10/4/25).
Michelle Heyman is set to make her 200th A-League Women appearance this weekend, becoming the first player to reach this impressive milestone. The all-time leading scorer, with 117 goals, debuted in the inaugural season of the competition in 2008.
“I can’t believe I did it. I think it’s just like, who would have thought that, you know, from in 2008 playing 12 to 14 games to today being able to tick over the 200. It’s just an incredible achievement. I feel very proud and just grateful to still be playing the game.”
Heyman’s first seasons in the W-League, as it was then known, were played with Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners. Heyman shared about that time in her career and the anxiety that came along with being a young player, 21 at the time, in a new competition.
“For me, it was more along the lines of, am I good enough to be in this team, playing with some of the greats that have played within the national team? It was just to get out there, to show people who I was and to try and enjoy the football.”
In 2010, Heyman moved to Canberra United, where she has stayed for the majority of her career, with brief stints abroad, one at Adelaide United, and a period spent coaching rather than playing.
“It’s home. Canberra means the world to me. This club gave me an opportunity to shine…It goes back from 2010 to today, and I’ve tried to be loyal to this club because this is home. I hope the Canberra United fans and everyone within the A-Leagues can really see that loyalty that I have within this club.”
Above: A young Michelle Heyman in her early days at Canberra United. Photo: Wikipedia.
The majority of Heyman’s appearances and goals have been in Canberra colours, with 172 caps and 105 goals so far. “It’s just walking out on the McKellar (Park), like just being able to walk out onto that field, see everybody cheering us on, supporting us. We’re a small community, but we are very loud, and we are very big when it comes to women’s football here in Canberra…It’s special. It’s really special.”
Of course, as a player who has seen 17 seasons of the A-League Women, Heyman has experienced it all. When asked what changes she has seen, Heyman replied, “Everything. I think just the amount of games; being able to play everyone home and away is something really special. That’s something that we’ve been fighting for for many years. To see that within football is incredible.”
“Back then, there was no salary cap. There was no salary at all. We just played the game for fun. So we’ve come a long way. It was the love of the game that everyone was playing for. And I think that is super important to remember because most of the girls that were doing it were just doing it because they love it and they wanted to play in the national team. So you could see that fight and that hunger in every single game.”
Over these years of tumultuous change, Heyman has remained consistent in her prolificacy in front of goal. As a striker, of course, Heyman emphasized just how important that is. “For me personally, that’s my number one job. Score goals, have fun, and smile.”
“I think when you score all the time, it’s kind of like you’re always happy.” She continued, “You’re always wanting to feel that feeling. I know it’s a motivation for myself. I know when I’m happy, when I’m smiling, when I’m feeling good, that’s when the goals usually come.
Above: The famous Heyman smile. Photo: Canberra Times.
“So as soon as you see the cranky Michelle, that’s when I’ve got to kind of like compose myself and really think about trying to get that smile back. Sometimes I draw a little smiley face on my hand just to look at it to remember the reasons why (I’m) doing this.”
Her goal-scoring prowess has remained impressive throughout her career. When asked about her most treasured goal, she responded, “It’s probably my 100th goal without even noticing that it was going to be so special. But to be able to continue to be within this league and to do the one thing that I’m meant to do every game and to show people that I am a goal scorer, it was an incredible feeling to be able to knock that one off and to create history and to be the first one to ever do it in the Women’s A-League.”
Throughout her expansive career, Heyman has played with excellent players who have provided her with great service. “Ash Sykes, Nicky Flannery, Steph Oakes, Terran Hemmings, pretty much all my wingers, all my partners in crime being able to set me up. Pretty much all of these goals that I’m scoring are from them. I’m very lucky with the quality of players that I’ve been able to play with up top.”
Heyman spoke about the importance of true friendships and how they helped get her through the lowest parts of her career. “I was lucky enough to put myself in a good situation, have some time away, learn a bit more about myself, and just kind of enjoy being away from football to heal. Then, to get that little fight back, to be like, actually, I’ve missed this a lot.
“It all started in COVID, just kicking a ball against the wall. It just brought back so (many) memories of why I do it.” She continued, “It’s been a really tough journey, but it’s been an incredible one. I wouldn’t change it.”
Above: Michelle Heyman crashes in a shot against Brisbane Roar. Photo: Canberra United.
“It’s my happy place, just being able to run and kick a ball around. The days when I’m not feeling great and I’m unhappy on the field, I’m like, ‘okay, I think I need to take some mental time again, just relax, remember why I do it and how fortunate and lucky I am to be able to do this as a career.’ It’s our life. It’s who we are as people, and we’re very lucky to be able to do it.”
Heyman spoke about how special the Canberra family is, especially when it comes to supporting players who have come up through the ranks.
“I think one of the biggest highlights was watching Chloe Lincoln and Laura Hughes go out and make their national debut for the Matildas…I reckon there were like six Canberra United players on the field at that time, and I was like, ‘this is really nice to see how far everyone’s coming and what incredible careers they’re all going to have.’ People kind of laugh at me about it because I’m like an old mother now. But to me, these are my children, and I’m really proud of every single one of them.”
On her return following a long hiatus from the Matildas, Heyman said her biggest motivation to get back on the international stage was the World Cup. “Being there, watching those games, seeing the crowd, seeing people support the game. It was something that I was never a part of. We didn’t really have a big crowd or much fans of the women’s game back when I was playing.
“To see that and to see my friends doing what they do and loving it, it was a big motivation for me.”
Above: Michelle Heyman’s Matildas recall was rich reward. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus.
“I was trying my hardest to try and get in that World Cup team that season. I thought I had a really good season but was just unlucky to not get a spot. But, I think everything happens for a reason because more hunger happened, and I was grateful for the opportunity, and I’m trying really hard to never let it go again.”
Heyman has won two premierships, two championships, three golden boots, and two Julie Dolan medals, so there’s not much uncharted territory. When asked what’s left to achieve, she said, “More of everything.”
“I think it’s more about being that leader, being that mentor, helping the rest of the team achieve what they want to achieve as well. Just making sure that I go out there and give it my all and try to be the best role model possible. But also score as many goals as I can, win awards, win trophies, and bring that shine back to Canberra United.”
When asked about what she wants her legacy to be, Heyman spoke boldly. “Legend. And, I think loyalty, goalscorer, just a good human. I hope that’s what I leave behind.”
Heyman will make history in her 200th match on Sunday at McKellar Park against Wellington Phoenix.
Above: Michelle Heyman in familiar pose. Photo: Canberra United.
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