Graphics: Michael Alesich

Wanderers went down against Victory in a must-win match up, Canberra came away with a shock win over second placed Brisbane and Adelaide showed their quality by beating top of the table Sydney FC. Read up on more Round 11 action below. 

Melbourne Victory 1 – 0 Western Sydney Wanderers 

Written by Marissa Lordanic

A lone Annalie Longo goal has kept Melbourne Victory’s finals destiny in their own hands after they defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers.

The last minute move from a damaged Lakeside Staidum to an empty AAMI Park didn’t seem to both Jeff Hopkins’ side who extend their unbeaten run to five games.

A controversial free kick in the final five minutes of the first half was the catalyst for Longo’s goal. Both Victory and Wanderers felt they had claim to a free but it went the way of the home side in a dangerous position near their attacking by-line.

The dead ball was whipped in by Kyra Cooney-Cross which found Melina Ayres’ head. It was then directed towards Longo who helped it past Sarah Willacy and over the line.

Ayres and Longo had threatened earlier in the half but a goal line clearance and a save from Willacy’s behind was enough to keep it out.

The second half saw Dean Heffernan introduce Leena Khamis to the game but it was another substitute in Rosie Galea that had one of the best chances for the visiting side.

Lisa De Vanna drew an equally impressive but more traditional save out of Willacy after latching onto a through ball from Cooney-Cross. The veteran striker showed off her pace and striking abilities but couldn’t beat the ‘keeper.

Adelaide United 2 – 0 Sydney FC

Written by Dale Roots

Adelaide United bid farewell to Europe-bound midfielder Dylan Holmes in the best way possible, upsetting Premiers-elect Sydney 2-0 at Marden Sports Complex on Saturday evening.

First-half goals from Maruschka Waldus and Mallory Weber were enough for the Reds to seal all three points, spoiling any party the visitors might have had planned for their trip to South Australia.

Looking to exact revenge after the two sides met a fortnight ago, Adelaide boss Adrian Stenta would’ve been keen to put into practice all his side had gleaned from their clash on the Northern Beaches.

But even Stenta may have been shocked with the quality of his side’s performance, as the Reds created chance after chance, opening the floodgates early and refusing to give an inch either in midfield or a crowded defence.

Scoring after only five minutes, Waldus’ effort at the back post seemed to completely bamboozle the Sky Blues, with the Dutchwoman nodding over an a glacial Sydney defence to put her side in front.

If Waldus’ effort was pedestrian at best, then Weber’s goal a quarter-hour later was simply spectacular, squaring up Sydney right-back Angelique Hristodoulou in cover defence before rifling a shot across a lead-footed Jada Whyman inside the far post.

Adelaide could have – and really should have – made it three in the second half after Chelsea Dawber managed to round the onrushing Whyman 35 metres from goal and square to striker María José Rojas, but the diminutive Chilena was crowded out and scuffed her shot wide.

Yet despite the positive result, the night will perhaps be remembered most for Holmes’ farewell, leaving her hometown on the best note possible and with even better to come.

Canberra United 4 – 1 Brisbane Roar

Written by Steffen Moebus

Fifth-placed Canberra United needed a win against the undefeated Brisbane Roar to remain in finals contention, and the team in green brought all of their promise and spirit together in their best performance of the season in defeating the Roar 4-1 at Viking Park on Sunday.

 

Key to the home team’s success in this game was an intensity that did not wane; a ‘go for it’ mentality as illustrated by Grace Maher and Biance Galic’s fruitful shots from distance; an inability by the Roar to capitalise on their chances and possession; and the dampening of  Tameka Yallop’s attacking influence in the middle of the park.

An action-packed first half featured four goals, with Nicki Flannery opening the scoring with a deflection in the Roar penalty box, followed by Maher’s speculative goal from distance. The Canberra United faithful bellowed their approval of Michelle Heyman’s quality record-equalling finish for the third goal and were acknowledged in kind by Heyman after she capitalised on Lauren Keir’s quality service around and past the Roar defence. Emily Gielnik then pulled one back for the Roar two minutes before half time with a backwards header into the Canberra net.

The second half saw Roar fighting back, with Isobel Dalton rattling the home side’s crossbar followed by an incredulous close range missed chance by Mariel Hecher. Bianca Galic extended her team’s lead in matching Maher’s goal from distance in style, catching Morgan Aquino off her line. Some fine goal-keeping from United’s Keeley Richards, and a goal-line clearance from Canberra captain Kendall Fletcher – putting in an inspirational display for her team – saw Canberra United emerge as deserved winners. 

 

 

Perth Glory 0 – 4 Newcastle Jets

Written by Dale Roots

Newcastle made the most of a rare Monday night trip to the West, routing Perth 4-0 at Dorrien Gardens to round out the week’s fixtures.

Goals from Sunny Franco either side of half time and one each for Rhianna Pollicina and Lauren Allan sewed the points up for the Jets, compounding the home side’s misery this season.

Newcastle’s game plan was apparent almost immediately, with Ash Wilson’s side looking to close Perth down as soon as they won possession, pressuring the Glory’s young midfield into errors high up the pitch and forcing early turnovers.

The Jets almost opened the scoring through the most unlikely of sources after defender Cassidy Davis struck the crossbar from long distance and seemingly forcing the ball beyond the goalline, only for the officials to wave the team’s appeals away.

That intense defensive effort paid dividends just before the half-hour, as the visitors strung together a lovely passing move, eventually finding Pollicina beside the penalty spot, the midfielder making no mistake to mark her second goal of the season.

Pollicina turned provider shortly before the break, stringing a delightful outside-of-the-boot pass between four Perth defenders to the flying Franco, who drilled her low shot into the bottom corner to double the lead.

Franco had her second almost immediately after the restart, finding herself all alone in front of Lily Alfeld in the Perth goal after Tessa Tamplin’s seemingly-innocuous cross ricocheted and spun devilishly beyond the Glory defence, allowing the Jets markswoman to head home unperturbed.

And Newcastle would round the night out with a fourth goal from among its young attackers, with Lauren Allan popping up in the right place at the right time to side-foot Sophie Harding’s cross under Alfeld from close range, bringing an end to a horror week for the Glory and their fans.

Round 12 details

All times are AEDT. 

  • Melbourne City vs Western Sydney Wanderers at Dandenong City Soccer Club – Thursday, March 11, 7:05pm. 
  • Perth Glory vs Canberra United at Viking Park – Friday, March 12, 6:05pm.
  • Brisbane Roar vs Adelaide United at Lions FC Stadium – Friday, March 12, 9:05pm. 
  • Melbourne City FC vs Newcastle Jets at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex – Sunday, March 14, 4:05pm. 

Download our shareable W-League calendar. 

Steffen Moebus
Steffen Moebus
Steffen is a life-long Canberra resident and enjoys covering football in and around his home town, as well as Aussies participating in the Nordic leagues (Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark).
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