It’s the end of regular proceedings for the season but was anything but a regular round of football. Sydney and Victory both played twice and faced off against each other in the penultimate game for the premiers plate. Canberra left it all in on the line to secure their finals spot while Adelaide, having played their last game in Round 13, miss out on finals due to goal difference. And finally, Brisbane and City both said goodbye to cherished players and celebrated with a win each. 

Melbourne City 2 – 1 Perth Glory

Written by Marissa Lordanic

In a match that will long live in the memory, Melbourne City defeated Perth Glory 2-1 at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex. City finished their season on a high with a third consecutive win courtesy of goals from Rhali Dobson and Alex Chidiac; Patty Charalambous netted Perth’s lone goal.

It was Dobson’s night in more ways than one. She revealed midweek that she would be retiring from the W-League after this match. Dobson works and plays in NSW in the W-League offseason and moves down to Melbourne to play for City. This arrangement became untenable when her partner, Matt, was diagnosed with brain cancer.

With emotions high, City created the better of the chances with Chidiac and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic looking lively. Perth were lucky to enter the half on level terms after a barrage of chances for the home side were blocked by Perth’s defence in the 41st minute.

Just past the hour mark and following the fairy tale script perfectly, City found the opener through Dobson. A Chinatsu Kira corner wasn’t cleared and Tori Tumeth’s clever back heel into the six yard box found Dobson who smashed it home.

Chidiac netted soon after. Her smart turn granted her some space and she slotted it past Lily Alfeld with a low shot. Charalambous’ injury time goal was fiercely struck but it was not enough to earn the Glory any points.

With attention on Dobson, the fairy tale reached a whole new level. Having found Matt in the crowd, he got down on one knee and proposed with the eyes of those at the ground, the entire Melbourne City team, and W-League fans at home watching. She said yes. 

Rhali Dobson finishes her W-League career with a goal, a ring, two championships, one premier’s plate, 109 games played, and 14 goals scored for the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City.  

Canberra United 0 – 0 Sydney FC

Written by Steffen Moebus

Some nil-nil draws can be yawners, but that was never going to be the case in this final round clash between the teams in green and the blue. A win would see Sydney FC claim the premiers plate (with Head of Leagues Greg O’Rourke present in the crowd presumably to be on hand to award it, if that came to pass), while anything but a loss would see Canberra United safely into the top four and contesting Season 13 finals.

With the home side riding a wave of momentum after three straight wins, and the sky blues not having played in three weeks, it fair to say that Sydney FC took some time to get into the game.

Two Canberra distribution errors almost gave Sydney an unexpected first-half lead. With Canberra right-back Lauren Keir’s physicality proving an effective foil for Princess Ibini, and the explosive Cortnee Vine hobbling out of the game on 37 minutes with a knee complaint, striker Remy Siemsen was left carrying the can at times for arguably the finest attack in the league. At the other end of the park, it was wonderful to see ex-Canberra United player Tash Prior back in the league in central defence for Sydney, looking very comfortable in her partnership with Nat Tobin. 

The previous paragraph may make it look as if the game was all about Sydney, but that would do a disservice to United’s level of commitment in this game. Put simply, they never let up. With the best defensive harrying game in the league right now (think Paige Satchell, Michelle Heyman, and Nicki Flannery pressing everywhere… and then flying forward upon turnovers), and more effective recently in attack with Heyman varying between playing as a striker and high in midfield, the team cycles nicely around a settled working midfield combination in the form of Laura Hughes, Grace Maher, and Bianca Galic. Holding it all together at the back is Kendall Fletcher, who has been in wondrous form of late.

Heyman was to have three near misses in the first hour, with a shot neatly teed up by Hughes parried away by keeper Jada Whyman; a diving header in the second half hitting the post; and a sublime lob over the keeper from another well-weighted Keir chip just wide of the mark.

For Sydney FC, a skimmed Ibini header towards goal threatened Keeley Richards in the latter part of the game. 

Canberra’s attacking mindset only showed signs of abating in the 89th minute when shepherding the ball around the Sydney corner flag, in the realisation that – perhaps remarkably from where they were just a month ago after a mid-season hiccup – the prospect of finals was real. 

 
 

Melbourne Victory 6 – 0 Perth Glory

Written by Angela Christian-Wilkes

The last time Victory met Perth *checks notes* two weeks ago, they grabbed a narrow 1-0 win. This time round, hosting on home soil, they made sure to get the job done with their second 6-0 win of the season. 

Victory applied pressure early, with Melina Ayres opening the account in the 20th minute. The cross over from Angie Beard was carefully nudged on by Mindy Barbieri, leaving Ayres to square the ball into the net. 

Perth looked to equalise minutes later, with Katarina Jukic called offside but still going through with the rabona finish. 

Ayres then doubled the lead and got her brace ten minutes before the break. Lily Alfeld fumbled on the end of Lisa De Vanna’s long range shot and Ayres pounced. 

Within ten minutes into the second half, defender Claudia Bunge converted with a header off a corner and Catherine Zimmerman cleaned up Kyra Cooney-Cross’ deflection off the crossbar. 

After taking chances all game, Kyra Cooney-Cross got just reward with a brace of her own. An unfortunate punch out from Alfeld fell to the midfielder, who had wriggle through Perth’s defence before scoring. Her second was another individual effort, searing down the left before cutting in and deflecting off the crossbar – this time, into the goal. 

The formidable scoreline will have been a solid boost for Victory as they headed into their final fixture against Sydney mere days later. 

For Perth, the loss means they finished the season winless, after a troubled start, interuppted middle and frantic end. 

 

Brisbane Roar 3 – 0 Newcastle Jets

Written by Nick Amies

Brisbane Roar secured a fitting farewell for departing stars Claire Polkinghorne and Emily Gielnik and a home semi final with a 3-nil win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday night.

In a free-flowing contest it was the home side who were creating the better chances, an in-form Emily Gielnik forcing Claire Coelho into a pair of acrobatic saves in the opening 15 minutes.

Despite Coelho’s heroics, the visitors would concede in the closing stages of the first half, Kaitlyn Torpey providing a poacher’s finish to Gielnik’s header back across goal.

It would take less than two minutes after the interval for Brisbane to double their lead, this time Gielnik heading home Mariel Hecher’s corner with a deft header.

The Jets continued to attack though, and nearly pulled one back in the 67th minute as Lauren Allan’s header hit the upright.

The fairytale was on the Roar’s side though, Polkinghorne picking up an assist with the nod down from a corner for Hecher to finish.

The Beyond90 team would also like to congratulate Roar coach Jake Goodship and his family on their newest member!

Assistant coach Kelly Crew took the reins on the sidelines so Jake was able to be with his wife at the hospital.

Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory

Written by Dale Roots

Sydney FC claimed its third Premiership, and first in a decade, with a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory at Cromer Park on Wednesday night.

A brilliant free kick from Sky Blues skipper Teresa Polias and a successful penalty from Princess Ibini sealed the Premiers Plate for the home side, before a late consolation goal from Kyra Cooney-Cross made things less comfortable before full time.

With winger Cortnee Vine missing through injury after scans confirmed a ruptured medial ligament, Rachel Lowe started on the right side of a front three, while Melbourne were unchanged from their exertions the previous week.

Sydney took the lead just before the half-hour mark as Polias curled a wicked free kick into the top left corner from all of 25 yards out.

Sydney extended its advantage midway through the second half after Melbourne defender Amy Jackson bundled over Remy Siemsen in the box, allowing Ibini to slot the resulting spot kick for her fifth goal of the season.

Melbourne did their best to make things awkward in the shadows of full-time, with Cooney-Cross rifling a left-foot curler into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area, beating a flying Jada Whyman for a Victory consolation.

 

Semi finals details 

All times are AEST.

  • Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne Victory at Lions Stadium, Redcliffe – Sunday 4 April, 4:05pm
  • Sydney vs Canberra United at Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah – Monday 5 April, 3:00pm

Download our shareable W-League calendar. 

Graphics: Michael Alesich
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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