Graphic: Michael Alesich

Fans didn’t have to wait long following last week’s stellar opening games, with the W-League briefly pausing for New Year before quickly resuming the drama for Round 2. Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory both played their first games, while Wanderers and Canberra United collected more points. Keep reading to get the details!

Game of the round: Western Sydney Wanderers 2 – 1 Newcastle Jets

Written by Lani Johnson

After a short turnaround from their derby loss in round one, the Wanderers put on a stellar performance and secured themselves their first win of the season against the Newcastle Jets.

Rosie Galea was the player of the match at WSW Centre of Football, scoring a brace to lock in the Wanderers 2-1 win.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Galea’s first goal came after she pounced on a wayward pass before slotting the ball past Jets goalkeeper Claire Coelho mid-way through the first half. Although the team in red and black were up by a goal, the Jets continued to push and had a number of quality passages of play and chances on goal towards the end of the first half.

Their determination paid off just a minute after the half-time break, with Jets striker Tara Andrews coming up with an equaliser through a smooth tap-in. But the score didn’t stay level for long. Once again, Galea pounced on the ball – this time a rebound from Leena Khamis’ strike – and buried the ball into the back of the net to give the Wanderers the lead once again.  

The Jets played well and were unlucky to not come away with at least one point, but to the Wanderers credit, they defended tirelessly for the remainder of the match and worked hard to safeguard their three points.

 

Canberra United 2 – 1 Melbourne City

Written by Steffen Moebus

Canberra United coach Vicki Linton may have said after the game that extra time wins aren’t great for her blood pressure, but her team have pulled off wins in the dying moments in both their opening games. 

This leaves them at the top of the Round 2 ladder, spoiling Melbourne City’s unbroken 17 game streak without a loss in the process.

In contrast to game 1, Canberra had the better of field position and the first half in general. However, they were unable to make the most of the chances that came their way, often off the back of Paige Satchell and Nicki Flannery’s pace out wide, and Grace Maher and Laura Hughes’ midfield smarts and endeavour.

Melbourne City settled into the game in the second half, taking back a measure of control and looking threatening on set pieces when Tori Tumeth and Jenna McCormick pushed forward.

Round 1 hat-trick hero Michelle Heyman broke the scoring shackles for Canberra with 17 minutes to go thanks to a sublime chip over the City defensive line by left back Lauren Keir. This allowed Heyman to steady and fire an unerring bending shot into the top right corner, giving City keeper Teagan Micah no chance.

McCormick muscled her team level just three minutes later, powering a back post header past Canberra keeper Sally James from substitute Chinatsu Kira’s quality set-piece delivery.

The team in green’s fitness and willingness to work for each other brought them home. Nicki Flannery threw herself into her defensive work deep in her own half in extra time. Moments later she juggled and brought the ball down outside the Melbourne City box, beating two defenders before unleashing a piledriver winner into the top left corner for an exhilarating 2-1 win to the home side.   

 

Melbourne Victory 0 – 0 Brisbane Roar

Written by Marissa Lordanic

For the first time in 289 days, W-League football was being played in Melbourne once again. To mark the occasion, Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar played out a 0-0 draw at one of the wonders of the W-League world: CB Smith Reserve.

Brisbane entered the match off a frustrating draw with Melbourne City in which the team in orange produced shot after shot but simply couldn’t get past a magnificent Teagan Micah. It was a similar story against the navy side of Melbourne with Gaby Garton named player of the match; the Argentine making a few spectacular saves.

Victory’s season didn’t get off the brightest start with Natalie Tathem coming off injured in the opening half an hour. It has since been confirmed that she has ruptured her ACL and torn her MCL ruling her out for the rest of the season.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Tameka Yallop and Kyra Cooney-Cross had the best chances of the first half – with eerily similar low, pile-driver type strikes from distance that both veered to the left.

The sides continued to create but struggled to beat the respective ‘keepers. Cooney-Cross found Lisa De Vanna out on the left with a looping long ball and the ever pacey De Vanna was able to get on it but was called offside.

Emily Gielnik arguably came closest to breaking the deadlock. In acres of space on the left hand flank, the Matilda cut in and had a curling shot which forced a fingertip save onto the cross bar from Victory’s debutant goalkeeper.

Round 3 details

All times AEDT. 

  • Brisbane Roar FC vs Canberra United at Dolphin Stadium – Thursday, January, 7:05pm. 
  • Newcastle Jets vs Sydney FC at McDonald Jones Stadium – Friday, January 8, 4:35pm.
  • Adelaide United vs Perth Glory at Marden Sports Complex – Saturday, January 9, 7:05pm. 
  • Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex – Sunday, January 10, 4:05pm

Download our shareable W-League calendar. 

Graphic: Michael Alesich

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