Graphic: Michael Alesich

In Round 7 NSW met the rest of the country. Sydney went to Melbourne before stopping by Canberra on the way home – both stops producing results. Newcastle and Victory battled each other and the wind in gusty Morwell, and Western Sydney Wanderers hosted Adelaide in a four goal draw. 

Melbourne City 0 – 2 Sydney FC

Written by Angela Christian-Wilkes

It was a busy round for Sydney FC, with two games in five days. The first was a grand final match up against Melbourne City – this too behind closed doors at AAMI Park. However, unlike the grand final, Sydney came away with the comprehensive win this time.

City had the first showstopping chance of the game, just past the five minute mark. An excellent through ball from Harriet Withers on the right reached Alex Chidiac, who was unmarked. However, Jada Whyman read and blocked the shot, earning herself Save of the Week. 

The same combination of Withers-Chidiac played out in the 20th minute, but with more pressure on the shot Chidiac sent the ball sky-high.

While possession was evenly split, Sydney were able to sustain more pressure around the 18 yard. In turn, City were able to put numbers between the attacking line and goal, preventing any clear opportunities.

Princess Ibini came closest a few minutes before half time, squirreling down the left and shrugging off her defender, however Teagan Micah collected the shot.

Sydney reasserted themselves five minutes into the second half with a goal, thanks to some quick thinking from Cortnee Vine. The long ball over from Natalie Tobin bounced over City’s defence and was left unaccounted for. Vine applied pressure and used her muscle to claim the ball. Her square pass to Siemsen was quickly converted with a slicing shot into the bottom right corner. At this point, Siemsen had scored for her third game in a row. 

Vine once again outpaced City’s defence in the 50th minute, but was halted with a clumsy tackle from Tyla Jay Vlajnic. The defender was given a red card for the foul. 

A more positive highlight for City was 16 year-old Naomi Thomas-Chinnama making her debut, subbing on for Teigen Allen in the 73rd minute. 

Jenna McCormick was subbed off with an injury just before a Sydney corner, leaving them even more vulnerable. Sydney exploited this. The signature kick in from Teresa Polias floated to the far post, where an unmarked Natalie Tobin headed it in, leaving Sydney 2-0 up 75 minutes in. 

With a player down, the City’s focus for the remainder was absorbing Sydney’s pressure. Their greatest opportunity came from Alex Chidiac’s free kick – the deflection falling to Rhali Dobson who was unable to hit it on target. 

The win saw Sydney consolidate their lead at the top, while City drift down to 6th on the ladder. 

Western Sydney Wanderers 2 – 2 Adelaide United

Written by Lani Johnson

A thrilling back-and-forth match at Marconi Stadium between the Wanderers and Adelaide saw both teams come away with a point after a hard-fought 90 minutes of football.

Adelaide struck first, with Chelsie Dawber, getting on the end of a floating pass over the defensive lines from Mallory Weber. Dawber expertly touched the ball over the head of Sarah Willacy to put her side in front. 

Western Sydney Wanderer’s Sarah Hunter levelled the score line 10 minutes later after a cut back from Georgia Yeoman-Dale, her first ever W-League goal.

Dylan Holmes put Adelaide back in front in the 71st minute, taking a neat touch with her chest before side volleying the ball into the back of the net.

But Adelaide’s lead was short lived – 17-year-old Hunter put her name on the score sheet once more after a goal mouth scramble, making the final score 2-2.

Western Sydney is now in 8th place on the ladder while Adelaide United remain in 5th spot with 10 points in their account.

Melbourne Victory 4 – 2 Newcastle Jets

Written by Marissa Lordanic

Melbourne Victory has secured a 4-2 win on their Morwell road trip. With a swirling wind at their backs, the team in navy blue used the natural advantage to score three goals in the first half. 

Melina Ayres got things started in the 13th minute. A poor Newcastle clearance found Amy Jackson well outside the area. Known for her long range efforts, she unleashed a shot which found Ayres in a closer position. She unleashed a beautiful shot which sailed past Nicole Simonsen who was rooted to the spot in the Newcastle goal.

Victory continued to look the stronger and would soon extend their lead by two in as many minutes. Kiwi international Claudia Bunge scored her first W-League goal – at the correct end – stopping down to head home an Angie Beard corner.

A minute later, Kyra Cooney-Cross latched on to a Catherine Zimmerman through ball and finished coolly past Simonsen. 

The change of ends saw a change in fortunes for the Jets. A Gema Simon free kick found Tara Andrews. The striker scored a goal similar to Cooney-Cross’ from a bit further out to not only peg one back but keep pace with Michelle Heyman in the race for the golden boot. 

In the 76th minute, Newcastle cut the lead down to one. A Tessa Tamplin long ball found Rhianna Pollicina central and unmarked. With Gaby Garton well off her line, Pollicina cleverly chipped the ball over the ‘keeper and into the empty net. 

But Victory put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute. Ayres received the ball from Barbieri just outside the box, cut inside, and shot; the ball seemingly bouncing underneath the diving Simonsen. The win is Victory’s second on the trot and keeps them in the top four. 

Sydney FC 4 – 0 Canberra United

Written by Dale Roots

Sydney extended its lead at the top of the W-League ladder with a 4-0 rout of second-placed Canberra United at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah on Monday evening.

A brace to Remy Siemsen and goals each to Cortnee Vine and Mackenzie Hawkesby sealed the Sky Blues’ sixth-straight win of the season, leaving them seven points clear of the chasing pack at the season’s halfway point.

Missing defensive rock Ellie Brush through injury, Sydney coach Ante Jurić called upon young defender Charlotte McLean to deputise in central defence, while Angelique Hristodoulou was brought in at right full-back.

Canberra meanwhile tinkered with what had been an undefeated line-up, moving experienced defender Kendall Fletcher forward into a pivoting midfield role, with Lauren Keir replacing her American colleague in a back four.

Even with those changes by the visitors, clearly aimed at making dents into Sydney’s dominant midfield, the Sky Blues opened the scoring almost on the quarter-hour though midfielder Hawkesby, controlling the bouncing ball and dinking home after Princess Ibini’s jinking run down the left byline.

Sydney had plenty of opportunities to double its lead through the first half, and had to wait until 10 minutes into the second before they’d netted again – only for Seimsen’s close-range effort to be waved away despite clearly crossing the goal line.

Vine would atone for that error just eight minutes later, turning neatly on her shot from the top of the box to fire past Keeley Richards after pouncing on Grace Maher’s under-hit pass and playing some neat one-two passes with Siemsen and Hawkesby to find space.

Seimsen found the back of the net – for real, this time – in the 72nd minute, volley in from the six-yard box after Richards’ cat-like save of her initial headed effort from a pinpoint Teresa Polias corner.

And it was Siemsen who would wrap up all three points for the home side, heading in unmarked at the back post from another Polias set piece to put her side four goals to the good, sending Canberra back down the Hume Highway with precious little to show for their visit.

Round 8 details

All times are AEDT. 

  • Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar at Marconi Stadium – Thursday, 11 February, 7:05pm. 
  • Sydney FC vs Brisbane Roar at Leichhardt Oval – Sunday, 14 February, 4:00pm. 
  • Adelaide United vs Canberra United at Marden Sports Complex – Sunday, 14 February, 6:05pm. 

Download our shareable W-League calendar. 

ANGELA CHRISTIAN-WILKES
ANGELA CHRISTIAN-WILKES
Melbourne based, Canberra bred, Angela began reporting on women's football in 2015. She went on to write her honours thesis on footballers' personal branding on social media and is currently involved in community club governance.
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