The Melbourne Derby was the showpiece of this weekend’s A-League Women’s fixtures. Elsewhere, champions Sydney FC were looking to recover from their opening day loss against Central Coast. Here’s how match day two panned out.
Western United 0-0 Central Coast Mariners
Western United and the Mariners played out a goalless draw in Tarneit on Friday night. It was a game the hosts had the better of. Catherine Zimmerman and Chloe Logarzo both went close for Western in the opening exchanges. Jade Pennock was looking to continue her good start to the season. She had an effort that whistled just over the bar after 13 minutes. The closest the Mariners went to getting on the scoresheet was a first half effort from Peta Trimis that was cleared off the line by Grace Maher.
Aimee Medwin had United’s best chance of the night early in the second half. She got under Zimmerman’s cross and headed over from a couple of yards out. A game of few clear-cut chances fizzled out into the night as both sides shared the points to maintain their unbeaten start to the A League season.
Melbourne Victory 2-3 Melbourne City
A brace from Mariana Speckmaier gave Melbourne City bragging rights in the Derby on Saturday. The Venezuelan international gave City the lead after just six minutes following good work from Lourdes Bosch down the left. The American skipped through the challenge of two Victory players to put the ball into the six yard box. Speckmaier ghosted past her marker to sweep the ball home.
Victory were level from the spot in the 20th minute when Emily Gielnik was fouled by Bryleeh Henry. Gielnik picked herself up to send Malena Mieres the wrong way for her third goal of the season. Alana Jančevski put the Vuck ahead just before half-time with a finish of real quality to curl home Nicki Flannery’s cross.
City were gifted an equaliser when Bosch capitalised on a poor back pass from Claudia Bunge. She nipped in to take the ball and poke home inspite of Bunge’s attempts to redeem herself. Speckmaier bagged the winner with five minutes to play. She timed her run to perfection, latching on to Leticia McKenna’s ball over the top to finish low and hard past Courtney Newbon.
Brisbane Roar 1-0 Sydney FC
Chelsea Blissett’s strike deep into first stoppage time gave Brisbane all three points at Perry Park. In a first half low on chances, Sydney thought they had a penalty when Roar keeper Olivia Sekany collided with Millie Farrow however, the referee waved Sky Blue protests away.
The decisive goal came through Blissett who somehow squeezed the ball home through a forest of Sydney bodies following Tameka Yallop’s free kick. Into the second half and the Roar went looking to add to their tally. Yallop’s piledriver from distance just cleared the Sydney crossbar.
Yallop also saw a corner come back off the crossbar and put an effort wide following a surging run through the Sydney midfield. Victory gives Brisbane their second successive A League win over Sydney in Queensland. You could be forgiven for thinking the table is upside down- the Sky Blues are bottom without a point.
Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Canberra United
Michelle Heyman’s 100th Canberra United goal was enough to take all three points away from Wellington.
The visitors opened the scoring with just over ten minutes played. Emma Roberts played a stunning through ball that cut through the Phoenix for Maja Markovski. Her shot was deflected into the path of Heyman and she made no mistake to bring up her century.
There was an unexpected stoppage at the end first half when Phoenix skipper Annalie Longo’s own dog invaded the pitch. The Yellow Fever belted out a rendition of “Who Let The Dogs Out” as dog and human were reunited. Peak A-League, indeed!
Back to the action, and it was a goalkeeping masterclass from Canberra’s Sally James that kept the visitors in the lead. A stunning full length save denied Grace Jale from a header that came through a crowd of bodies from a corner. Alyssa Whinham struck the post as the New Zealanders piled on the pressure.
James saved the best until the very end. Maya McCutcheon’s header from Longo’s corner looked destined for the net. James denied McCutcheon her perfect moment, throwing up a hand when the ball seemed to be behind her and claimed the rebound for good measure.
That win for Canberra means only they and Melbourne City have a perfect record two games in.
Western Sydney Wanderes 0-2 Adelaide United
Goals either side of half-time saw Adelaide claim their first A League win of the season. The Reds, who were so impressive in defeat against Melbourne Victory last week, flew out of the blocks here. Fiona Worts forced Sham Khamis into a fine double save in the 17th minute before Emily Condon fired wide.
Western Sydney nearly took the lead against the run of play at the end of the first half. Amy Chessari’s through ball set Cushla Rue away, but she could only slice wide. Condon opened the scoring moments later in stunning fashion as her corner floated in over Khamis.
Worts’ classy finish from the edge of the box doubled the Adelaide lead at the start of the second half. It was Worts’ third goal in two games, meaning she’s already level with last season’s top scorers.
Next up for Western Sydney, it’s the small matter of the Sydney Derby.
Perth Glory 3-2 Newcastle Jets
Perth and Newcastle played out an entertaining five goal affair to round out the weekend’s A League action on Sunday. The hosts broke the deadlock with under a minute played when Georgia Cassidy robbed Elizabeth Copus-Brown in front of her own box and slid home.
A thunderbolt from the Jets’ Josie Allan bought them level in the 13th minute. Perth retook the lead early in the second half when Sarah O’Donoghue curled home from the top of the box. The substitute making an instant impact for Stephen Peters’ side.
Kelli Brown gave the Glory breathing space with 25 minutes to play. She showed great composure to fire home from all of 30 yards after Danielle Krzyzaniak’s clearance rebounded into her path. Krzyzaniak saw red just two minutes later for a handball outside her area.
Another long range stunner gave the Jets a consolation. Sheridan Gallagher took aim for the top corner into added time, but Perth held on.
