A-League Women: What’s happened in Round 12? | OneFootball

The A-League continued this week with Melbourne City looking to extend their lead at the top. Elsewhere, Brisbane Roar welcomed Adelaide United to Perry Park in a battle of this season’s surprise packages.

Here’s what happened across the league.

Sydney FC 2-0 Canberra United

In a holdover game from Round 9, Sydney FC hosted Canberra United on Wednesday, January 15. First-half goals from Princess Ibini and Lucy Johnson put Sydney 2-0 up before an almighty rain and lightning storm saw the match abandoned after 54 minutes.

The APL have since awarded Sydney the 2-0 win.

Western United 1-1 Melbourne City

A late equaliser from Holly McNamara preserved City’s unbeaten start at Western United.

Both sides had early chances. Rhianna Pollicina saw her effort cleared off the line for City, while Khali Johnson went close for the hosts.

United took the lead on the stroke of halftime. Catherine Zimmerman crossed the ball for Johnson, who volleyed her first touch toward the goal. Malena Mieres couldn’t hold the shot and the ref said the ball had crossed the line in spite of Mieres’ best attempts to recover.

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Zimmerman should’ve doubled the lead with 74 minutes gone, but she glanced her header wide from point-blank range.

McNamara swept home Lourdes Bosch’s cross with eight minutes to play for City, who are now 12 unbeaten to start the season.

Canberra United 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers

Canberra United kept pace with the top six with a win over the Wanderers at McKellar Park.

The first notable chance fell for Western Sydney. Sienna Saveska tried to catch Sally James out from distance, but the Canberra keeper was equal to it. Mary Stanic-Floody flashed a freekick just wide for the home side after 30 minutes.

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If Western Sydney had any luck at all, it would be bad. That proved to be the case near halftime when Sofia Christopherson’s header hit the post and cannoned in off the back of Sham Khamis to give Canberra the lead.

With thirteen minutes to play, James nearly gifted the Wanderers an equaliser. Under no pressure at all, she threw the ball straight to Talia Kapetanellis. Luckily for James and Canberra, she made up for her error to push the ball wide.

Western Sydney remain at the bottom of the league table.

Melbourne Victory 1-0 Perth Glory

Melbourne Victory stayed just two points adrift of rivals City as they overcame the Glory.

Kayla Morrison made the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark. Perth could only half clear a freekick, and Morrison was on hand to lash home the loose ball.

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Into the second half, Casey Dumont produced a smart save to deny Nikki Flannery at her near post. At the other end, Victory’s Courtney Newbond tipped a Gabby Hollar attempt around the post to preserve her clean sheet.

Things went from bad to worse for Perth when Tijan McKenna was sent off for two bookings.

Wellington Phoenix 3-2 Newcastle Jets

On Saturday, the Phoenix produced a remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat the Jets.

Sheridan Gallagher poked the visitors ahead from close range with barely three minutes on the clock.

Newcastle keeper Danielle Krzyzaniak produced a stunning save to tip a Grace Jale shot onto the crossbar. More miraculous defending followed as Tash Prior denied Mebae Tanaka on the line.

Gallagher’s second of the afternoon just before the break gave the Jets breathing room. She raced clear of the Nix defence before poking the ball through Carolina Vilão’s legs.

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In the second half, Manaia Elliott came on for Wellington and made an instant impact. She headed home an Amalie Longo cross at the near post to get the hosts on the scoresheet.

Longo added to Wellington’s tally minutes later. She reacted quickest to slot one home after Krzyzaniak could only parry the initial shot.

Elliott bagged her second and the Wellington winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Her corner floated all the way in to cap off an incredible match.

Sydney FC 0-0 Central Coast Mariners

Having just about dried off from Wednesday night, Sydney faced a quick turnaround as they welcomed the Mariners to Leichhardt Oval.

A brilliant double save from Brianna Edwards prevented the Mariners from taking an early lead. She palmed away Shay Evans’ curling shot and was up instantly to deny Annalise Rasmussen.

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Tori Tumeth smashed the crossbar for Sydney with a stinging drive with 15 minutes gone in what was a pulsating start.

Amber Luchtmeijer should’ve won it for Sydney in added time. She raced away unmarked and was picked out by Abby Lemon. Luchtmeijer twisted and turned through the retreating Mariners defence but fired straight at goalkeeper Sarah Langman.

Brisbane Roar 2-3 Adelaide United

The Roar and Adelaide produce a five-goal thriller at a packed Perry Park on Sunday.

Chelsey Dawber gave the Reds the lead with a strike right out of the top draw. Her first touch brought Emily Condon’s pass under control. Her second was to dispatch the ball into the top corner out of reach of Olivia Sekany.

The lead lasted barely a couple of minutes. A Roar freekick wasn’t cleared by Adelaide, and the ball fell to Alicia Woods on the edge of the box. She made no mistake with a classy finish, belying the fact this was her first Ninja A-League goal.

Adelaide were back ahead after the second-half kickoff thanks to Erin Healy. She brushed off Holly McQueen before firing low and hard into Sekany’s near post.

Dawber’s second of the afternoon gave United some breathing space. Her flicked header looped in with twenty minutes left.

Tameka Yallop’s injury-time header was merely a consolation for Brisbane, as Adelaide held on to the final whistle. The result lifted Adelaide to third in the league table.

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