These are the key talking points from Round 11 in the Liberty A-League.
Brisbane Roar ended their eight game winless run with a victory over Wellington, but it didn’t come without controversy, leaving Phoenix coach Paul Temple frustrated at the full-time whistle.
Sophie Harding continued her breakout season for the Western Sydney Wanderers with a match-winning performance against Perth Glory, while a brace from Chloe Logarzo inspired Western United to a 4-1 thumping of Melbourne Victory.
One of Melbourne City’s brightest young stars shone again with an incredible hat-trick in their 5-0 thumping of Adelaide United, and an A-Leagues legend’s wait for 100 career goals extends for another week.
These are the key talking points from Round 11 in the Liberty A-League.
UNITE ROUND TICKETS ON SALE NOW: Get your tickets for the ultimate away day here
Western United coach lauds star’s performance, helps continue perfect run against Victorian rivals
Chloe Logarzo’s purple patch of form continued on the weekend, scoring a double and getting an assist in Western United’s 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday evening.
The Matilda now has five goals to her name this season, as she starts to return to her best following an injury-riddled run over the last few years, with the win taking Western third on the ladder.
But just how much better can she get this season?
MATCH REPORT: Merciless Western preserve flawless record against slumping Victory in Liberty A-League rout
“Use her in the right way and she’s got a very high ceiling,” Western boss Kat Smith said post-game.
“There’s so much that we can get out individuals, speaking specifically about Chloe, the leadership quality is that, she brings the experience to be able to manage the games, manage herself.
“When she’s given the opportunity and she knows what her role is, you’ll see the best from her physically.”
Incredibly, Logarzo came into the game against Victory fresh off a chest infection, but it showed no signs of slowing her down.
“She has been coughing up all week, she’s been carrying a little bit of a bug,” Smith said.
“You wouldn’t know and that’s such a credit to her, so professionals like Chloe will make sure that they’re recovered.”
Logarzo – who has played the majority of her career as a midfielder – has featured in a more attacking role this season, alternating between playing as a false nine and second striker under both Smith and her predecessor Mark Torcaso.
In recent weeks, Logarzo’s work as a second striker alongside Hannah Keane has seen her return to her best form, but with last season’s Golden Boot winner missing against Victory, Smith played the Matilda up front once more, with support coming from Keiwa Hieda and Jackie Sawicki.
During this spell, one of Logarzo’s best traits has been her pressing, mixing her role as previously being a more defensive minded player with added luxuries as a result of her move into the frontline.
“I’ve always been a box to box midfielder, so just being a little bit higher for me and having that aggression, a lot of aggression, and then slowly getting my fitness back,” Logarzo said on Saturday when talking about her role.
“I think it has been something that I’ve really wanted as well because it’s a role that I play and what I played in previous years quite heavily and I thrive off of the idea that I run more than everybody else.
“So just slowly building, building, maybe I’ll stop (pressing) a little bit because I’m getting a little bit older, but the body seems to be pushing on.”
Her return to form and more importantly, regular playing time has come after two years of constant injury setbacks, which ultimately cost Logarzo’s place in the Matildas squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Logarzo tore her anterior cruciate ligament in 2021 playing for the Matildas against Ireland, before dealing with plantar fasciitis in her left foot that limited her to only six substitute appearances for Western last season.
The 29-year-old was named in the provisional World Cup squad, but ultimately didn’t make the final list
“It’s been a tough two years for me,” Logarzo said.
“The last year has been really heartbreaking in that regard and I think it’s just been fun for me to be able to fall in love with the game again and it just goes to show that playing 90 minutes with a good group of people can make you play better.
“It’s just the love of the game coming back and me also just having fun.”
Wellington boss calls for VAR to be introduced following non-handball call
Wellington Phoenix coach Paul Temple has called for the addition of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Liberty A-League after his side were denied what looked to be a clear penalty in the dying stages of their 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar.
The away side were left aggrieved when the officials didn’t point to the spot in the 87th minute after Isabel Cox’s shot hit the outstretched arm of Leah Scarpelli on the goal line, subsequently denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
“It’s a clear handball,” said Temple after the game. “It’s a pretty deadset penalty to be honest with you. The camera angle, it’s very, very clear handball on the line. It’s disappointing the officials don’t see it because you want them to be picking things up like that.
“It’s moments like that I guess you’ve got to ask the question: Why is the VAR in the men’s league and not in the women’s league?
He continued: “Because if that goes to VAR it’s a clear penalty. There’s a camera angle of it and it’s a clear penalty…”
However, Temple was quick to point out that he didn’t believe that was the reason why his side left Perry Park empty handed.
In fact, the Phoenix boss identified something he feels has become an achilles heel for the club, their inability to put consistent performances together, especially away from home.
MATCH REPORT: Matildas star scores first goal since A-Leagues return as Brisbane come from behind to beat Wellington
“We don’t seem to be able to complete two good halves of football in a row at the moment,” said Temple. “An away game is a factor for us and we’ve got to find a way to get around that.
“Since Western Sydney away we haven’t scored in second halves and you can see we start running out of gas and if we have to go and chase a game we don’t have the capacity to do that unless we’re making wholesale changes and trying to put fresh legs on.
He continued: “It’s definitely a factor, you know you’re travelling three hours, spending a whole day travelling to get to Brisbane, a three hour time difference… we’re all waking up at 5 o’clock this morning – it’s not easy.
“But we’ve got to find a way to get around those things because obviously we’ve still got away games to come so yeah, we need to find some answers.”
The 2-1 loss to Brisbane means Wellington have now lost their last four away matches and haven’t tasted success on the road since defeating the Wanderers in Round 2.
Things don’t get any easier for Temple and co though given they’ve still got another two away fixtures to come, the first of which is against the Mariners in Unite Round before they then travel to Victoria to face league-leaders Melbourne City.
Wanderers striker’s history making night in Perth
Sophie Harding continued her breakout season on Sunday night when she fired home a double in Western Sydney Wanderers’ stirring 2-0 win over Perth Glory at Macedonia Park.
The Wanderers striker took her goal tally to eight for the season to claim the Wanderers’ all-time single-season scoring record, eclipsing Kristen Hamilton who bagged seven goals en route to winning the Julie Dolan Medal in the 2019-20 campaign.
Harding now also sits equal-top of the Golden Boot charts alongside Canberra United’s Vesna Milivojevic after 11 rounds.
Her performances have been central to Western Sydney’s turn in fortunes over the last few weeks, which now has them sitting in sixth place on the ladder – a goal clear of Melbourne Victory.
MATCH REPORT: History! Wanderers spearhead writes her name into club folklore with brilliant brace in Glory upset
Glory boss Alex Epakis was asked whether his side came in with a plan to slow down the red-hot forward, who continues to go from strength to strength.
“Yeah, a lot,” he said, when asked if they had planned for her impact.
“We spoke about it during the week, we said broken play transition, she makes really great, effective forward runs and again, it just highlighted that we prepped well for it because we spoke about it.
“But I guess, there’s always that point where there’s one thing preparing for and not actioning it and we just weren’t aligned with that today.”
With Matildas captain Sam Kerr ruled out for the foreseeable future with an ACL rupture, a spot has opened up for a forward to come into the national team setup.
Could the in-form Harding be among the contenders?
“Obviously if the opportunity came, I’d be absolutely stoked with it,” Harding told aleagues.com.au last month.
“After the world Cup and seeing that, I’ve always wanted to play for my country. If you’re in this league and don’t want to play for your country, there’s something wrong with you.
“If I got that chance, It would make me extremely proud.”
Sydney star has ‘a point to prove’ after disappointing Brighton stint
Mackenzie Hawkesby made just one competitive appearance in her five-month stint at Brighton & Hove Albion – but after just one week back in the Liberty A-League, she’s clocked more than 270 match minutes.
One of the stars of Sydney’s Premiership/Championship double last season is back in Sky Blue after a December move from Brighton and is relishing the resumption of her time in the A-Leagues.
The 23-year-old is yet to get on the scoresheet for Sydney but with a raft of experienced players sidelined by injury, her arrival has injected much-needed experience into the Sky blues lineup.
Speaking after Sydney’s 0-0 draw with Central Coast Mariners on Sunday – Hawkesby’s third-consecutive 90-minute display – the creative midfielder expressed her delight at returning to the league and the challenge that has come with it: helping fifth-placed Sydney back up the Liberty A-League table.
MATCH REPORT: Champions held to fourth draw in five games after goalless stalemate with Mariners
“I haven’t played a whole lot of football,” Hawkesby said post-game. “I think I played about two 90-minute (games) in about six months, now I’ve played three games in a week.
“I’m enjoying playing, being back with the team, being under Ante (Juric) and I think I do have a point to prove.
“I love playing in the A-League and I love this team. We’ve won a lot… I want to come back and win trophies for this team. We have such a good squad and even with the injuries we have, we’re doing so well. We have to build on that and keep going.”
Up next for the Sky Blues is a Grand Final rematch with Western United at Allianz Stadium as part of the A-Leagues Unite Round.
“It’s going to be really good – and it’s a Grand Final rematch,” Hawkesby said.
“I’m really excited to play Western United, I love playing the top teams in the league and they’re coming off a win. We have the best defensive record in the league so I think that’s huge for us, we just need to start putting the goals away in the final third and that will come in time.
“We’ve just got to keep positive, I think we’re doing quite well.”
p, it’s not so much them, it’s how well they want to perform in the green and the black.”
Young Matilda puts the league on notice with outstanding display against Adelaide
Melbourne City showed no mercy towards Adelaide United at Marden Sports Complex, putting on a five-star showing to extend their lead at the top of the Liberty A-League.
Young Matildas midfielder Daniela Galic stole the show, bagging herself a hat-trick and at times rendering herself unplayable for the Adelaide defence.
What was so impressive about Galic was that each of her three goals showcased different aspects of her game. The first, a cool finish curled across the keeper from a wide angle, highlighted her ability to time her run to perfection, ensuring she stayed onside all whilst demonstrating good close control of the football.
For her second she demonstrated her impressive athleticism to out-pace the retreating Isabel Hodgson before arriving at the back post to tap the ball home with the goal gaping. While for her hat-trick goal, Galic’s third-man run to ghost in behind the Adelaide defence put her in the perfect position to the seal the three-points with what was a clinical finish.
So not only did the 17-year-old become the second-youngest player in Liberty A-League history to score three times in a game but she also walked off the pitch at Marden Sports Complex having registered her third assist of the season – a gorgeous left-footed ball across the face of goal which invited Kaitlyn Torpey to slam home City’s fourth.
In fact, from her 11 matches this season – 10 of which she has started – Galic has now registered five goals, three assists – a combination only bettered by Perth’s Millie Farrow, who has nine goal involvements – while she’s also created more chances (22) than any other player in the competition.
“What I love about her is her composure,” remarked former Matildas midfielder Alicia Ferguson on Dubzone. “Just opening up her body on that angle on the left hand side, a couple of the goals into the far post and I’ve seen her score a few more goals like that.”
Former Western Sydney Wanderers coach Catherine Cannuli added: “She’s a great talent, I’ve been watching her for a very long time.
“That cross, the way she puts that ball in behind those defenders is absolutely world class and that’s not something you can actually teach players – you either have it or you don’t.”
But while Galic’s goalscoring antics against Adelaide will see her take centre stage this week the Young Matilda’s work rate was equally as impressive, covering plenty of ground whilst fulfilling her defensive duties whilst seamlessly drifting in and out of dangerous attacking positions on the pitch.
With the likes of Hannah Wilkinson, Kaitlyn Torpey, Rhianna Pollicina, Rebekah Stott – to name a few – already featuring in an exciting squad at Melbourne City, it’s easy to see why Galic is flourishing at the club which currently sits clear at the top of the Liberty A-League.
Canberra great’s wait for the ton leads in to Unite Round
Michelle Heyman will have to wait another week to become the first Liberty A-League player to reach 100 goals.
The A-Leagues great was unable to reach the milestone in Canberra United’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle Jets on Saturday evening, after being held goalless at No.2 Sportsground.
Heyman had some chances to find the elusive goal, but was often isolated at the pointy-end of attack. She did, however, help herself to an assist for Nicki Flannery and came close to scoring in the second-half, though her final touch evaded her at the last moment.
Now, all roads lead to Unite Round, where Canberra face Adelaide United on Saturday at Leichhardt Oval.
MATCH REPORT: Canberra defender’s memorable strike caps wild six-goal draw in Newcastle
The two teams played a thrilling 4-4 draw in Round 1, where Heyman scored Canberra’s second goal at Coopers Stadium. History repeating itself in a few days time will be enough for the legendary striker to notch up the incredible feat.
And on Dub Zone on Sunday night, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri tipped Heyman to reach her century.
“Michelle Heyman will score her 100th A-League Women’s goal in Unite Round,” he said in his weekly prediction segment.
“It will be the signature moment of Unite Round and it will help galvanise the concept into the future. It’s going to be a shootout between Adelaide United and Canberra.
“I don’t know who’s going to win, all I know is there’s going to be a lot of goals and Michelle Heyman will definitely score one of them.”
