The inaugural A-Leagues Unite Round continued today with four huge games at Allianz Stadium and Leichhardt Oval.
In the Liberty A-League, Michelle Heyman became the first player to score 100 Liberty A-League goals as Canberra United beat Adelaide United 3-1, before Newcastle Jets edged Brisbane Roar in a 2-1 win to round out the action at Leichhardt Oval.
Meanwhile, in the Isuzu UTE A-League, two of the competition’s in-form sides Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory drew 1-1 after a late Jing Reec equaliser. Adelaide United and Sydney FC met in the final game on Saturday, with a Hiroshi Ibusuki hat-trick inspiring the Reds to a 4-3 win over the Sky Blues.
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Canberra United 3-1 Adelaide United (Liberty A-League) – Leichhardt Oval
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MATCH REPORT: History! Heyman reaches the tonne & inspires Canberra to comeback victory over Adelaide
Michelle Heyman has achieved A-Leagues history, becoming the first player to score 100 Liberty A-League goals with her first of two strikes in Canberra United’s 3-1 win over Adelaide United on Saturday evening.
Minutes after Isabel Hodgson gave Adelaide the lead at Leichhardt Oval, Heyman brought up the tonne in the 50th minute with a tidy finish, before scoring a second and her 101st goal with a well-weighted header only one minute later.
Vesna Milivojevic wrapped up the win with a stunning long-range strike, which took her back on top of the Liberty A-League Golden Boot charts, and completed the come-from-behind win for Canberra.
Heyman’s brace not only made her the first player in the competition to reach the tonne, but the fourth in A-Leagues history to do so, following Melbourne City star Jamie Maclaren (151 goals), legendary striker Besart Berisha (142 goals) and Melbourne Victory gun Bruno Fornaroli (101 goals); going level with the latter in the process on the all-time charts.
“We’re witnessing a special, special moment in A-Leagues history,” her former teammate Teresa Polias said on commentary.
“She’s become the greatest goalscorer despite all the challenges along the way.”
The win takes Canberra off the foot of the ladder and breathes life into their season heading into the second-half of the season, sitting five points outside the top six with a game-in-hand.
Meanwhile, the Reds have lost their last three games and now sit last, as a result of the defeat.
Central Coast Mariners 1-1 Melbourne Victory (Isuzu UTE A-League) – Allianz Stadium
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MATCH REPORT: Late equaliser bags a point for Mariners & prevents Victory from going five points clear
A late goal from Jing Reec has seen the Central Coast Mariners snatch a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium.
In a game short on clear-cut chances Daniel Arzani’s 33rd minute penalty gave Victory the lead on a warm afternoon at Allianz Stadium.
The Mariners, playing for the first time without their former striker Marco Tulio, weren’t at their attacking best but grabbed an equaliser in the 89th minute thanks to a cool finish from substitute Jing Reec.
The result moves Victory three points clear ahead of second placed Western Sydney Wanderers while Central Coast extend their unbeaten run to eight matches and sit fourth on the ladder.
Brisbane Roar 1-2 Newcastle Jets (Liberty A-League) – Leichhardt Oval
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MATCH REPORT: Newcastle launch into the top four after unfortunate Roar own-goal hands Jets three points
Newcastle Jets have launched into fourth place on the Liberty A-League ladder after a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar in an entertaining contest at Leichhardt Oval.
Sarina Bolden’s sixth goal in seven games opened the scoring for the Jets, minutes after Brisbane went down to 10 players following a controversial red card to defender Holly McQueen.
Roar responded immediately from the kick-off through Mia Corbin – who also scored her sixth goal of the campaign – but an unfortunate own-goal from Tameka Yallop handed the Jets all three points on Saturday night.
The win – which is the Jets’ third victory in five games – takes Newcastle level with third-placed Western United on the ladder, with only goal difference separating the two sides.
Although both Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers can still leap them on the ladder with wins tomorrow, the Jets will still sit inside the top six at the end of Unite Round.
Meanwhile, Brisbane were unable to build off the momentum generated from their first win since Round 2 last week, as they fall to 10th on the ladder, albeit sitting just three points outside the top six.
Adelaide United 4-3 Sydney FC (Isuzu UTE A-League) – Allianz Stadium
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MATCH REPORT: Hat-trick Hiro fires Adelaide to stunning 4-3 win over Sydney FC
A brilliant hat-trick from Hiroshi Ibusuki made it a Unite Round to remember for Adelaide United as the Reds defeated Sydney FC 4-3 at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney FC came flying out of the blocks on their home turf and took the lead in the 7th minute when Anthony Caceres steered his effort past the on-rushing James Delianov.
But Adelaide dominated the rest of the half and two goals from Hiroshi Ibusuki had the Reds 2-1 in front before Nestory Irankunda made it 3-1 with the last kick of the first half.
Ibusuki then sealed his hat-trick with a brilliant header after the break before two goals from Joe Lolley had fans on the edge of their seats at the death but Adelaide held on for their first win in four matches.
