There were break-through wins for Adelaide United and Perth Glory in Round 11 of the Westfield W-League. But how many of their plucky performers made Team of the Week?
With high-flying Sydney FC and Melbourne City taking the week off, it was a chance for others to grab their place in the spotlight.
The Glory started Round 11 with an inspired 4-2 win on the road against Newcastle Jets on Thursday night, while Adelaide United stunned the in-form Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 on Saturday.
On Sunday, Melbourne Victory wrapped up the round with a strong 3-0 showing over Canberra United.
REPORT: Wanderers’ title hopes dented in stunning Adelaide loss
REACTION: Lowry announces herself on Westfield W-League stage
Goalkeeper
Casey Dumont (Melbourne Victory)
The Victory shot-stopper just can’t stop racking up the clean sheets – posting her second straight with another big performance for the defending Premiers as they shut-out Canberra United on Sunday afternoon.
Relatively untroubled in the first half, Dumont came to the fore in the second stanza with a number of telling saves – her best coming on 58 minutes as she rushed off her line to close the angle and deny Aoife Colvill’s firm hit.
All told she made four saves with each proving crucial to seeing her side firm in the top four calculations as business end of the season approaches.
Defenders
Charlotte Grant (Adelaide United)
The right wing-back came up against Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin on the Wanderers left and Grant gave her rivals little change as the Lady Reds shut down Western Sydney for 88 minutes.
Grant was a threat going forward, dropping in three crosses, and her launched pass set Mallory Weber away to score Adelaide’s third and all but seal one of the upset wins of the season.
The 18-year-old landed one shot, and added a tackle, three duels won, a clearance and an interception in a solid display against on the competition’s best attacking teams.
Amber Brooks (Adelaide United)
The Lady Reds were undone by two late set-pieces but for the majority of the match in the City of Churches, Western Sydney barely had a sniff up against a defence marshalled by Brooks.
The left-sided centre back dominated her duels, winning nine of 14 contested. She also won both of her two tackles and logged four clearances and two interceptions against the Red and Black.
The 28-year-old American also posed a threat going forward, having three attempts on goal. The late collapse prevented Brooks from a perfect game but she still led her side over the line.
Natasha Rigby (Perth Glory)
The Glory fullback delivered a captain’s knock for Bobby Despotovski’s side as she led her charges to their first win of the season on Thursday in Newcastle.
In a tireless performance off the ball, she led her side’s returns in key defensive measures – winning four tackles and 10 duels, in addition to a number of telling clearances and interceptions.
Her inspirational efforts shone through at the end as the Glory held on for the win against a late Jets fightback in humid conditions on the road.
REPORT: Ayres at the double as Victory dispatch Canberra
REACTION: Karlović praises Reds’ execution in break through win
Midfielders
Morgan Andrews (Perth Glory)
In a crazy game at McDonald Jones Stadium, Morgan Andrews was head and shoulders above all other players on the park.
Andrews scored one goal and assisted another by blasting a near-perfect strike off the crossbar from distance and directly into the path of Caitlin Doeglas for a tap-in.
Andrews put her physicality on show winning 10 of her 11 duels on the night, making four interceptions, creating two chances and having the equal-most touches of any player (84) in a supreme display in the centre of the park.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125810180001
Amy Jackson (Melbourne Victory)
The hard-working Victory midfielder’s experience came to the fore on Sunday with a strong showing in all thirds of the pitch to help her side to victory over Canberra United on Sunday.
Finding spaces in wide areas, she tallied nine crosses for Jeff Hopkins’ side throughout the contest – with none more telling than her 77th minute delivery that was headed home by Natasha Dowie to seal the win.
Off the ball she was equally relentless, winning four of six tackles and 10 of 16 duels to play a pivotal role in securing her side’s fifth clean sheet of the campaign.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6126588763001
Celia (Perth Glory)
Returning to Perth’s squad after a one-week absence, Celia made one thing crystal clear: Glory are a far better outfit whenever she’s on the park.
The Spanish international put in a typical lung-busting performance for the visitors, throwing herself into a game-high 17 duels, taking 79 touches, making three tackles, two clearances and interceptions.
Celia capped off her gritty display with one moment of pure class, bending a clean strike into the top left corner from distance to put her side in a commanding 4-1 position, showing she was unwilling to tire in the searing Novocastrian heat.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125818100001
Melina Ayres (Melbourne Victory)
Absent from the starting line-up in recent weeks, Ayres reminded coach Jeff Hopkins what deliver with a match-winning performance against Canberra United.
Ayres ran rampant at Lakeside Stadium with a pivotal first half brace that marked her first double haul in the Westfield W-League and opened her personal tally for the season.
They were both belters too. Her opener a first-time finish on the back of a well-timed run to the back post to latch on to Darian Jenkins’ cross, and her second a well-placed finish from just inside the area into the bottom corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6126579873001
Forwards
Mallory Weber (Adelaide United)
Adelaide’s front three were irresistible in their stunning 3-2 triumph against Western Sydney and Weber was the Lady Reds’ chief tormentor.
The American speedster had a double at half-time, the second of which she used her lightning-quick pace to race behind the Red and Black rearguard and add a slick finish.
She would have had a hat-trick were it not for an outstanding save from Courtney Newbon, and she had another chalked off for offside, as her devastating movement caused chaos in the Wanderers ranks as she landed five shots and created three chances.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6126459945001
Chelsie Dawber (Adelaide United)
Dawber’s laser-like strike in the 17th minute set Adelaide on their way to a shock first win of the 2019/20 campaign, and much of the Lady Reds best forward moves went through the 20-year-old attacker – and they should have been four or five nil ahead.
She completed 30 passes, including a cross and two chances created in the 3-2 win, and kept the Wanderers defence occupied with two shots at goal. She lined up a third shot after a slick passing move but a last-ditch Alex Huynh tackle prevented a certain goal.
Dawber also played her part off the ball as Adelaide aimed to close out the game in the second half, winning five of her nine duels and two of her three tackles.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6126453688001
Emily Condon (Adelaide United)
Condon fired the first warning shot when her 25-yard effort rattled the Wanderers crossbar after six minutes and the Reds seized control in the City of Churches from there.
She combined superbly with Weber and Dawber, and collected a pass from Laura Johns, drove forward and delivered a perfect cross for Weber to add a simple finish and double the lead.
The 21-year-old from Port Pirie troubled Wanderers with two attempts on goal and six crosses, she created three chances including her assist and completed 79% of her passes.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6126458417001
