An action-packed Round 2 of the Westfield W-League brought up some outstanding team performances, but individual brilliance is what we are looking at in our Team of the Week.
Melbourne Victory put on a sparkling display in their thrilling 3-2 win against Brisbane Roar on Thursday night, while Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC were forced to dig in to secure closely-contested 1-0 wins on Friday night.
Then on Sunday, Melbourne City left it late but have their first win on the board thanks to Emily van Egmond’s stoppage-time penalty against Canberra.
Now it’s time to decide which players stood head and shoulders above the rest. This week we’re sending the side out in a 3-4-3 formation.
Here is the w-league.com.au’s Round 2 Team of the Week.
Goalkeeper
Casey Dumont (Melbourne Victory)
Casey Dumont’s penalty save from her former teammate Tameka Yallop on the stroke of half-time, with Victory leading 2-1, proved to be crucial.
The visitors went on to beat Brisbane 3-2 on the road, but Dumont’s spot-kick stop only was the tip of the iceberg.
The 27-year-old produced heroics to keep Roar at bay, including a one-handed reflex stop and a close-range double save, as talk of of one of the all-time great Westfield W-League keeping performances echoed around Dolphin Stadium.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6107008523001
Defenders
Sam Staab (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Sam Staab is quickly becoming one of the best defenders in the competition on the back of consecutive stellar performances to start the 2019/20 Westfield W-League campaign.
Wanderers ‘keeper Abby Smith could have spent most of Western Sydney’s game against the Jets sat down with a cup of tea, largely due to the totally dominant display of Staab in the centre of defence.
Staab made 68 passes at 88.2% accuracy, won eight out of 12 duels and made six clearances in another totally composed and commanding performance.
Ellie Brush (Sydney FC)
Sydney FC were put under the pump by a youthful Adelaide team brimming with energy and verve and Brush was at the heart of the Sky Blues’ defensive wall that stopped the hosts in the 1-0 away win.
Cross-code star Brush may have missed the entire Westfield W-League 2018/19 season but she barely missed a beat in her first big test since her return.
She kept teen sensation Mary Fowler relatively quiet and filled out the stats sheet by making a team-high five clearances, winning three duels and adding a tackle and an interception to go with Sydney FC’s back-to-back clean sheets.
Rebekah Stott (Melbourne City)
The experienced New Zealand international showed her quality in spades in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Canberra in the nation’s capital.
Stott led the team in touches, with 98, and passes, with 77, as City controlled 67% off possession. She launched City’s attacks as they built from the back, dictating the shape and tempo of their build-up play.
The 26-year-old also led the team in tackles (six), tackles won (five), duels won (nine), interceptions (six) and she did not concede a single foul. A complete defensive masterclass on and off the ball.
Midfielders
Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar)
After a nightmare start to 2019, when a high-ankle sprain ended her Westfield W-League season and seriously impacted her FIFA Women’s World Cup, Katrina Gorry is well on her way to being back to her best.
The Westfield Matilda returned refreshed from an injury-free off-season and delivered a vintage performance in the heart of the Roar midfield in Brisbane’s 3-2 reverse against Melbourne Victory.
She started the move which saw her combine with Hayley Raso on Yallop’s opening goal and delivered a pin-point set piece which earned the penalty for handball against Natasha Dowie.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6106990986001
Amy Harrison (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Amy Harrison has only played two games at the Wanderers but she’s already proving why she’ll be a prime asset for Dean Heffernan’s side this season.
The Westfield Matildas midfielder capped off a fantastic home debut with her first goal in the red and black against Newcastle on Friday night.
Harrison took five shots on the night, hitting the post in the first half before converting the decisive goal from the spot in the second.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6107431507001
Chloe Logarzo (Sydney FC)
The Westfield Matilda helped make the all-important match winning play when she nudged the ball on to Caitlin Foord in the Sky Blues’ 1-0 win against Adelaide.
While the 24-year-old usually shines in an attacking role, it was the defensive side of her game which helped secure Team of the Week honours in Round 2.
Logarzo won a match-high nine of her 14 duels, as the Sky Blues dug in against an Adelaide attack bursting with energy. She worked tirelessly off the ball and also fought hard in her midfield battles, earning five fouls to break up play in the trenches.
Mallory Weber (Adelaide United)
The American winger was like lightning in a bottle every time Adelaide shifted the ball out left in their 1-0 loss against Sydney FC.
A constant danger to the Champions’ defence, the Westfield W-League newcomer ripped off six attempts on goal and created four chances for her teammates.
While many players faded in the second half, Weber came to life as the match wore on. She also did a superb job off the ball, winning a joint-high eight duels for the Reds.
Forwards
Natasha Dowie (Melbourne Victory)
Following a crushing 3-0 opening round loss to Sydney FC, Victory skipper Natasha Dowie carried her the team on her shoulders in the 3-2 Round 2 win against Brisbane Roar.
Leading by example, Dowie earned a penalty and dusted herself down to convert from the spot, before following up with a genuine goal of the season contender to extend the lead to 3-1 late on.
Her stunning, twisting volley capped an inspirational performance by the English sharpshooter.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6107010457001
Lynn Williams (Western Sydney Wanderers)
American striker Lynn Williams arrived at Wanderland during the week and showed just what she’ll bring to Western Sydney this season in an impressive debut against Newcastle Jets.
Williams did not score, besides a goal chalked offside in the first half, but she supplied Wanderers a genuine target up front and dovetailed excellently with compatriot Kristen Hamilton.
She displayed supreme hold-up play, skill in close quarters and fearsome speed in her debut Westfield W-League showing in Red and Black.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6107432144001
Caitlin Foord (Sydney FC)
In a game of fine margins, Caitlin Foord produced the moment of magic which ensured the Westfield W-League Champions started with two wins from two games.
The Westfield Matildas striker bullied her way through a Reds defence which had been compact up until her majestic 56th-minute break-through.
It was a touch of quality which placed her head and shoulders above the rest. Although Sydney were restricted to minimal clear-cut chances by an impressive Adelaide side, Foord still managed to rain in six shots on goal and put in four crosses.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6107465993001
Round 3 fixtures
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
Thursday, 28 November
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT
Venue: Lions Stadium
Tickets
Newcastle Jets v Canberra United
Saturday, 30 November
Kick-off: 4.30pm AEDT
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Tickets
Melbourne City v Adelaide United
Saturday, 30 November
Kick-off: 7pm AEDT
Venue: John McEwan Reserve
Perth Glory v Sydney FC
Sunday, 1 December
Kick-off: 1pm local, 4pm AEDT
Venue: Dorrien Gardens
Tickets
