Even in a COVID-shortened round we got a glut of goals – what a start to the new year, writes Angela Christian-Wilkes
Maybe you could call it a belated Christmas present – the Liberty A-League’s seasonal gift to make up for a loss of games to COVID.
With a host of strikers in fine form – and, we have to admit, a few defenders in less convincing fettle – you can sit back and watch the goals mount up.
In fact the 17 goals scored in a brief-but-punchy Round 5 made it the most prolific round so far, all the more impressive – and, in many ways, concerning – given there were only three games to the typical five (City v Jets and Wanderers v Canberra both postponed for COVID-related reasons).
Clearly the most fearsome strike force currently is the one clad in Sky Blue, and Sydney FC duly racked up five of those 17 goals against Wellington Phoenix on Thursday evening.
Making her first start for the season, Rachel Lowe put them up within five minutes with a banger. Mackenzie Hawkesby then went to town – after struggling to convert in last week’s derby, the ‘Gong native slotted three in thirty minutes for her first ALW hat-trick, with Cortnee Vine getting the remaining goal.
While dominant in the first half, Sydney went scoreless in the second. This asymmetry could be due to defence being a priority. It is also a testament to Phoenix creating enough resistance that Sydney then needed to consciously consider. Sydney coach Ante Juric said that his side “worked hard defensively too so another clean sheet, that’s four, and I’m very happy not to concede again.”
With 13 points to second-place City’s 9 and a doubled goal difference, Sydney have torn away from the pack (much like Vine on an attacking run). Looking to the ladder below, which team can truly test Sydney’s backline without also leaving themselves exposed? The answer probably does not lie with the remaining four sides who played this round, with a lack of defensive execution reflected in the dual 4-2 score lines.
Adelaide United hosted Perth Glory for the most competitive offering. The Reds’ Chelsie Dawber netted just after the half hour mark with an intelligently placed low-ball, before American Cyera Hintzen scored on her debut when Perth caught Adelaide on the counter. Dawber pulled out a more overstated cannon into the roof of the net to make it 2-1 before half-time.
Perth got back into the game with Alana Jancevski’s penalty, but Matilda McNamara’s aerobatic header on the end of Fiona Worts’ corner put Adelaide ahead once again. While all four goals from Adelaide were uniquely entertaining, the jewel of the match was Emily Condon’s free-kick, soaring over the wall and into the top right bins.
In contrast to Adelaide’s chaotically stylish win, Victory lost unfashionably to Brisbane. Even their initial 2-0 lead was obtained unattractively. Jessie Rasschaert gifted Victory with the first by passing into her own net. The elephant (and its touch) in the room is the league’s own goal tally of four – equal second on the scoring board alongside Hawkesby. Clumsy defending then allowed Lynn Williams to bundle the ball (contentiously) over the goal-line off a corner.
The turnaround in the second half from a fired-up Brisbane highlights how they have progressed, mentally and tactically, in recent weeks. Having chased Victory to the final whistle a fortnight ago, on Sunday they secured their first win with four goals in quick succession.
Katrina Gorry – who nearly played a complete game – showed off her finishing with flair. It was her long-range shot that Melissa Maizels spilt for Larissa Crummer to cherry pick and open the account. Gorry got a goal of her own with a sensational – and nostalgically Mini-esque – chip from outside the 18-yard, with Shea Connors and captain Ayesha Norrie also finishing.
The deluge can partially be attributed to sloppy defending. Victory were hampered by Kyra Cooney-Cross being given a straight red with 20 minutes to go and the team, according to coach Jeff Hopkins, did not deal with the circumstances well.
Roar on the other hand sustained pressure, hungrily exploited the gaps and created from open play. Compared to previous games, where they have conceded late, three of their goals occurred in the final five minutes. Keeper Mia Bailey made some athletic saves to nullify Victory on the occasions they did create – impressing after what no doubt would have been a harrowing start for the 17-year-old debut.
This may be the turning point for Roar’s season, with Victory now needing to find a breakthrough next round. Perth Glory will also have to dig deep as they prepare to play another two games three days apart this coming week.
