Insane detail behind an A-Leagues wondergoal: Made with Mitre Moments

Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.

Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 12, thanks to Mitre.

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Western extend record in ‘turning point’ result

Melbourne City continue to be unbeaten in 2024-25 but when it comes to facing Western United, they are winless.

On Friday night, Holly McNamara came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 draw away to Western at Ironbark Fields in Tarneit – a result that extended the Green and Black’s undefeated record against their Victorian rivals.

Since entering the Ninja A-League in 2022-23, the 2023 runners-up have never lost to City (W3 D2)

MATCH REPORT: McNamara’s late leveller ensures league leaders extend unbeaten start

In the words of Western captain and CommBank Matildas star Chloe Logarzo, the home side “stuck it to the team at the top of the ladder”.

“It feels like we went off the field with a loss,” she told Paramount+ after Kahli Johnson opened the scoring in the 45th minute. “The last seven minutes we kind of let is slip but I’m really happy about the tone we set at the start.

“It’s something we wanted to do and I think we brought it this game. We stuck it to the team at the top of the ladder.”

On Western’s unbeaten record against City, Logarzo added: “I said to the girls at half-time and before the game, this is the turning point in the lead up to the final few rounds of the season and the leading into the finals.

“We wanted to set the tone. I think that’s exactly what we did.”

While she salvaged a point for City in the 83rd minute, super-sub McNamara cut a frustrated figure following the contest.

McNamara scored her second goal since returning from a third ACL injury as City’s lead atop the summit was cut to two points.

“Pretty disappointed in myself to be honest because I could’ve scored a couple and we could’ve won it. I think we could’ve won it and they could’ve won it – it was one of those games,” McNamara told Paramount+.

“I’m just happy to be back to be honest. It’s been a long time. I’m just ecstatic to be on the field in any position, any time I get,” she continued.

Canberra deal with ‘curveballs’ after winning without A-Leagues legend

No Michelle Heyman? No worries for Canberra United on Saturday.

The A-Leagues legend and CommBank Matildas star was a last-minute withdrawal from the starting line-up but in-form Canberra still saw off Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 in the nation’s capital.

MATCH REPORT: IN-FORM CANBERRA SINK WANDERERS

Sofia Christopherson’s header cannoned off the post and into the back of the diving Wanderers goalkeeper Sham Khamis in the 45th minute – a moment that decided the contest at McKellar Park.

Christopherson was asked about Heyman’s fitness as Canberra ended the weekend outside of the top six on goal difference after their midweek clash against Sydney FC was abandoned due to lightning before the Sky Blues were awarded a 2-0 win.

“I don’t think it’s too concerning,” she told Paramount+.

“We’ve been thrown all different curveballs this week,” the Canberra forward added. “We played half a game of football and then got turned around.

“I think it’s just the mindset, that strong power and depth we have. It was a quick switch of okay this is a problem, we have Maja (Markovski) who came straight on as that nine. We quickly flipped that mentality and got on with it.”

Victory captain’s ‘new challenge’ as title hopefuls make ground

Melbourne Victory are within touching distance of rivals Melbourne City after another win as two players continue to flourish.

Victory are second and two points behind City thanks to Saturday’s 1-0 win over 10-player Perth Glory at the Home of the Matildas, where captain Kayla Morrison’s 33rd-minute goal settled the contest.

MATCH REPORT: Captain fantastic fires Victory into second spot after narrow win over Perth

“I think the performance definitely wasn’t our best,” Morrison told Paramount+ following back-to-back wins, while Victory have only lost one of their past 10 fixtures. “It feels like the three games from last week caught up to us today more than the Newcastle game.

“But in saying that, three points is three points. We’re happy to get a victory and a couple of points closer to City.”

Two players standing out are Alana Jancevski and Laura Pickett.

Jancevski is originally a forward, while Pickett is usually a midfield and has only made eight Ninja A-League appearances. However, both are playing full-back for Victory.

“I think it’s been a new challenge,” Morrison said of marshalling the two players in defence. “I think I’m lucky that me and (Claudia) Bunge have played together so well. We have our telepathy down, so we don’t need to communicate to each other.

“We just save our communication for the outside backs now. But they’re both very good at tacking on feedback and criticism if that’s what they need.

“So they’re in their sponge era at the moment and soaking in all that information.”

Insane detail behind stoppage-time Olimpico

Manaia Elliott – wow! The substitute completed Wellington Phoenix’s ridiculous comeback with a 98th-minute Olimpico on Sunday.

The best part? The right-footed Phoenix actually scored direct from a corner with her left foot as Wellington sealed a remarkable 3-2 win over Newcastle Jets at Porirua Park.

Newcastle appeared destined for victory thanks to a brace from Sheridan Gallagher in Wellington before the rallying Phoenix turned the match on its head – Elliott sparked the comeback in the 50th minute as captain Annalie Longo equalised just prior to the hour mark.

MATCH REPORT: Phoenix complete ridiculous comeback with stoppage-time Olimpico

Then in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Elliott wowed the crowd as Wellington recorded their fourth straight win at Porirua Park to sit fifth in the standings.

“We needed something like that,” said Phoenix head coach Paul Temple. “It was a chaotic game, it was basketball at times, end-to-end, probably a bit nerve-wracking for a lot of people, exciting for others.

“I kind of felt something like that was going to happen, a screamer or a wondergoal or something. But we were starting to pepper them on the corners – and it’s hard to defend, especially with the wind coming into your face.

“I thought Manaia delivered that perfectly with that curve to use the wind, and (with) all the action in front of her it went in. We’ll take that, I think we deserved it.

“We were going more back post but a lot of the deliveries were falling in the middle and the keeper was doing really well, punching most of them out.

“We’ve tried a few different corner takers from that side, because we haven’t really got that natural left-footer. So when Manaia came on, she’s somebody we’ve experimented with there so it’s great to see her putting some really good deliveries in on her weaker foot as well.

“It was pretty special to score a goal like that on your left foot, when you’re right-footed.”

Sydney enjoying best run of the season

It ended all square against Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval but defending champions Sydney FC are in the midst of their best run of form in 2024-25.

Sydney and Central Coast played out a 0-0 draw on Sunday but the result ensured the Sky Blues extended their unbeaten run to four game after the January 15 matchup against Canberra was awarded a 2-0 win in favour of the title holders following its abandonment due to lightning.

MATCH REPORT: Sydney and Mariners share the spoils

While there were no goals, there was an interesting moment during the cl when Sydney defender Tori Tumeth bounced the ball off the back of Central Coast forward Brooke Nunn’s head. The Sky Blues was frustrated as she tried to take a throw-in with the Englishwoman stood in front of her.

Ante Juric’s Sydney are seven points outside of the top six, behind sixth-placed Mariners, but they have not lost since the December 28 Big Blue defeat to Melbourne Victory.

“I’m pleased in a lot of ways because the girls are just getting stronger and better and attacking with a lot of intent,” said head coach Juric.

“We are defending very well, we haven’t conceded for a long time and doing well in a lot of ways.

“We would have liked three points at home because our players probably deserved it in terms of chances anyway.”

Adelaide bucking a trend to soar up the standings

Watch out, Adelaide United are well and truly on the rise.

The Reds are third in the table and just four points off the pace after upstaging high-flying Brisbane Roar 3-2 in front of a record crowd at Perry Park on Sunday.

Chelsie Dawber’s brace guided Adelaide – who missed the finals in 2023-24 – past hosts the Roar as they extended their unbeaten streak to five games.

MATCH REPORT: Adelaide enhance title credentials with away win over top-four rivals

Not typically an Adelaide “hallmark”, the Reds’ away form has seen them emerge as a team to watch this season. They have only lost once on the road in 2024-25 (W4 D1).

“I’m not sure if I’d call it a statement win, but it’s certainly an important one,” head coach Adrian Stenta said. “Over the last month, we’ve had a few significant victories against teams near, around, or above us on the table.

“Anytime you can take three points from a close rival and deny them points, it’s a crucial win. The games we’ve played recently have been big because of the stakes, but also because we’ve earned the right to play in these types of matches. It’s great to be in this position.

“Our strong away form this season, which hasn’t always been a hallmark of Adelaide United sides, gives us confidence. We know that against any opposition, anywhere, at any time, we give ourselves a good chance of getting a positive result and putting in a strong performance.

“That breeds a lot of confidence within the group.”