Adelaide United have ended their Westfield W-League 2019/20 Season on a high as they beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 on Thursday night.
In a tight battle between the competition’s two lowest-placed sides, it was all square at the break as Teigen Collister’s sublime volley for the Jets cancelled out Amber Brooks’ penalty for the home side.
It was left to sensational American import Mallory Weber to prove the match-winner, with her second-half strike enough to secure the Reds just their second win of the campaign.
But it was a crucial one for Ivan Karlovic’s side, who jumped off the foot of the ladder and consigned the Jets to the wooden spoon.
It brings to a close what’s been a difficult season for both clubs who will hope to rebuild and become finals contenders in 2020/21.
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Key moments
Brooks fires Reds into the lead from the spot
Needing a win to avoid the spoon it was Adelaide who made the stronger start, playing with plenty of intensity and attacking impetus.
While Newcastle fired off a couple of shots at goal inside the first 15 minutes, the Reds edged in front midway through the half after Chelsie Dawber was bundled over in the box by Hannah Brewer.
The skipper Brooks took responsibility and placed her penalty into the bottom corner to give Adelaide the lead on 24 minutes.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136397428001
Collister with a cracker
What a way for the Jets to draw level eight minutes before the break!
Reds keeper Sarah Willacy came out to punch Libby Copus-Brown’s deep free-kick into the box but only succeeded in knocking it towards Collister.
And the Jets youngster did the rest, lashing a first-time volley from a tight angle into the far corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136395750001
Ouch! That would have hurt
There was two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half but Jets keeper Claire Coelho would have wished it was called off before then.
That’s because the Reds launched one last attack which ended with a loose ball falling at the feet of Isabel Hodgson just metres from goal.
Even though the referee had blown for a foul, Hodgson struck a powerful shot straight into the face of Coelho from point-blank range, with the Jets shot-stopper needing treatment before playing on.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136398602001
Sensational Weber rewarded with a goal
After going close with a curling effort a few minutes earlier, American Weber restored the Reds’ lead just after the hour mark.
After Dylan Holmes flicked-on Charlotte’s Grant’s cross, Weber swopped onto the ball and buried her strike into the bottom corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136405804001
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