Round 4 A-Leagues action wrapped up with six huge contests spread out across both competitions on a blockbuster Sunday.
The four-game Liberty A-League agenda featured Wellington Phoenix defeating Western United, Brisbane Roar earning a point on the road in Gosford against Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Victory cruising past Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City edging Western Sydney Wanderers in a seven-goal thriller at AAMI Park.
SKY BLUES: Ufuk Talay era off to a dream start as Sydney thrash Adelaide United in five-star showing
PHONSONGKHAM: Glory young gun preserves Perth’s perfect start to the season with late winner against Adelaide
In the Isuzu UTE A-League, Melbourne City snatched a dramatic point against Macarthur FC, before reigning champions Central Coast Mariners sunk to a fourth defeat in succession to start the season, falling 2-1 to Brisbane Roar.
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MATCHDAY AGENDA
Wellington Phoenix 3-1 Western United – Porirua Park (Liberty A-League)
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MATCH REPORT: 21-year-old’s stunning freekick helps Phoenix put Western to the sword
A stunning free kick from young Wellington Phoenix star Macey Fraser has helped the New Zealand side to a statement-making 3-1 defeat of Westrn United.
Fraser’s first-half set piece set the seal on a stylish performance from the 21-year-old and was sandwiched by an opening strike from Chloe Knott and a late own goal from Keiwa Hieda, giving Phoenix their third consecutive win of the season despite Chloe Logarzo’s stunning late consolation strike.
Central Coast Mariners 1-1 Brisbane Roar – Industree Group Stadium (Liberty A-League)
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MATCH REPORT: Roar keeper’s inspiring performance salvages a point for Brisbane in Mariners stalemate
An inspired display from Roar goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz has ensured Brisbane came away with a point in a tense 1-1 draw with Central Coast Mariners on Sunday afternoon.
In a frantic three minute spell, Rola Badawiya opened the scoring for the competition’s newest side in the 26th minute, before Ayesha Norrie equalised only a minute later for the visitors.
But Norrie’s brilliant equaliser was almost undone immediately, when Jenna McCormick gave away a penalty for a strong challenge on Wurigumula. Thankfully for Brisbane, Silkowitz stood up and denied Isabel Gomez’ penalty, with a smart save to her right, continuing a fine start to life in the sunshine state.
Silkowitz was again called into action to make a couple big stops in the second-half, ensuring Roar would come away with a point in-front of 3,281 people at Industree Group Stadium.
Melbourne Victory 4-0 Newcastle Jets – Home of the Matildas (Liberty A-League)
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MATCH REPORT: Injury concern for Victory & Matildas striker as another star signing dominates Jets
Melbourne Victory recruit Rachel Lowe has bagged her first two Liberty A-League goals in navy blue and white, scoring a brace in a 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon.
It was a comfortable display from Victory from minute one to 90, with Lowe’s second-minute strike setting the tone for what was to come in a tough afternoon for the Jets at the Home of the Matildas.
Lowe’s second came in the 65th minute before substitute Ella O’Grady made it three, and a late Rebecca Burrows own goal put Victory well out of sight.
The convincing Victory performance was soured only by an injury to Emily Gilenik, who was brought on at half-time only to be withdrawn just 15 minutes later with a lower leg injury, with early reports suggesting a calf injury sustained by the Matildas striker.
Melbourne City 3-3 Macarthur FC – AAMI Park (Isuzu UTE A-League)
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MATCH REPORT: City deny Macarthur with late, late penalty to earn point in 3-3 thriller
A late penalty from Terry Antonis has allowed Melbourne City to snatch a point from Macarthur FC after a crazy finale at AAMI Park featuring four goals in 10 minutes at the end.
Leading by Jamie Maclaren’s goal early in the second half, City were shocked as Macarthur went 3-1 with three minutes left and looked like they would go clear at the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
But Maclaren’s second goal prompted a barnstorming finish from the Premiers under new coach Aurelio Vidmar and in injury time Antonis converted a spotkick after Alex Lopane was felled by Jonathan Aspropotamitis to ensure honours finished even.
Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Brisbane Roar (Isuzu UTE A-League)
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MATCH REPORT: Roar young gun’s first A-Leagues goal leads Brisbane to victory over Mariners in spicy affair
A first A-Leagues goal from Thomas Waddingham has helped Brisbane Roar return to the winners list, defeating Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in a fiery contest on Sunday evening – who are still without a point to begin their Isuzu UTE A-League Championship defence.
Roar took the lead through Florin Berenguer, who fired home his second goal in two games after Nikola Mileusnic just kept the ball alive in the build-up.
Alou Kuol pulled one back for the home side, scoring his first goal in the league since returning to the Mariners, before Waddingham answered back on the brink of half-time.
Waddingham’s first league goal came only minutes after the Mariners had a penalty call overturned following a potential foul from Kai Trewin on Christian Theoharous.
The match descended into chaos after half-time, with both Joe Caletti and Harrison Steele receiving red cards following the interval for their respective sides, but Roar were able to hold firm to come away with their second win of the season at Industree Group Stadium.
Melbourne City 4-3 Western Sydney Wanderers – AAMI Park (Liberty A-League)
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MATCH REPORT: McNamara’s star continues to rise as hat-trick leads City past Wanderers in seven-goal thriller
A Holly McNamara hat-trick has helped Melbourne City overcome a resilient Western Sydney Wanderers outfit who refused to wilt in a 4-3 defeat at AAMI Park on Sunday night.
City led 4-1 in the second half before a late fightback from the Wanderers who, if not for McNamara’s devastating display, would have likely returned home with at least a share of the spoils; the 20-year-old bagged a “perfect” hat-trick, scoring with both her left and right foot before a powerful header to cap off the stellar individual showing.
An early Rhianna Pollicina penalty was City’s first of four goals – and by full-time they needed each and every one of them, with a Sophie Harding brace bookending Vicky Bruce’s second-half strike turning what might have been a cruisy afternoon for City into a tense tussle against a Wanderers outfit that never said die.
