Round 11 in the A-Leagues continued on Sunday, January 7, with four games on the agenda.
Up first came an Isuzu UTE A-League clash between Western United and Melbourne City, with stunning strikes from both Hamza Sakhi and Terry Antonis guiding City to a comeback win at AAMI Park.
Then, attention turned to a triple-header in the Liberty A-League, starting with Brisbane Roar’s comeback win over Wellington Phoenix at Perry Park, and Central Coast Mariners’ goalless draw with Sydney FC at Industree Group Stadium.
The Sunday action concluded in the West as Perth Glory fell to a 2-0 defeat against Western Sydney Wanderers at Macedonia Park.
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Western United 1-2 Melbourne City (Isuzu UTE A-League)
MATCH CENTRE: For all the goals, highlights and a play-by-play recap of the action
MATCH REPORT: Sakhi and Antonis stunners help Melbourne City sink Western United
A brilliant late goal from Terry Antonis has helped Melbourne City come from a goal down to defeat Western United 2-1 at AAMI Park.
John Aloisi’s Western took the lead in the 13th minute as Michael Ruhs finished off a good team move from close range before a stunning half-volley from City midfielder Hamza Sakhi pulled the away side level soon after half-time.
Both teams had a string of good chances from then on in but it was the reigning Premiers who walked away with the three points after another brilliant half-volley, this time from substitute Terry Antonis, which proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The win moves Melbourne City up in to fourth on the ladder and extends their unbeaten run to six league matches while defeat leaves Western propping up the ladder after suffering their ninth loss of the campaign.
Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (Liberty A-League)
MATCH CENTRE: For all the highlights and a play-by-play recap of the action
MATCH REPORT: Champions held to fourth draw in five games after goalless stalemate with Mariners
Reigning Champions Sydney FC were held to a fourth draw in five games on their travels to Gosford, taking a share of the spoils in a 0-0 stalemate with Central Coast Mariners on Sunday afternoon.
Sydney keeper Jada Whyman kept Mariners midfielder Bianca Galic off the scoresheet with a superb first-half save; it proved the most promising attacking opportunity of the game for either side as the cagey affair ended goalless at Industree Group Stadium.
The Sky Blues have struggled to find the back of the net of late, scoring just four goals in their last six games – but will take solace from the fact that Sunday’s draw was their sixth game in succession without defeat.
The Mariners, meanwhile, bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Perth Glory as Emily Husband’s side took a point from their clash with the Champions.
Brisbane Roar 2-1 Wellington Phoenix (Liberty A-League)
MATCH CENTRE: For all the goals, highlights and a play-by-play recap of the action
MATCH REPORT: Matildas star scores first goal since A-Leagues return as Brisbane come from behind to beat Wellington
Goals from Tameka Yallop and Kijah Stephenson have handed Alex Smith his first win as Brisbane Head Coach after the Roar came from a goal down to beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1.
The away side took the lead in the 20th minute through Isabel Cox’s powerful header but they were pegged back before half-time as Tameka Yallop scored her first league goal since returning to the club.
Brisbane then came flying out of the blocks to start the second half and took the lead just 21 seconds after the restart through Kijah Stephenson and her crisp strike would ultimately prove to be the difference between the two sides.
The win is Brisbane’s first in nine games and it moves them up into 8th on the ladder while Wellington tasted defeat for the fifth time this season and now sit 10 points behind league-leaders Melbourne City.
Perth Glory 0-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Liberty A-League)
MATCH CENTRE: For all the goals, highlights and a play-by-play recap of the action
MATCH REPORT: History! Wanderers spearhead writes her name into club folklore with brilliant brace in Glory upset
Sophie Harding claimed a special piece of Western Sydney Wanderers history on Sunday night, scoring a brace to lead her side to a 2-0 win over Perth Glory at Macedonia Park.
Harding took her goal tally to eight for the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season to claim the Wanderers’ all-time single-season scoring record, eclipsing Kristen Hamilton who bagged seven goals – and the Julie Dolan Medal – in the 2019-20 campaign.
The 24-year-old scored goals on either side of half-time to help her side to a second-consecutive win, and into the top six on the Liberty A-League table.
For Perth, defeat at home is a setback as Alex Epakis’ side pursue league-leaders Melbourne City. Glory began the night six points behind City in second place and the gap remains the same heading into Round 12.
