It was a super Saturday of football across both the Isuzu UTE A-League and the Liberty A-League, with six games on the agenda.
Recap all the action and biggest talking points below.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE
Canberra United 1-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
A 98th-minute goal from Maliah Morris has secured what could be a vital point for Western Sydney Wanderers as they snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against Canberra United.
Both sides had chances to take the lead in the nation’s capital but it was the home side who eventually broke the deadlock in the sweltering conditions.
A clever free-kick from Mary Stanic-Flood picked out Michelle Heyman, who in turn headed the ball back across the goal for Nickoletta Flannery to fire home the opening goal of the game in the 57th minute.
The Wanderers had several chances to pull themselves level but they finally found the equaliser in the eighth minute of time added on as forward Maliah Morris raced clear of the Canberra backline before cooly slotting the ball beyond Coco Majstorovic to seal a point.
The result leaves Njegosh Popovich’s side stuck at the foot of the ladder and still without a clean sheet all season while Morris’ goal keeps the Wanderers in the fight for a finals place with just four games to play this season.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Super sub’s 98th-minute strike seals Wanderers a point in dramatic fightback
Brisbane Roar 0-2 Central Coast Mariners
Goals either side of half-time from Wurigumula and Kyah Simon have fired Central Coast Mariners up into second spot on the ladder after they defeated Brisbane Roar 2-0 at Ballymore Stadium.
Both sides had several good chances to break the deadlock in the first half but the opener came just before the break as Chinese international Wurigumula expertly poked the ball beyond Jordan Silkowitz to make it 1-0.
The away side then came out firing in the second half, doubling their lead just a minute after the break as Matildas forward Kyah Simon slotted the ball beyond Silkowitz to seal an impressive win.
While the teams around them are yet to play this round the result moves Emily Husband’s side temporarily up into second spot on the ladder and hot on the heels of Western United.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Matildas star strikes again to fire magnificent Mariners into title contention
Sydney FC 3-1 Western United
Matildas star Cortnee Vine scored a second-half brace to help Sydney FC down league-leaders Western United 3-1 at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
Abbey Lemon’s maiden Liberty A-League strike put Sydney ahead and Vine made it 2-0 before Western substitute Catherine Zimmerman came off the bench to halve the deficit at 2-1.
Vine secured her brace in second-half stoppage time to seal all three points for the hosts and blow the Premiership race wide open.
Western’s five-point lead over Sydney FC at the top of the table shrunk to just two thanks to the Sky Blues’ victory in the Grand Final rematch, putting an end to a six-game winning run for Kat Smith’s side.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Matildas star shines as Sky Blues win Grand Final rematch to blow Premiership race wide open
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Melbourne City 1-0 Wellington Phoenix
A first ever Isuzu UTE A-League goal from Samuel Souprayen was enough to help Melbourne City defeat league-leaders Wellington Phoenix 1-0 at AAMI Park and reignite their finals charge.
The home side had the better chances in the game and were rewarded for their play in the second half when the excellent Tolgay Arslan delivered a pinpoint cross for Souprayen to head home.
The visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances at AAMI Park but will feel as though they should have snatched a point as Kosta Barbarouses fired wide of the target when one-on-one with City goalkeeper Jamie Young.
The result snaps a five game winless run for Aurelio Vidmar’s side and crucially leaves them just two points behind Western Sydney Wanderers in sixth place.
As for Wellington, Giancarlo Italiano’s side suffered just their third loss of the season while the defeat also means they could be knocked off top spot come Sunday evening should the Mariners defeat Macarthur FC.
FULL MATCH REPORT: League leaders fire a blank as soaring Souprayen heads City back into finals equation
Adelaide United 1-2 Melbourne Victory
Two goals to Bruno Fornaroli earned Melbourne Victory Original Rivalry bragging rights in a breathless 2-1 win over Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
Nestory Irankunda came off the bench to bring Adelaide level with a scorching strike in the second half before Fornaroli completed his brace from the spot in a game brimming with big chances, dramatic saves and nearly moments.
Defeat to Victory ensured Adelaide’s winless run at home extended to six games – an equal-record for the hosts in Isuzu UTE A-League history (x2 – D2 L4 from January to March in 2012 and D3 L3 from November 2009 to January 2010).
FULL MATCH REPORT: Irankunda screamer can’t save Reds as Socceroo’s brace inspires Victory to Original Rivalry triumph
Perth Glory 2-2 Newcastle Jets
A second-half brace from Adam Taggart saw Perth Glory come from two goals down to steal a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets at HBF Park on Saturday night.
Clayton Taylor opened the scoring late in the first half for the Jets and Lucas Mauragis doubled the advantage after the restart as the Jets looked set to cruise to an impressive victory on the road.
But Perth rallied as they so often have this season. Adam Taggart pegged one back for the hosts and Kaelan Majekodunmi had the ball in the back of the net soon after for what the 20-year-old thought was the equaliser before referee Lachlan Keevers stifled the celebrations.
Keevers ruled out the Glory leveller for a block from Joel Anasmo on Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, preventing the Jets star from tracking Majekodunmi’s run to the back post where he headed home Giordano Colli’s free-kick delivery.
The hosts continued to search for the all-important equaliser and co-captain Taggart duly obliged with an 89th-minute header to bring his side back on level terms and take his individual goal tally to 14 for the campaign.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Late drama AGAIN in Perth! Socceroo’s 18-minute brace rescues a point for Glory
