Saturday in the A-Leagues was filled with goals and entertainment across the Isuzu UTE A-League and Liberty A-League.
In the Liberty A-League, legendary striker Michelle Heyman scored her 98th goal as Canberra United and last season’s Grand Finalists Western United played out a 1-1 draw at McKellar Park.
Western Sydney Wanderers then snapped a drought in their 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory.
In the Isuzu UTE A-League, Trent Buhagiar scored twice to lead Newcastle Jets to their first home win of the campaign – a 2-0 triumph against Western United.
The night concluded with Melbourne Victory topping Adelaide United 2-0 at AAMI Park thanks to Zinedine Machach and Bruno Fornaroli, who scored his 13th goal of the campaign before linking up with the Socceroos for the AFC Asian Cup next month.
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Canberra United 1-1 Western United (Liberty A-League) – McKellar Park
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MATCH REPORT: Legend’s 98th goal not enough to spark Canberra to victory as late strike salvages point for Western
A late goal from Adriana Taranto has ensured Western United are all but set to finish the year inside the top six, salvaging a point in their 1-1 draw with Canberra United at McKellar Park.
Michelle Heyman tapped home the opener on the half-hour mark, firing home her 98th Liberty A-League goal on the half-hour mark, before Taranto fired in a second-half equaliser on Saturday evening.
Western continued to push for an equaliser and came agonisingly close to a winner, but were unable to find the breakthrough.
Kat Smith’s side are still yet to string consecutive wins together this season, but the draw keeps them three points and a sizeable goal difference clear of seventh-placed Central Coast Mariners.
Meanwhile, Canberra remains bottom of the table and nine points behind sixth-placed Western, but have two games in hand, including their upcoming clash with Sydney FC on Wednesday night, meaning their finals hopes still have a flicker heading into 2024.
Newcastle Jets 2-0 Western United (Isuzu UTE A-League) – McDonald Jones Stadium
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MATCH REPORT: Buhagiar brace helps Jets soar in A-Leagues first for Newcastle against Western
Newcastle Jets ensured they will usher in the New Year with a victory after returning to winning ways thanks to Trent Buhagiar and a 2-0 triumph over lowly Western United.
Buhagiar was the star of the show with two goals in the space of 13 minutes as the 10-man Jets snapped a two-match drought in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday.
A ninth-minute header and a stunning solo goal in the 22nd minute guided Newcastle to their third win of the season, while it was the first time the Jets had scored more than one goal in a game against Western
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was sent off for a second bookable offence approaching the hour but Robert Stanton’s eighth-placed Jets still saw out the victory at home to bottom side Western, who slumped to an eighth loss through 10 rounds.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 Melbourne Victory (Liberty A-League) – Wanderers Football Park
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MATCH REPORT: Drought broken! Wanderers’ eight-year wait for a win against Victory finally comes to an end
Western Sydney Wanderers have ended an over eight-year wait to defeat Melbourne Victory in the Liberty A-League, with Amy Harrison and Alexia Apostolakis finding the net in their stunning 2-0 win at Wanderers Football Park.
Harrison opened the scoring just before half-time, before teenager Apostolakis added another after the break to wrap up an impressive win for Robbie Hooker’s side on Saturday evening.
Wanderers are in seventh and are knocking on the door of the top six, sitting only three points behind sixth-placed Western United.
Heading into the contest, Victory had only lost one of their previous 17 encounters against the Wanderers (W9, D7), with the only defeat coming in November 2015. In fact, they were undefeated in their last 11 games prior to the contest.
Victory – who were boosted by the return of reigning Julie Dolan Medallist Alex Chidiac as a second-half substitute – have now lost their last two games and sit nine points behind league leaders Melbourne City.
Melbourne Victory 2-0 Adelaide United (Isuzu UTE A-League) – AAMI Park
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MATCH REPORT: Original Rivalry triumph sends Victory top as Asian Cup-bound Bruno Fornaroli signs off in style
Melbourne Victory have climbed to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League standings after earning a 2-0 win over old foes Adelaide United in the Original Rivalry.
Zinedine Machach broke the deadlock with 17 minutes remaining in Saturday night’s blockbuster clash at AAMI Park.
Bound for next month’s AFC Asian Cup in Qatar with the Socceroos and in his last game before the tournament, Bruno Fornaroli then sealed the points with his 13th goal of the season in the final minute of regulation to preserve Victory’s unbeaten season through 10 rounds.
The only undefeated team remaining, Victory leapfrogged Wellington Phoenix atop the standings on goal difference heading into the New Year, while seventh-placed Adelaide slumped to a third defeat in four games.
