Round One of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season is officially off and running after another three mouthwatering matches took place on the first Saturday of the new campaign.
Read on below to catch up on the all the best bits from Saturday’s action including a belting encounter between Central Coast Mariners and reigning Champions Sydney FC, a five-goal thriller between Canberra United and Brisbane Roar PLUS a stunning late winner proved to be the difference between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory.
In case you missed it, check out the highlights below from the opening game of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season as Western United hosted Wellington Phoenix on Friday night.
‘Outstanding’ import shines as Mariners down Champions Sydney FC
As far as debuts go, they don’t get much better than what new Mariners signing Jade Pennock conjured up on her first appearance for the club.
“Jade was outstanding today,” said Mariners boss Emily Husband after the game. “You know, runs in behind, her ability to deliver and her confidence to step-up in big moments; that really separates her from the rest.”
The English forward had a hand in all three goals as Husband’s Central Coast side downed reigning Champions Sydney FC 3-1 at Industree Group Stadium in a fixture which is fast becoming one of the spiciest in the competition.
Opening her account for the season with a first half penalty, the Mariners’ new forward then cheekily nutmegged Sydney FC captain Nat Tobin to set-up Isabel Gomez for the home side’s second.
The visitors did pull one back through Princess Ibini but Pennock then helped put the game to bed late in the contest after her cross into the box was spilled by Brianna Edwards and slammed home by Bianca Galic.
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for more stats, highlights and videos
Super signing’s double hands new Canberra United boss the perfect start
A double from new recruit Maja Markovski fired Canberra United to an impressive 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar in what was boss Antoni Jagarinec’s first game as a Ninja A-League head coach.
Despite Matildas and A-Leagues icon Michelle Heyman leading the line it was new arrival Markovski who made the difference, opening the scoring in the 15th minute before midfielder Mary Stanic-Floody’s stunning volley gave them a two-goal lead.
The Roar pulled one back through Bulgarian star Evdokia Popadinova before Markovski was then in the right place at the right time once again to extend the home side’s lead.
The away side then made it 3-2 late in the contest prompting Canberra to defend for their lives but they held on for the win thanks in part to a brilliant late save from goalkeeper Sally James.
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for more stats, highlights and videos
Super sub scores late stunner as Matildas striker stakes claim for recall after epic Original Rivalry win
A stunning strike from substitute Ava Briedis in the 92nd minute has helped Melbourne Victory defeat Adelaide United 3-2 in the Original Rivalry.
Coming on for Matildas forward Emily Gielnik, who had earlier bagged two goals herself, Briedis picked up a loose ball inside the box before lacing one past Adelaide keeper Claudia Jenkins to seal the sweetest of victories on the opening day.
In what was a barnstorming contest it took Gielnik just four minutes to open her account for the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
The striker’s predatory instincts were on full display early in the game as she tucked home Nikki Flannery’s pinpoint cross in the 4th minute before then heading home a second in first half stoppage time after Fiona Worts had earlier equalised for the Reds.
With the Matildas now under the stewardship of interim coach Tom Sermanni, Gielnik will be hoping a strong start to the campaign will convince the man who gave her a first national team call-up to do the same again.
Adelaide had their own goalscorer extraordinaire to thank for pulling them level as 2021-22 Julie Dolan Medal winner Worts bagged her second of the game to make it 2-2.
However 18-year-old Briedis stole the headlines late on to give Jeff Hopkins a winning start to the new season.
MATCH CENTRE: Click here for more stats, highlights and videos
