The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is still going and so is the Ninja A-League 2025-26 season and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 20.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 20.
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, March 20 – Leichhardt Oval – 7:00pm AEDT
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Current table position
Sydney FC: 11th
Wellington Phoenix: 3rd
Round 19 result
Sydney FC: 3-1 loss to Newcastle Jets (A)
Wellington Phoenix: 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar (H)
Sydney and Wellington meet at a crucial point in their season. Wellington can get themselves into the top two and launch a late play at the Premiership, while Sydney can make a move off the bottom of the table.
The Sky Blues hit the front against Newcastle through Mackenzie Hawkesby, but conceded two goals quickly after and then another late in the second half to go down 3-1.
The Phoenix had a much more comfortable time of it at home to Brisbane with Manaia Elliott and Emma Pijnenburg both scoring in the first 16 minutes before Makala Woods added a third in the second half.
Wellington thrashed Sydney when these sides met just before Christmas, Samba Bhandari and Grace Jale scored two goals each and Elliott and Lara Wall scored one with a late own goal making it 7-0.
Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
Friday, March 20 – Spencer Park – 8:00pm AEDT
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Current table position
Brisbane Roar: 8th
Newcastle Jets: 9th
Round 19 result
Brisbane Roar: 3-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix (A)
Newcastle Jets: 3-1 win over Sydney FC (H)
Brisbane’s top six hopes took a hit with their big loss to Wellington Phoenix last weekend, while Newcastle arrested their five game winless streak with victory over Sydney FC.
The Jets went behind early against the Sky Blues, but they fought back quickly through Melina Ayres and Sophie Hoban to hit the front before half time before Hoban grabbed another in the second half to seal the win.
The injury hit Roar need to get out of this slump they’re in if they’re to keep their finals chances alive, they come into this one on a four game losing run.
Newcastle took the three points from Brisbane comfortably when they played in December with Ayres, Kelli Brown and India Breier all scoring in the 3-0 win.
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, March 21 – Sam Kerr Football Centre – 5:00pm AEDT
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Current table position
Perth Glory: 6th
Central Coast Mariners: 7th
Round 19 result
Perth Glory: 2-1 loss to Adelaide United (A)
Central Coast Mariners: Bye
Perth Glory and Central Coast are only separated by one point on the table, with Perth in the top six and the Mariners out of it, setting up an important clash here.
After having the bye last week and the international break the two weeks before, Central Coast haven’t played since their 3-1 loss to Melbourne City on the 20th of February.
The Mariners were already 3-0 down when Isabel Gomez grabbed a late consolation for her third goal of the season.
Perth scored first against the high-flying Adelaide United when Rola Badawiya got in behind the Reds defence, but they couldn’t prevent an Adelaide fightback to go down 2-1.
The Glory will be without Oniyenichi Zogg for this match, the defender was sent off for fouling Lara Gooch to stop her getting clean through on goal.
These sides played out a 1-1 draw when they met in January, Peta Trimis and Susan Phonsongkham were the scorers.
Canberra United v Adelaide United
Sunday, March 22 – McKellar Park – 2:00pm AEDT
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Current table position
Canberra United: 4th
Adelaide United: 2nd
Round 19 result
Canberra United: 3-1 loss to Melbourne City (A)
Adelaide United: 2-1 win over Perth Glory (H), 0-0 draw against Melbourne City (A)
This is a matchup with big finals implications for not only Canberra and Adelaide, but the rest of the top six as well.
Depending on how this one plays out, we could see a gap form between the top four and fifth-placed Melbourne Victory effectively guaranteeing finals football to the top four, or we could see Canberra come under real threat from all clubs down to Brisbane in eighth.
Canberra were pulled down to fourth on the table following their loss to Melbourne City last weekend, while Adelaide moved up to second with a win over Perth and a draw against City.
Canberra will still be without star striker Michelle Heyman with the Matildas making the AFC Women’s Asian Cup final.
We have to go all the way back to Round 3 for the last time these teams met, a 2-1 win to Adelaide with goals from Emily Condon and Matilda McNamara after Canberra scored first through Kiara De Domizio.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City
Sunday March 22 – Wanderers Football Park – 4:00pm AEDT
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Current table position
Western Sydney Wanderers: 10th
Melbourne City: 1st
Round 18 result
Western Sydney Wanderers: 1-0 loss to Melbourne Victory (A)
Melbourne City: 3-1 win over Canberra United (H), 0-0 draw against Adelaide United (H)
Melbourne City will be happy to come out of last week’s two big clashes against top four sides Canberra and Adelaide with four points and still be atop the Ninja A-League table.
This weekend should be less of a struggle for them as they take on 10th placed Western Sydney.
Finals are out of reach for the Wanderers with two matches left, but they’ll still be desperate to stay off the bottom of the table.
Neither of their last two matches against City and Wellington will be easy, so they’ll welcome the points where they can find them.
That said, Western Sydney took all three when they came down to Melbourne in February, an own goal from Aideen Keane giving them a 1-0 win.
