Recent Matildas debutant Holly McNamara returned to Liberty A-League action with a bang on Sunday, February 6 with a sensational finish in Melbourne City’s 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers which continued the 19-year-old’s rise to prominence in Australian football.
Elsewhere on Sunday afternoon, a Jaushua Sotirio brace saw Wellington Phoenix stave off a Macarthur FC comeback led by former ‘Nix captain Ulises Dávila to win 3-1 and launch off the foot of the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, and biggest talking points from two A-Leagues fixtures on Sunday.
- Wellington Phoenix 3-1 Macarthur FC
Isuzu UTE A-League, Campbelltown Stadium. MATCH REPORT
- Melbourne City 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Liberty A-League, AAMI Park. MATCH REPORT
REACTION
How ‘freedom to express’ at City has McNamara ‘playing levels above her maturity’
Paramount+ football analyst Georgia Yeoman-Dale says Holly McNamara is growing into one of the nation’s brightest young prospects thanks to the the encouragement by Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic to express herself at club level.
The 19-year-old returned from Matildas duty this week after making her international debut at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. She returned under an injury cloud after taking a knock in Australia’s final group game against Thailand but slipped straight back into the rhythm of the Liberty A-League on Sunday, February 6, scoring her second sensational goal of the season in a 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Yeoman-Dale was joined by Matildas midfielder Chloe Logarzo in the Paramount+ studio post-match, who saw the teenage City star’s blistering performance against the Wanderers as a sign of her undoubted confidence and her belief and maturity on the football pitch displayed beyond her years.
“She’s playing levels above her maturity, and I think that goes to show,” Logarzo said post-match. “Hopefully she keeps growing into the player we can see her (becoming). Playing in the national team will help.
“It’s just confidence – getting her first run with the national team, coming off such a great little high and just the confidence to be taking that chance.”
Yeoman-Dale added: “But what a great team for her to come in and play (for), to play under Rado Vidosic who has given her so much freedom to express herself as an attacking player.
“That’s why we’re seeing her play the type of football she’s playing, that’s why we’re seeing her join the Matildas – it’s because she has freedom to express herself, and i’m so excited to see what she can do for the rest of the season and her career moving forward.”
‘I want girls to play for longer’ – Barbieri inspirational on the eve of special footballing anniversary
When Melissa Barbieri wakes up tomorrow, she’ll do so on the 25th anniversary of her professional footballing debut.
A quarter of a century later the former outfield player is still going strong, her decision to join the goalkeepers’ union in the early 2000’s vindicated by her selection for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, four Women’s World Cup campaigns and Australia’s 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where she captained Australia to glory.
On the eve of her 25th anniversary in the game, the 42-year-old helped her club side Melbourne City to a 2-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers in the Liberty A-League.
Speaking to Paramount+ post-match, Barbieri said her number one hope was for young female athletes to look at her longevity in the game and take inspiration to follow in her footsteps in the future – not just on the field, but into all areas of the professional game.
“I want girls to play for longer,” Barbieri said. “I want every girl to be able to say I play the game that I love for as many years as Bubs did. I continue to play because we’ve got a start with a good CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), and good things that girls can actually play the sport they love for a good wage – (although) we’re not where we can be.
“I want to say to all those little girls that want to play soccer for Australia, you can play anywhere in the world, not just for Australia. I think that’s the hope for me.
“(The 2023 Women’s World Cup) is going to open up a lot of doors for a lot of people, not just in the game where you’re playing with the ball at your feet but in administration, in leadership roles, in so many positions.
“Women just need to put their hand up and want to be a part of it, and I can’t wait to see where this game grows in the future.”
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v MACARTHUR FC
FULL-TIME: WELLINGTON 2-1 MACARTHUR
That’s all from Campbelltown Stadium, as a brace from Sotirio seals the points in a huge win for the Phoenix.
Former ‘Nix captain equalised for Macarthur in the second half at 1-1 before Sotirio took over, scoring a quick-fire brace to ensure the ‘Nix walked away with the three points needed to lift Ufuk Talay’s side off the foot of the table.
Watch all the highlights below.
GOAL! Sotirio gets another as Phoenix cruise (5.46pm AEDT)
Sotirio may have scored a hatful of goals with greater accuracy on Sunday afternoon – but a quick-fire brace has given the Phoenix striker reward for effort as he puts his side into cruise control.
An ambitious through ball hit from deep in Wellington’s defence was plucked from the sky by Sotirio, who took one touch with his thigh before lofting the ball over the outrushing Kurto to find the back of the net.
Wellington are 3-1 to the good with less than 10 minutes to play.
GOAL! Sotirio ‘finally gets his reward, and Wellington lead 2-1’ (5.35pm AEDT)
After a confidence-sapping first half, Sotirio has finally found his goal – and it’s put the ‘Nix back into the lead.
Sotirio missed two gilt-edged opportunities in the first 45, before striking the post early in the second half. But released on the break with the goal virtually at his mercy, he eventually found a way past Kurto to put Wellington 2-1 up at Campbelltown Stadium.
GOAL! Dávila strikes against his former club (5.22pm AEDT)
It was always going to happen: goalless in Macarthur colours leading into this weekend, former Phoenix captain Dávila got off the mark in style to bring the Bulls level with his old side at 1-1.
It was a typically clinical first-time finish from the Mexican which found the bottom-left corner after Daniel De Silva’s assist off the left wing, provided off the outside of the boot in a touch of class from the creative midfielder.
Chaos in the Bulls box as Sail comes to the fore (4.43pm AEDT)
A double save from returning ‘Nix keeper Oli Sail has prevented the Bulls from finding an equaliser in a chaotic sequence of events at Campbelltown Stadium.
Dávila called Sail into the first save in the chain, before scooping an Aleksandar Šušnjar strike off the line. The third action came from Lachie Rose’s attempt from an angle which Sutton stuck a leg out to deflect away from danger.
Sotirio’s inaccuracy prevented the ‘Nix from consolidating their lead, and it was Sail down the other end ensuring the one-goal advantage is retained as half-time beckons in Campbelltown.
‘Sotirio has missed from point-blank range!’ (4.35pm AEDT)
Jaushua Sotirio has spurned two glorious chances to put the ‘Nix two goals to the good before the half-hour mark.
His first glorious opportunity came in a one-on-one with Kurto, but under pressure from the closing Bulls defence Sotirio ballooned his strike high and wide.
Minutes later Sutton burst down the left flank, unleashed into space by David Ball, and his whipped delivery into the box was perfectly placed for Sotirio to direct a header on goal from close range. But again, the opportunity was wasted; his headed attempt looped off his forehead and over the bar.
GOAL! ‘Nix take the lead from the spot (4.17pm AEDT)
It’s the perfect start for Wellington at Campbelltown Stadium, as Reno Piscopo slots his spot kick past Filip Kurto to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Kurto got a glove on Piscopo’s effort after a stuttered run-up, but could only push the ball further into the bottom-left corner of goal. The penalty was awarded to the ‘Nix after a Craig Noone challenge on Sam Sutton which referee Alex King correctly adjudged to have occurred inside the penalty area.
It’s 1-0 to the ‘Nix after 12 minutes of play.
KICK-OFF: UNDERWAY AT CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM (4.05pm AEDT)
We’re off and running in the Isuzu UTE A-League as Ulises Dávila kicks off for the Bulls, in a crunch match against his former side.
The Phoenix can move off the bottom of the table into seventh on the table by defeating the Bulls, whilst Macarthur can close the gap on league-leaders Western United to just two points with a win.
TEAM NEWS
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE CITY v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
FULL-TIME: MELBOURNE CITY 2-1 WESTERN SYDNEY
First-half goals to Pollicina and McNamara helped City overcome a resilient Wanderers outfit in a 2-1 win at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
Western Sydney hit back through Collister just before the break, but that’s how the score remained to full-time as three points went City’s way.
Watch all the highlights below.
Langman keeps Wanderers within touching distance (5.50pm AEDT)
Three clutch saves from Langman have denied City a sealing goal as the Wanderers cling on at AAMI Park.
Wilkinson was twice denied from close range, and Pollicina’s hopes for a second goal in the game were quashed by a desperate Langman tipping her strike around the post.
“For me, that’s a penalty every day of the week” (5.28pm AEDT)
Paramount+ co-commentator Georgia Yeoman-Dale saw a rash challenge from Teigen Allen on McNamara inside City’s attacking box as a clear foul – but the on-field call did not match the conclusion of the former A-Leagues star.
“For me, that’s a penalty every day of the week,” said Yeoman-Dale as Allen sent McNamara tumbling down in the box after the young City forward skipped past Wanderers keeper Langman. No penalty call was to come for City as play continued with the home side nursing a one-goal lead.
GOAL: Collister gives Wanderers a lifeline (4.55pm AEDT)
Just moments after conceding their second goal of the game, the Wanderers hit back with the instant reply through Teigan Collister.
A skyward City defensive clearance dropped onto the crossbar and back into a dangerous area inside Western Sydney’s attacking box. Collister was waiting unmarked in space to run onto the loose ball and strike through a challenge from Checker to find the bottom corner and halve the deficit.
It’s 2-1 to City at the break.
GOAL! McNamara’s ‘classy finish’ on City return (4.54pm AEDT)
Back in the Liberty A-League, and back amongst the goals for Holly McNamara as City carve out a two-goal lead.
From a slight angle and amongst a sea of Wanderers bodies, McNamara lifted a right-footed strike into clear air to find the far left corner in a magnificent piece of individual brilliance which highlighted exactly why the City teen was selected for Matildas duty in January.
GOAL! Pollicina gets City on top (4.40pm AEDT)
A McNamara cross intended to find the head of Hannah Wilkinson was intercepted by Wanderers defender Caitlin Cooper – but her intervention dropped directly into the path of Rhianna Pollicina alone in the penalty area.
Grateful for the gift of an opportunity, Pollicina made no mistake with her shot, placing the ball into the bottom-left corner to give the hosts the lead.
Checker hits the post off the back of marauding forward run (4.30pm AEDT)
That would have been some goal from City centre back Emma Checker.
The defender broke forward with the confidence of a number 10, breaking the Wanderers’ midfield line before lashing a left-footed strike which had goalkeeper Sarah Langman beaten.
The curling effort rattled the left-hand goalpost but failed to find its way into the back of the net.
KICK-OFF: CITY GET THE BALL ROLLING AT AAMI PARK (4.07PM AEDT)
City send a long ball toward the corner flag in an attempt to put some early pressure on the visiting Wanderers at AAMI Park.
Matildas youngster Holly McNamara returns to the fray for Rado Vidosic’s City for this Liberty A-League clash. The Wanderers will need to be at their best defensively without key centre back Clare Hunt, who was ruled out for the season this week with a shoulder injury.
TEAM NEWS
