Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
It was a pulsating weekend of Unite Round action which featured some stand-out performers, top-quality goals and Grand Final rematch, while Brisbane Roar now sit top of the league following their third-straight win.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Unite Round, thanks to Mitre.
Juric unconcerned by slow start as midfielder puts her hand up for Matildas call: ‘You wouldn’t go wrong with her’
Sydney FC boss Ante Juric says he’s not concerned by the reigning champions’ start to the 2024-25 Ninja A-League despite collecting just 4 points from four games.
The Sky Blues took an early lead against Melbourne City on Sunday afternoon care of an excellent strike from midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby before City’s Lourdes Bosch scored the opposition’s equaliser just five minutes later.
“(I’m) not disappointed, because the way we played was exceptional,” said Juric when speaking to media after the 1-1 draw.
“So if we didn’t play well, I’d be disappointed. The result for me, the way I coach doesn’t matter. So it’s 1-1, we deserved to win, didn’t win that fine we go again, but performance and effort was different level.”
MATCH REPORT: Grand Final rematch all square as 2 stars shine while another hurt after first Matildas call-up
The result leaves the Sky Blues sat in ninth on the ladder after a start to the season which has seen them record two losses, a win and now a draw.
“For those who know, we’ve not had a good start for five years so we always end up somewhere,” said Juric when discussing their start to the season.
“This is no different from the others. You don’t win championships in the first two rounds, three rounds or four rounds.
“Last year we were mid-table in the middle of the season, I’m not bothered by it.
“I know the media think a little bit too much about it, but if they (knew) their history, they’ll realise we’ve not been good for the seven years that I’ve been here.”
So whilst their start to the campaign may have been a surprise for many, the early season form of midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby certainly hasn’t.
An ever-present in the side since returning from a move overseas, Hawkesby’s performances have once again led to calls for the 24-year-old to be called up for the national team, something her coach wishes would happen.
“That’s down to the coaches,” said Juric when asked whether or not Hawkesby deserved to be called up. “But for me, I’d highly consider her.
“She’s been excellent for two or three years, probably one of the best players in the league so you wouldn’t go wrong with her.
“So you wouldn’t go wrong with her. She’s got a specific kind of role she plays, so as long as they utilise that, she’ll do well in the Matildas if she gets the call-up.”
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Important building blocks for Wellington after sealing ‘really big’ win
Wellington Phoenix are off the mark in the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season after sealing a 1-0 win over Adelaide United in Unite Round.
A header from Maya McCutcheon in first-half stoppage time proved to be the difference between the two sides at Jubilee Stadium as Paul Temple’s team ended a run of three-straight losses to start the season.
“Yeah, obviously it’s great. It’s a little bit of a relief,” said Temple when speaking after the game.
“I think we’ve had a few really good performances in the first few games that probably warranted some points. So feels like we deserved some after the first four rounds so very pleased.”
One factor Temple believes could well have been key to helping his side bag their first win of the season was the fact they opted to stay and train in Sydney for the week as opposed to travelling back to New Zealand after last weekend’s loss to the Newcastle Jets.
MATCH REPORT: First win for Phoenix! American’s maiden A-leagues goal inspires much-needed victory over Reds
“I think it’s a big deal, (it’s) enabled us to have a week-long camp together. So we’ve spent a lot of time on the pitch and also off the pitch, working through things and a lot of that came out tonight. We saw the character and organisation of the team and togetherness, it was great.
“Pre-season is so short, I think you’re still building as the season starts, and so it felt like we’ve kind of been caught on the hop a little bit with some of those results going against us so we really needed that tonight.”
Particularly effective with their pressing in the first-half, the ‘Nix then showcased a steely side after the break to keep the back door shut and protect their slender advantage.
“I was pleased with the first half,” said Temple. “I thought we played really well and deserved to be in the lead, and then the second half was just about grit, determination, character and digging in, and we kept a team that’s been scoring lots of goals to clean sheets. So I’m really happy.”
Next up for the Phoenix is a home clash against Brisbane Roar on Sunday December 8 at Porirua Park.
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‘You keep those, you can’t lose!’ – Brilliant Brisbane’s solid start continues
Brisbane Roar made it three wins from four matches to start the Ninja A-League season following their dominant 4-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Unite Round.
A double from Momo Hayashi coupled with goals from Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop and substitute Emily Pringle saw Brisbane maintain their spot at the top of the ladder.
Furthermore, not only do the Roar have 9 points to their name but they’ve also managed to keep three clean sheets in a row after what was another solid defensive display.
MATCH REPORT: Rampant Roar go top with third straight win on unforgettable night for star signing
“Very pleased, another clean sheet,” said Brisbane Roar head coach Alex Smith when speaking after the game at Jubilee Stadium.
“So if you keep those, you can’t lose, is the old saying!
“I thought we were dominant once again and again, we were able to take advantage of our dominance, which is always crucial.
“A couple of outstanding performances from from some of our players, but really happy for Momo and Emily to get their first goals as well. So, so really pleasing on a number of fronts.”
In what was a truly dominant display in Unite Round, not only did Smith’s side manage to limit their opponents to just three shots on target but they also created a plethora of opportunities at the other end.
“When we have the ball so much and we try and dominate with the ball, it makes the back three, it makes their job easier. So it’s all part of the way that we want to play, or I want to play.
“It makes them able to run less and be more active when they have to defend. So it does come down a lot to the way we play when we have the ball. I think we’re really transitioning well when we do win the ball from from defence into attack.”
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Following their dominant display the Roar now have a 16-day break between games before taking on Wellington Phoenix, a break which Smith intends to use to work on aspects of their play that will make them even better.
“It’s obviously my job to keep them fit and firing, together and make sure that they’re up for every game. But I think we’ve had some good performances, but there are still a lot of areas where we know we can get even better.
“So just adding that sort of polish, you know, over the next two or three months in the season and hopefully getting ready for what comes after.”
After taking charge of the team early on during the 2023-24 campaign Smith didn’t have the luxury of moulding his side throughout the pre-season.
However, with a full off-season of training to his style under their belts plus the fact they’ve been able to recruit players to play his brand of football, Smith now believes the club is in a good place to showcase their true potential this season.
“We were able to bring in some really, really good players, some really technical players, you know, with some specific traits in their position.
“So it was really enjoyable – well, I don’t know if I’d say enjoyable to go through the recruitment process – it was quite long and there’s always twists and turns, but, you know, I’m really happy with what we have and what we were able to do.
“You can see the style and then the way that these players play together and the individual characteristics that they have. So it’s really pleasing. It’s all coming together from a staff point of view.”
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Husband talks up academy graduate’s future after impressive Unite Round display
Central Coast head coach Emily Husband believes Mariners fans will soon see the best of young talent Annalise Rasmussen following her impressive performance against Melbourne Victory in Unite Round.
Opening the scoring in the 12th minute, Rasmussen played the full 90 against Victory and dovetailed well with the likes of off-season signings Brooke Nunn and Jade Pennock in the forward line.
Having graduated through the Mariners’ academy, Rasmussen was the first player signed up to play under Husband after the Mariners re-entered the league and featured 19 times during what was her first season in top flight football last year.
MATCH REPORT: Matildas hopeful suffers worrying injury as Mariners and Victory can’t be split
“We know what Razzie has got,” said Husband post-match when asked for her assessment of the 19-year old’s performance.
“We know her ability. For us, last year, she started to build into the season, and I think she’ll continue to build into it.
“I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of her yet. I think we’ve seen good flashes.”
Rasmussen’s rise to form has come at a good time for the Mariners following an off-season of changes which saw the likes of last year’s top scorer Wurigumula depart the club as well as Matilda Kyah Simon.
After scoring three goals in total last year, Rasmussen has now scored in back-to-back matches to kick off the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season and is staking her claim to make the number 9 role her own.
“Obviously, we know with young players they tend to be inconsistent. They have really good games and then might go out for a few minutes. We’ve just got to make get that consistency with her. I’m really excited about Razzie’s future.”
After conceding an 85th minute equaliser against Victory the Mariners now sit sixth on the ladder after what was their third draw of the season.
What will be a concern for Husband though is the fact prized midfielder Isabel Gomez was substituted midway through the second half after suffering a leg injury.
Caught late in a tackle with Victory’s Ellie Wilson, Gomez was visibly distressed following the injury and watched on from the dugout as her side conceded a late equaliser.
In a worry for both club and country, Gomez is now being assessed with an update over her injury expected to arrive on either Monday or Tuesday as she waits to find out the extent of the damage.
Most recently named in the Matildas squad for the first time in her career, Gomez will be hoping to get the all-clear in order to make a possible debut in the games against either Brazil or Chinese Taipei – with the national team playing four matches in the space of 12 days, beginning Thursday November 28.
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