Six points separate fifth from first on the Westfield W-League table at the conclusion of a potentially pivotal Round 12 in the 2020/21 campaign.
Western Sydney Wanderers beat Melbourne City 4-0 in the opening game of the round but City rebounded on Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets to secure a second win of the campaign.
Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, took outright ownership of third place with a win over Perth Glory on Tuesday night, overtaking Adelaide United who lost 4-2 to Brisbane Roar on Friday evening.
Glory were twice in action through Round 12, losing to Canberra United 3-2 thanks to a brace from Michelle Heyman which handed the individual all-time scoring record back to the Green Machine spearhead. The three points weren’t enough to haul Canberra back into the top four, however, as they trail the Reds in fourth by one point with a game in hand.
After an exciting round of action, 11 players made their way into a 4-3-3 formation in the Team of the Week, presented by Bunnings Warehouse.
RD12 REPORT: Brisbane Roar 4-2 Adelaide United
RD12 REPORT: Canberra United 3-2 Perth Glory
Goalkeeper
Gabriela Garton – Melbourne Victory
Victory travelled to face Perth in the final game of Round 12, and despite not having a win to their name in the current campaign Glory gave the visitors a genuine contest at Dorrien Gardens.
But Victory secured a 1-0 win to go third on the table, and Garton’s six saves from six shots faced helped Jeff Hopkins’ side fend off a desperate Glory outfit and take the three points.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6240913122001
Defenders
Winonah Heatley – Brisbane Roar
The Brisbane Roar full-back took more touches than any other player (100) in her side’s 4-2 win over Adelaide United in Round 12.
Heatley enjoyed game-high’s in tackles won (four of five) and duels (10 of 13), along with one clearance and four interceptions as the Roar kept the Reds at bay to secure victory in the top-four battle.
Emma Checker – Melbourne City
Melbourne City rebounded from a 4-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers on Thursday night to clinch a 1-0 victory over Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon, taking all three points from a Westfield W-League fixture for just the second time this season.
Checker performed valiantly in the heart of defence for City to help secure a clean sheet for the reigning Champions. Checker took more touches (69) and played more passes (53) than any other player on the park, adding six clearances and four interceptions to a solid display in the heart of defence.
Kayla Morrison – Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory repelled a gallant Perth Glory time and again to secure a 1-0 win at Dorrien Gardens on Tuesday night, and in the heart of defence it was Morrison who led her side valiantly toward securing a clean sheet.
Morrison passed 62 times at an accuracy of 83.9% – the highest of any starting player in the contest. The defender won two out of two tackles, five of eight duels and added two clearances and four interceptions to her solid performance.
Georgia Yeoman-Dale – Western Sydney Wanderers
The Wanderers left-back had a busy game on Thursday night, taking a game-high 98 touches in Western Sydney’s 4-0 romp of Melbourne City.
Yeoman-Dale crossed six times and took two shots – both on target – to go along with her astute work in defence, winning seven of 12 duels and making four clearances and five interceptions.
Midfielders
Teigan Collister – Western Sydney Wanderers
The winger turned in a frighteningly effective performance in Western Sydney’s 4-0 drubbing of Melbourne City last Thursday, picking up a pair of assists for Bryleeh Henry’s quick-fire first half double.
Collister won six duels, made three tackles and three clearances to go with her pair of assists to emphasise her importance to the Wanderers’ winning efforts.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6238785507001
Kyra Cooney-Cross – Melbourne Victory
The Victory midfielder was at her creative best against Perth, crafting seven chances for her side to score in a 1-0 win on the road.
Annalie Longo managed to benefit off the silver service just after the hour mark, scoring the only goal of the game after Cooney-Cross drove into the box, left Perth defender Isabella Wallhead in her dust and cut the ball back to Longo for an easy finish.
The Victory midfielder laid in nine crosses and passed 30 times with an 83.3% accuracy, showing all of her creative spark and flair in a win that sent her side third on the table.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6240916820001
Isobel Dalton – Brisbane Roar
A seventh assist for the season extended Dalton’s lead to two at the top of the Westfield W-League assists chart for the 2020/21 campaign in Round 12.
Dalton set Emily Gielnik up for her brace in Brisbane Roar’s 4-2 win over Adelaide United. The holding midfielder ventured down the right flank and saw her initial cross blocked, but showed determination to get back on the ball and send it in once more, finding Gielnik’s feet to finish.
Dalton took 81 touches and enjoyed an accuracy of 80.9% passing 68 times in an impressive display in Brisbane’s engine room.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6239400459001
Forwards
Michelle Heyman – Canberra United
Michelle Heyman’s record-breaking night out against Perth Glory featured one assist and two all-important goals, as the Westfield Matildas veteran went out on her own as the league’s all-time highest goalscorer.
Heyman overtook Sam Kerr with her 71st and 72nd goals in the Westfield W-League after assisting Nicki Flannery’s opener in the first half.
After sealing the record with her first strike Heyman tied up all three points for Canberra United with her second, netting deep into injury time to help the Green Machine edge Perth Glory 3-2 on a memorable night at Viking Park.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6239362582001
Emily Gielnik – Brisbane Roar
Emily Gielnik’s extended her lead in the race for the 2020/21 Westfield W-League Golden Boot with three goals against Adelaide United on Friday night.
Gielnik’s second half hat-trick helped Brisbane clinch a big win over Adelaide United, as the Roar moved to within two points of Sydney FC at the top of the table.
Gielnik took 10 shots on goal and laid five crosses into attacking areas, using power and pace to dominate the Reds defence.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6239396804001
Bryleeh Henry – Western Sydney Wanderers
The rookie striker was twice in the right place at the right time to kickstart her Westfield W-League scoring career, showing great positioning and instincts to tuck home two Collister assists to give the Wanderers an unassailable buffer against City.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6238793874001
