Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets stole the show in Round 5 of the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign, notching emphatic wins in respective high scoring affairs.
The Jets were too good for Western Sydney Wanderers as they secured a 4-1 win while Brisbane outmuscled Melbourne Victory in a 6-0 drubbing.
Adelaide United got Round 5 underway with a 2-1 win over Melbourne City, while Canberra United and Perth Glory rounded out the action with a 1-1 draw decided by a late goal to both teams scored within a minute of each other.
Among the memorable results and standout team performances, 11 players proved to be a class above as they made their way into the Team of the Week for Round 5, presented by Bunnings Warehouse.
Read on to find out who features in our 3-4-3 formation!
REPORT: Canberra United 1-1 Perth Glory
REPORT: Newcastle Jets 4-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Goalkeeper
Georgina Worth – Brisbane Roar
Discussion will largely centre around the ruthless attacking display of Jake Goodship’s side after Brisbane Roar’s 6-0 win, but what’s equally impressive is the clean sheet which accompanied the final third masterclass.
Georgina Worth was a key contributor to Brisbane’s shut-out; she wasn’t asked to do much, but when danger presented itself Worth dealt with it astutely, pulling off three saves from three shots faced to register the only clean sheet of any goalkeeper in Round 5.
Defenders
Clare Polkinghorne – Brisbane Roar
Another peerless display from Polkinghorne should not be overlooked by Brisbane’s six-goal attacking salvo against Victory.
In it, the veteran Westfield Matildas defender was outstanding, winning all five tackles and making four interceptions. Jake Goodship’s side – who have conceded just two goals from five games this season – look the competition’s best-drilled defensive unit right now and Polkinghorne is a major reason why.
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Maruschka Waldus – Adelaide United
The Dutch centre-back was a rock at the heart of a Reds defence that repelled Melbourne City for 93 minutes of their clash in the City of Churches, before the Champions struck a late consolation.
Waldus clocked up a game-high eight clearances as Adelaide kept Alex Chidiac and Chinatsu Kira at bay, while winning three of her four tackles and five of her eight duels. A colossal display.
Gema Simon – Newcastle Jets
A captain’s goal as rare as they come for Gema Simon ensured the Newcastle Jets leader played a standout role for her side in a memorable 4-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 5.
Simon put the cherry on top of a phenomenal team performance scoring the fourth of Newcastle’s goals, highlighting a performance which included four crosses and three created chances as the Westfield Matildas defender threatened all afternoon.
REPORT: Brisbane Roar 6-0 Melbourne Victory
REPORT: Adelaide United 2-1 Melbourne City
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225524741001
Midfielders
Dylan Holmes – Adelaide United
The Reds skipper not only netted her first Westfield W-League goal in her 35th competition appearance with an ultra-composed finish, but Holmes followed it up with a stunning second to clinch Adelaide United’s first ever win against Melbourne City.
The 23-year-old topped her match-winning exploits by seemingly covering every blade of the Marden Sports Complex pitch, winning a match-high 11 duels and six tackles, and she almost bagged an unlikely hat-trick with a late effort that skewed over the Premiers’ crossbar.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6224755405001
Olivia Chance – Brisbane Roar
The New Zealand international’s standout performance for Roar so far.
Alongside midfield partner Isobel Dalton, Chance gelled a five-star team performance from Brisbane together with industry and artistry.
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Rhianna Pollicina – Newcastle Jets
Pollicina continues to fly under the radar as one of the season’s most impressive performers and is the heart of everything good about Newcastle going forward.
Against the Wanderers, she picked up an early assist for releasing Lauren Allan through on goal with a wonderful ball, and her arsenal of distribution gave the Red and Black headaches all night.
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Mariel Hecher – Brisbane Roar
Hecher joined Brisbane from NPL Queensland Lions FC and demonstrated emphatically that she can shine on the Westfield W-League stage in Brisbane’s six-nil win against Victory.
Dovetailing with Gielnik to supreme effect, the Brazilian scored her maiden competition goal with a perfectly timed run and finish, and played an influential role in getting others around her into scoring positions, highlighted by the four chances she created on the night.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225194969001
Forwards
Lauren Allan – Newcastle Jets
Lauren Allan ran riot for the Jets against the Wanderers, scoring two goals to go along with a mountain of work all over the park.
Allan’s two first-half strikes set the tone for Newcastle’s impressive victory over the Red and Black, and her 90.9% passing accuracy, six tackles at a success rate of 100% and eight out of 13 duels won ensured Allan’s impact on the game was greater than her application of scoreboard pressure alone.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225524679001
Tara Andrews – Newcastle Jets
Another week, and another goal for Tara Andrews as the Jets spearhead continues to make a routine out of scoring in the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign.
Andrews notched her fourth goal in as many games in Round 5, scoring the third of Newcastle’s goals in a 4-1 win over the Wanderers to go equal top in the Golden Boot race.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225524715001
Emily Gielnik – Brisbane Roar
Having broke her Westfield W-League goal drought in last round’s stalemate with the Jets, it looks like the floodgates have opened for the Australian international, who was at times unplayable in Brisbane’s rout of Victory.
Gielnik laid the ball on a silver platter for strike partner Mariel Hecher to open the scoring, before getting on the scoresheet herself with a clinical header and fine finish one on one.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6225210231001
