Look out, Liberty A-League: there’s a new leader in town!
Western United have climbed to the summit of the Liberty A-League table after a 3-0 win over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.
And as the new leaders surged to the Liberty A-League summit, it was only fitting they did so in style with a commanding win over the ‘Nix headlined by Grace Maher’s ‘Olimpico’ stunner, scored direct from a corner.
Kat Smith’s side was helped on the way to top spot by Melbourne City dropping points in a 1-1 draw with 11th-placed Adelaide United in the simultaneous Sunday fixture.
Western trailed City by one point ahead of Round 17 but now lead by one point at the end of the weekend; City have led the league since Round 9 but Dario Vidosic’s side have lost form of late, going winless in four games (2L, 2D) to relinquish their grip on top spot.
Sunday’s 3-0 win over Wellington was orchestrated by three individual goalscorers and a rock-solid defensive unit; of all the goals scored at City Vista Recreational Reserve, Maher’s was the pick of the bunch.
The 24-year-old bagged Western’s second of the afternoon with a goal of some calibre to open her Western account after an off-season move from Canberra United.
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Maher was joined on the Western scoresheet by Chloe Logarzo and Hannah Keane, with the former bagging her eighth of the campaign.
Logarzo’s sensational form earned a Matildas recall in early February and it came as no surprise to see the midfielder in the thick of the action once more as Western notched their fifth win on the bounce to surge past City to the top of the table.
For City, it was another disappointing afternoon in the Liberty A-League as a lead carved out by a Daniela Galic strike was cancelled out by a Tijan McKenna own goal against Adelaide United.
The Reds are 11th but came into the game on a two-game winning streak; Adrian Stenta’s side were thumped 5-0 by City in January but earned a slice of revenge for the deflating defeat by coming from behind to nick a point against City and prevent them from holding onto top spot.
A statement win for Western. A disappointing draw for City. And now, heading into the last five rounds of the campaign, the battle for the Premiers Plate takes a fascinating turn.
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