Westfield Matildas in Westfield W-League: City’s national team stars lift Premiers Plate

Six Westfield Matildas stars have claimed the first silverware of the Westfield W-League 2019/20 season after Melbourne City wrapped up the Premiership title in Round 13.

City captain Steph Catley lifted the Premiers Plate alongside Ellie Carpenter, Aivi Luik, Emily van Egmond, Kyah Simon, and Lydia Williams at Marconi Stadium on Thursday night as their side stormed to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

Fullback Carpenter scored a double and midfielder Luik added an assist to help secure City their tenth straight win and move an unassailable nine points clear on the Westfield W-League table.

All five of Rado Vidosic’s Westfield Matildas outfielders were relentless on the ball as they combined for nearly three-quarters of the possession throughout the match in addition to hitting 15 shots and creating 11 scoring chances.

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Carpenter’s goals came on the back of tenacious runs into the penalty area and were underscored with equally emphatic finishes, while she was also denied a third by the crossbar just before half-time.

While at the back, Williams again proved ever-reliable to help her side to a seventh clean sheet.

City last won the Premiers Plate in their foundation season in 2015/16, before going on to lift the Championship three times in a row in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

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Elsewhere, Alanna Kennedy’s Sydney FC missed a chance to lock down a second-placed finish after they were stunned 2-1 by Perth Glory in Wollongong on Saturday.

Glory extended their late season run to a third straight win on the back of a double from American striker Morgan Andrews, with the Sky Blues only finding consolation through an injury time goal.

The Sky Blues’ final position will now hang on their clash with Jenna McCormick‘s back-in-form Melbourne Victory in next weekend’s final round.

Victory were relentless as they bounced back from their Melbourne Derby defeat with a 7-0 drubbing of Gema Simon’s Newcastle Jets, with McCormick putting on a pair of assists.

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Victory’s returns were led by doubles to Kiwi international Annalie Longo and American Darian Jenkins – with McCormick putting on the final ball for both in each half.

In Brisbane, Katrina Gorry, Clare Polkinghorne and Mackenzie Arnold saw the Roar keep their hopes of a top four finish alive with a 5-0 win over Karly Roestbakken‘s Canberra United.

With Tameka Yallop out with a strain, it was left to American duo Carson Pickett and Rylee Baisden to claim the spoils with a double each for the Roar.

While Polkinghorne and Arnold revelled in their side’s third clean sheet in four games, Gorry proved tireless in attack and capped her role with an assist for her side’s final goal in injury time.

The result means Roar will need to win their final regular season match against Melbourne City in Round 14 if they are to play Finals Series football this season.