Melbourne City were the big winners in Round 8 as their title rivals Western Sydney Wanderers were on bye and Sydney FC’s clash against Canberra United was postponed. How many of City’s stars made the Team of the Week?
The three-time Westfield W-League Champions clinched a 2-0 victory on the road against Brisbane Roar, while Adelaide United shared a 2-2 draw with Perth Glory to get the Reds off the mark for the season.
Melbourne Victory beat Newcastle Jets to close out the round, so now it’s time to find out which 11 players made it into the Round 8 select, which is rolled out in a 4-4-2 formation.
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Goalkeeper
Sarah Willacy (Adelaide United)
The Reds shot-stopper has been a model of consistency in 2019/20 and was again outstanding in her side’s 2-2 draw with Perth Glory on Friday night.
Willacy made a number of impressive stops, especially in the early stages as Glory applied the pressure, while there was nothing she could do to stop either of the visitor’s goals.
REACTION: ‘We got what we deserved’: Despotovski hails Glory’s spirited fightback
Defenders
Emily Hodgson (Adelaide United)
Hodgson held her own as Perth put Adelaide under the pump and battled hard against the impressive international duo of Crystal Thomas and Celia Jimenez.
The fullback created one chance going forward, but her interventions at the other end including three tackles, three duels, a clearance and interception apiece, highlighted her contribution to the Lady Reds’ getting off the mark for the season.
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Rebekah Stott (Melbourne City)
Another fine display from the New Zealand international earned City a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar last Thursday night.
The lynchpin of her side’s defensive formation, Stott ensured City held firm as Brisbane threw everything at the leaders. She cleaned up with four tackles, eight duels and a huge six interceptions en route to a third consecutive clean sheet.
REPORT: Mijatovic and Luik secure City’s sixth straight win
Jenna McCormick (Melbourne Victory)
The Westfield Matilda was a dominant force in the back-line while providing an attacking aerial threat that the Newcastle Jets struggled to cover on set pieces during Victory’s 2-1 win.
Jeff Hopkins side played out from the back through McCormick, who registered a match-high 71 passes, 18 more than the second on the team, Angela Beard, and she completed a solid 80%.
Off the ball, McCormick was a beast as the visitors throw themselves forward in the second-half, winning seven of her 11 duels and logging five clearances to help clinch three points.
REPORT: Birthday girl Jenkins off the mark as Victory floor Jets
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Steph Catley (Melbourne City)
Catley squandered a second half penalty but was still one of the best performers on ground again in City’s 2-0 shutout in Redcliffe.
The Westfield Matildas vice-captain continues to provide lethal ammunition from left wing-back, tallying three chances created and racking up a match-high 83 touches of the ball.
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Midfielders
Morgan Andrews (Perth Glory)
The American recovered from an early mistake to be the catalyst for Glory’s late fightback.
Andrews set-up her side’s opening goal with a sensational long ball, before calmly slotting the equalising penalty in stoppage-time to earn Glory a draw.
REPORT: Glory snatch draw with Adelaide after Andrews’ late penalty
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6119462911001
Aivi Luik (Melbourne City)
A match-sealing strike in the 76th minute capped a very impressive midfield performance from the Westfield Matida in her side’s 2-0 win over Brisbane.
Luik was a crucial cog in City’s engine room, winning five duels and making two clearances and interceptions each, while her experience on the ball alongside Yukari Kinga helped guide the three-time Champions what might prove to be a vital three points on the road.
READ: Fully sick! No excuses for Luik and City in battling win over Roar
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6119226440001
Chelsie Dawber (Adelaide United)
The youngster was Adelaide’s main attacking threat in the first-half, scoring her first Westfield W-League goal to open the scoring.
Dawber then provided the final pass for Mary Fowler’s goal soon after in an excellent showing.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6119446976001
Darian Jenkins (Melbourne Victory)
The birthday girl struck her first Westfield W-League goal from close range but her all-around display as an attacking wing-back caused the Jets no end of problems at AAMI Park.
The American turned 25 on Sunday, and had a birthday to remember when she tapped in from close range after Rosie Sutton’s header bounced back off the woodwork on 25 minutes.
Jenkins was a playmaker from the left, leading the game in touches (103) and dropping over a match-high 13 crosses as Victory bombarded the Newcastle box. She also got three shots away, while delivering a steady defensive showing, winning half of her duels (nine of 18).
REACTION: Jenkins celebrates birthday in style
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6119805517001
Forwards
Milica Mijatovic (Melbourne City)
As the Melbourne City juggernaut rolled on with a 2-0 win over Brisbane, Milica Mijatovic provided the attacking stardust that saw Rado Vidosic’s side return to the top of the ladder.
The Serbian international capitalised on a fast start with a cleanly dispatched sixth minute opener and teed up Aivi Luik for the all-important second goal late in the second half after a nice run infield.
Mijatovic did not falter in her defensive duties either, winning three tackles and a team-high nine duels – a snapshot of the workrate and toughness without the ball that has City flying high.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6119212347001
Mallory Weber (Adelaide United)
The all-action Weber was again a shining light for the Reds, causing Glory’s defence all sorts of problems with her speed and direct running.
The only thing missing from the American forward’s game was a goal and it was a smart diving save from Eliza Campbell in the second half which denied Weber the goal her performance merited.
