The Ninja A-League got off to a bang over the weekend, with 31 goals scored in six games, comebacks galore, and plenty of drama.
Read our review of all of the Matildas at Home action below.
Western United 4 – 2 Wellington Phoenix
The season began with Western United picking up a 4-2 victory over Wellington Phoenix. The Phoenix struck first but the home side hit back immediately, Chloe Logarzo and Aimee Medwin scoring twice in two minutes to give them the lead.
CommBank Young Matilda Kahli Johnson made it three before Catherine Zimmerman’s strike ensured the mountain would be too tall for Wellington to climb to get back in the game.
Logarzo started and played the full 90 minutes for Western. Chloe Lincoln was on the bench after arriving late back from international duty – she will expect to make her Western United debut next week.
Central Coast Mariners 3 – 1 Sydney FC
The Central Coast Mariners enacted some measure of revenge for last season’s semi-final loss, defeating Sydney FC 3-1. English player Jade Pennock struck first from the penalty spot before Isabel Gomez and Australian-raised Croatian international Bianca Galic rounded out the scoresheet for the Mariners.
Sydney did get a goal back through eight-cap CommBank Matilda Princess Ibini, but it wasn’t enough to leave Gosford with a point.
Kyah Simon was unavailable for Sydney to play against her old club due to injury.
Canberra United 3 – 2 Brisbane Roar
Canberra United delighted home fans by defeating Brisbane Roar 3-2. The Roar had more shots, more possession and generally more chances but fell to a clinical Canberra side.
Maja Markovski scored a brace for Canberra, while 18-year-old Mary Stanic-Floody hit a spectacular volley to get herself on the scoresheet as well. Bulgarian international Evi Popadinova and Australian-raised Ireland international Deborah-Anne De la Harpe scored for Brisbane, but Canberra were able to hold on to the three points.
Michelle Heyman started and played 70 minutes for Canberra, withdrawn after playing a significant role in the first and second goals.
Tameka Yallop and Sharn Freier both started for Brisbane, and combined to help assist the Roar’s first goal.
Adelaide United 2 – 3 Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory required a late winner to defeat Adelaide United 3-2. However, it was a game that Adelaide will take enormous heart from, arguably controlling the momentum throughout.
Emily Gielnik was in imperious form for Victory, scoring a first-half brace to give them the lead. At the other end, English national Fiona Worts was in a goalscoring mood herself, her own brace levelling the game in the 70th minute.
It took a stoppage-time stunner from 18-year-old Ava Briedis – her first A-League Women goal – to lift Victory to the three points.
Gielnik started the match before being withdrawn for matchwinner Briedis in the 83rd minute. Alex Chidiac played the full match in midfield for Victory.
Melbourne City 5 – 2 Perth Glory
A remarkable second-half turnaround meant that last season’s premiers Melbourne City got their season started with a win, overcoming Perth Glory 5-2.
The Glory scored first through Kelli Brown and when Miku Sunaga capitalised on an errant pass out of defence, Perth found themselves with a perhaps unexpected two goal advantage early in the second half.
However, City made some tactical tweaks and got themselves straight back in the contest. Braces to new Canadian signing Kathryn Harvey – who only arrived in the country on Monday – and Rhianna Pollicina, topped off with a stoppage time goal to Laura Hughes, gave them an unassailable advantage.
Players involved in this match included two-time CommBank Matilda Bryleeh Henry, and seven-cap CommBank Matilda Karly Roestbakken, both for City.
Newcastle Jets 2 – 2 Western Sydney Wanderers
The final game of the round saw the points shared, with the Newcastle Jets coming from behind to draw 2-2 with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Wanderers raced to a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to last season’s Dolan Medallist Sophie Harding and youngster Sienna Saveska. However, the Jets fought back, with Kiwi Deven Jackson and Lauren Allen equalising.
Despite the Jets' overall dominance, they weren’t able to strike the winning blow, and both sides left with a point.
Harding started the match for Wanderers before being withdrawn in the 77th minute.
