The CommBank Matildas were heavily involved in the pre and post-Christmas A League Women fixtures, with goals and key roles in crucial results.
Katrina Gorry scored a brace as the Brisbane Roar defeated Newcastle Jets 2-0. The first goal was a stunner – the kind of long-range effort that the midfielder is known for. The second goal from a tight angle secured the victory for the Roar. After missing the first four rounds of the season, Gorry is well and truly stamping her authority on the competition.
Melbourne City meanwhile easily accounted for Canberra United, defeating the women in green in Queanbeyan 4-0. A brace to Rhianna Pollicina as well as goals to Maria Rojas and a first A-League Women goal to 16-year-old Daniela Galic was the difference. Emma Checker remained out of the matchday squad recovering from illness, and Holly McNamara continues her ACL rehabilitation in earnest.
Sydney FC continued their dominance over the cross-city counterparts defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 thanks to goals to Mackenzie Hawkesby and Cortnee Vine. Vine’s was a fantastic individual effort that may well catapult the CommBank Matilda into form for the rest of the season.
Jada Whyman and Remy Siemsen started for the Sky Blues with Siemsen departing for a European club in the coming weeks.
With two games postponed due to extreme heat, the final game of the round was Melbourne City reprising their role as winners, this time squeezing past Perth Glory 1-0 thanks to a penalty to Emina Ekic. Emma Checker remained out of the matchday squad but there was a welcome return to the field for Karly Roestbakken as a late substitute.
Next Week’s Action
New Year’s Eve will see a cracker of a triple-header involving plenty of CommBank Matildas.
Brisbane Roar will be hoping to continue their winning ways against Sydney FC, as will Melbourne Victory against Canberra United.
The third game of the triple-header will see Newcastle Jets hosting Adelaide United.
On Sunday at 7 pm AEDT, Perth Glory will host the undefeated Western United in an important clash for both teams.
Finally, to finish the round, the Wanderers will travel to Wellington to take on the Phoenix at 10.20 am AEDT on Monday.
You can catch all of the action live and free on 10Play, and Paramount+.