Ninja A-League: Melbourne City triumph in top-of-the-table clash vs Brisbane Roar | OneFootball

The Ninja A-League continued apace this weekend, with the standout fixture seeing table-toppers Melbourne City entertaining surprise package Brisbane Roar.

Let’s take a look at how the latest round of results unfolded.

Perth Glory 1-1 Sydney FC

Perth and Sydney had to settle for a point that did little to alleviate either side’s struggles at the foot of the league.

The Sky Blues started the stronger, with Shea Connors drawing a couple of smart saves from Glory keeper Casey Dumont.

The hosts took the lead with a little under 25 minutes played. Miku Sunaga whipped in a ball to the back post that was missed by Sydney goalkeeper Tahlia Franco. Gabby Hollar picked the loose ball up on the byline before squaring it to Caitlin Doeglas, who rolled home the opener.

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Lucy Johnson equalised for Sydney in first-half stoppage with a looping effort that left Dumont with no chance.

Dumont had to be sharp off her line to deny Mackenzie Hawkesby with 73 minutes gone. Georgia Cassidy went close for Perth in injury time, but her free-kick was just the wrong side of the post.

Canberra United 2-1 Western United

Host side Canberra United secured all three points against Western United to leapfrog them in the table.

Canberra made a mess of clearing a throw-in, allowing Western to take an early lead. Chloe Logarzo made the most of the opportunity to get a cross into Catherine Zimmerman, who turned before slamming the ball home from close range.

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The home side were soon back on terms. A loose ball in the midfield was picked up by Bethany Gordon. She pushed the ball forward to Mary Stanic-Floody. Her pinpoint pass cut through the Western defence and found Hayley Taylor-Young whose cross was bundled over her own line by Claudia Mihocic with Michelle Heyman lurking.

Sofia Christopherson gave Canberra the lead early in the second half with a fierce drive from the edge of the box. That proved to be the difference as Canberra bagged their first win at home since the opening round.

Newcastle Jets 0-2 Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory solidified third place with a routine win in Newcastle.

Jeff Hopkins’ side were set on their way by Emily Gielnik’s seventh goal of the season. Her effort was too hot to handle for Tiahna Robertson at her near post.

Lauren Allen should’ve equalised for the Jets after half an hour, but she shot straight at Courtney Newbon.

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The Victory doubled their lead just before half-time when Sara D’Appolonia’s drive across the face of goal was poked home by Rachel Lowe.

Newcastle couldn’t muster the same sort of comeback that saw them come from 2 goals behind in stoppage time in midweek against Adelaide. They’re now winless in five.

Melbourne City 2-0 Brisbane Roar

A double from Leticia McKenna in the opening 10 minutes was enough to see Melbourne City overcome the Roar in this top-of-the-table clash.

Barely five minutes were on the clock when McKenna was on hand to capitalise on Brisbane’s failure to clear the ball in their own box. She made no mistake in shooting under Olivia Sekany to give the hosts the lead.

If her first was a case of right place, right time, McKenna’s second was right of the top drawer. A free kick from 25 yards out that arrowed into the top corner.

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She nearly wrapped up a first half hat-trick, but her effort whistled past the far post.

Brisbane were offered a way back into the contest from the penalty spot when Lourdes Bosch bundled over Leticia Woods.

Malena Mieres went the right way to palm away the resulting spot kick from Tameka Yallop.

City should’ve added a third when Holly McNamara pounced on a lapse in concentration from Sekany, but she could only fire over the bar.

The Roar’s usual potency deserted them at AAMI Park as City moved four points clear at the top.

Adelaide United 2-1 Wellington Phoenix

Adelaide bounced back from their midweek collapse in Newcastle to claim a big win over Wellington.

After a slow start, the Reds seized the initiative late in the first half. That pressure eventually bore fruit as Emily Condon’s ball into the box floated over the head of Carolina Vilão and into the net.

It was quickly 2-0, thanks to Chelsie Dawber. Her tenacity was too much for Mackenzie Barry, who pickpocketed on the halfway line. Dawber raced away to slide the ball under Vilão and double the Adelaide lead.

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The deficit was halved on the hour when Lucía León headed past her own keeper.

A long-range effort from Grace Jale drew a smart save from Claudia Jenkins. But the Phoenix comeback never came to fruition as Adelaide moved three points clear of them in fourth place.

Western Sydney Wanderers 1-3 Central Coast Mariners

A difficult season for Western Sunday showed no signs of abating as they lost at home to the Mariners.

Following the departure of head coach Robbie Hooker last week, Geoff Abrahams was named interim manager.

The new manager bounce never materialised as Brooke Nunn gave the Mariners a tenth-minute lead. The Wanderers were caught trying to play out from a goal-kick and Nunn charged down Keeley Segavcic’s clearance to force the ball home.

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Tess Quilligan doubled the Mariners’ lead with a 23rd-minute effort that left Segavcic grasping at thin air.

Bianca Galic added a third from the spot when she was tripped by Wanderers captain Amy Harrison with 20 minutes left.

Olivia Price bagged a stylish consolation for the hosts on the half-volley in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.

The Mariners are into sixth place, while Western Sydney remain rooted at the bottom.

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