Ninja A-League round-up: Sydney FC win keeps Finals hopes alive | OneFootball

The end of the Ninja A-League Women’s regular season is in sight. After this weekend’s round of fixtures, there are just two matches left. Any slip-ups now could prove fatal to a team’s hopes of making the Finals.

Round 21 delivered several narrow victories that perfectly captured the tension of late-season play. Keep reading as we break down all the key moments and what they mean for the league standings.

Western Sydney Wanderers 0-2 Sydney FC

The action kicked off on Friday night with a Sydney derby at Marconi Stadium.

The visitors took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Wanderers captain Amy Harrison was penalised for a handball.

Mackenzie Hawkesby stepped up to smash home the penalty, leaving Sham Khamis with no chance.

Sydney continued to create chances, and Hawkesby slammed a shot into the side netting just after half-time.

Wanderers had a great chance to level in the 53rd minute when Sienna Saveska threaded the ball through for Bronte Trew. Trew ghosted past the Sydney FC centre backs but was denied by a good save from Jasmine Black.

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Indiana dos Santos wrapped up the Sky Blues’ win with 25 minutes to play. Hawkesby nipped in to take the ball away as Wanderers tried to play out from the back. She played through to Millie Farrow, who cut the ball back for dos Santos, and she made no mistake, sweeping home to become the youngest ever Sydney Derby goalscorer at 17 years old.

That capped off a good night for the reigning champions as they kept their slim chance of making the Finals afloat.

Melbourne Victory 2-1 Adelaide United

Victory took Original Derby bragging rights over Adelaide to keep their hopes of the Premiers’ Plate alive while extinguishing Adelaide’s.

The hosts nearly took a 23rd-minute lead in bizarre circumstances when Emily Gielnik’s toe poke went through the legs of both Matilda McNamara and stand-in goalkeeper Ilona Melegh.

A stunning finish from Nikki Flannery gave Victory the lead with 20 minutes remaining. Jessica Young, who came on just seconds earlier, rolled the ball across the top of the box to Flannery. Cutting in on her right, Flannery curled a beautiful shot into the top corner.

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Adelaide were given a golden chance to level from the spot in the 86th minute when Gielnik was punished for a handball. Dylan Holmes sent Courtney Newbon the wrong way for her first goal of the season.

Flannery broke the Reds’ hearts in stoppage time to secure the win. Gielnik’s cross in was met by a thundering header from Flannery six yards out.

Perth Glory 1-2 Canberra United

Canberra picked up a massive win in their quest for post-season football as they overcame the Glory.

Michelle Heyman gave the Canberrans the lead when she latched onto a flick-on from Mary Stanic-Floody. Heyman made no mistake with an unerring finish past Casey Dumont.

Stanic-Floody got her name on the scoresheet five minutes later. Aideen Keane was wiped out in the box by Tijan McKenna, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Dumont went the right way, but Stanic-Floody marked her 50th game with a goal.

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Into the second half, Canberra were awarded a second spot kick when Dumont clattered Heyman just inside the box. Bethany Gordon assumed responsibility this time but skied her shot over the bar.

McKenna got Perth back into the match on the hour when Kelli Brown’s ball found her unmarked at the back post. With Sally James bearing down on her, McKenna just about managed to squeeze the ball home.

Perth had hope. And with minutes to go, they nearly had an equaliser. The head of Onyinyechi Zogg met Isabella Foletta’s inswinging free kick, but Zogg saw her effort come back off the post.

Canberra move into the top six. Meanwhile, Perth are still just about alive but need a miracle to extend their season.

Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Melbourne City

Melbourne City are two games away from invincibility as they picked up another win, this time putting Wellington to the sword.

The Nix went close early on as Olivia Fergusson headed Emma Main’s cross wide.

In Holly McNamara, City have a player at the peak of her powers. She notched her 12th of the season with ten minutes of the first half remaining. Lourdes Bosch did brilliantly well to get her cross through a crowded Wellington box. McNamara was on hand to sweep home first time.

She should’ve doubled her tally just moments later when she gifted the ball but could only drag her shot wide of Carolina Vilão’s goal.

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Wellington nearly levelled before the break when Malena Mieres spilled a corner on her goal line. An almighty scramble ensued as yellow shirts desperately tried to force the ball over the line, but City just about escaped.

City were awarded a 53rd-minute penalty when Mackenzie Barry was penalised for a foul on Laura Hughes. McNamara stepped up but was denied by a good stop from Vilão.

Mariana Speckmaier and Leah Davidson both had chances to make City’s lead more comfortable, but neither were taken.

City can wrap up the Plate in their next game at home against the Jets.

Newcastle Jets 0-2 Western United

Newcastle’s elimination from Finals contention was confirmed with this defeat at home.

Chloe Logarzo tested Danielle Krzyzaniak twice in the opening 20 minutes. The Matilda’s first shot was relatively comfortable for the Jets’ keeper. Her second was more testing. Krzyzaniak responded in kind with a fine tip over the bar.

Adriana Taranto was next to have a go for Western. She rolled her defender brilliantly to run onto Chloe Lincoln’s clearance. She burst into the Jets’ half before cutting in and letting the ball fly with a curling effort. The Canadian keeper produced a stunning save, using every inch of her frame to direct the ball onto the underside of the bar.

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The Jets’ resistance was broken early in the second half. Catherine Zimmerman was on the line to bundle home from a corner.

Kiewa Hieda wrapped up the points in the 77th minute when she beat Krzyzaniak to Zimmerman’s cross to poke home.

Western are Finals-bound, while the Jets must regroup and begin focusing on next season.

Central Coast Mariners 2-1 Brisbane Roar

The Central Coast Mariners are all but assured of a Finals berth after this crucial win over the Brisbane Roar.

Laini Freier gave Brisbane a dream start inside a minute. Sarah Langman saved Freier’s initial shot before the ball fell to Mariel Hecher, who saw her shot blocked. Freier then got back on the end of it to put Brisbane ahead.

Central Coast levelled in the 21st minute, thanks to Isabel Gomez. She nipped in ahead of Alicia Woods on the halfway line and raced clear to slide the ball under Olivia Sekany.

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Jade Pennock went close to putting the hosts ahead just before the break but could only side-foot a difficult chance wide of goal.

Annalise Rasmussen bagged the winner with 20 minutes left. She broke the offside trap to convert Peta Trimis’ cross.

That win takes the Mariners six points clear of seventh-placed Brisbane with just two games left.

The Mariners just need a point to lock in their Finals place officially. The Roar, meanwhile, are two points adrift of sixth-placed Canberra.

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