Ninja A-League round-up: Melbourne City make history with invincible Premiers season | OneFootball

Melbourne City claimed the Ninja A-League Premiers Plate and with it, an unbeaten regular season as they demolished Perth Glory on Friday night. It was a stunning milestone achievement for the reigning champions, who etch their names in A-League Women’s history with an invincible regular season.

With Finals football now rapidly approaching, here’s how the latest results unfolded.

Perth Glory 1-5 Melbourne City

Soon-to-be Premiers Melbourne City flew out of the blocks and were two goals up inside six minutes. A Taylor Otto header and Bryleeh Henry strike setting them on their way. Susan Phonsongkham halved the deficit in the 12th minute from the spot after Rebekah Stott was penalised for a handball.

A second header from Otto restored the two-goal advantage before a brilliant team goal ended with Holly McNamara bagging her 15th goal of the campaign. Leticia McKenna added a fifth with a free-kick with 25 minutes to go as City wrapped up the Premiers Plate in spectacular fashion.

Melbourne Victory 2-0 Brisbane Roar

Embed from Getty Images

That result meant Melbourne Victory’s chase was over. Already assured of a home semi-final courtesy of a top two finish, they welcomed Brisbane Roar to AAMI Park on Saturday.

Nikki Flannery broke the deadlock just before the break with a ruthless finish from a narrow angle over the head of Keeley Richards.

Ten minutes after the break, Alex Chidiac bagged a second for the Victory. Her ball through to Holly Furphy allowed the striker to get a shot away that bounced up off a defender. Chidiac was quickest to react, continuing her run and poking the loose ball through Richards’ legs.

Brisbane’s misery was compounded when Momo Hyashi saw red for dissent.

Adelaide United 2-1 Sydney FC

Embed from Getty Images

Adelaide United have been one of the stories of the season. They had guaranteed themselves a third-place finish long ago, having been Wooden Spooners last season. They rounded off their regular season with a 2-1 win over a dethroned Sydney FC.

Maddy Caspers gave the Sky Blues the lead with 20 minutes gone. Mackenzie Hawkesby’s pinpoint through ball opened up the Adelaide defence. Caspers timed her run well to break the offside trap and slide home.

Fiona Worts levelled in first half stoppage time. She rounded Nat Tobin on the right-hand side before cutting in and firing home past Jasmine Black.

Things went from bad to Worts for Sydney with 15 minutes left. The English striker was on hand to sidefoot home Lucía León’s cross to seal the win.

Adelaide have a home Elimination Final against Western United to look forward to. However, for Sydney FC, it’s the first-ever season without Finals football.

Newcastle Jets 1-2 Central Coast Mariners

Embed from Getty Images

Central Coast sealed fourth place and with it, the second home Elimination Final thanks to an F3 Derby win over Newcastle Jets.

The visiting Mariners were denied a 15th-minute lead by a combination of crossbar, goalkeeper and finally the post. Brooke Nunn’s sweeping shot came back off the bar. The rebound came back out to Jade Pennock on the wing, her cross was headed towards goal by Issa Gomez. She was denied brilliantly by Danielle Krzyzaniak, and finally, Peta Trimis saw her effort smack back off the post and away.

More impressive goalkeeping from Krzyzaniak kept the scores level before Deven Jackson put the hosts ahead completely against the run of play. The Mariners were hassled and hounded into giving up possession just outside their penalty box. The ball dropped to Jackson, and she swung a left boot to guide the ball past Sarah Langman.

Eventually, the Mariners’ pressure told, and with 12 minutes to play, Tiana Fuller levelled things up. She took the ball as it broke following a tackle from Sophie Hoban to hit through a crowd of bodies and past Krzyzaniak.

Pennock sealed the win and with it, the coveted F3 Derby trophy, with a ruthless finish following a mix-up in the Jets’ defence.

Western Sydney Wanderers 1-3 Canberra United

Embed from Getty Images

Canberra United will be the opponents for the Mariners in the Elimination Final. The side from the capital travelled to the bottom side of Western Sydney, knowing they had to win to have any chance of a fifth-place finish.

Darcey Malone set United on their way with 25 minutes gone. She headed home from a corner. The ball just about snuck over the line in spite of Amy Chessari’s best efforts to clear.

A stunning free-kick from Bethany Gordon just after the halftime break doubled the away side’s lead. A world-class effort from Brontë Trew to lob the ball over Sally James gave the Red and Black hope.

Ruby Nathan’s first A-League goal from a yard out capped the win for Canberra.

Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Western United

Embed from Getty Images

Western United headed across the Tasman to Wellington, knowing a win would see them finish fifth. In awful conditions, both goalkeepers were tested in the first half. But neither side could find the breakthrough.

Western got the goal they were hoping for with 15 minutes left to play. Sara Eggesvik powered home a header at the back post from Grace Maher’s corner.

Emma Main equalised with an instinctive finish in the 80th minute. Falling to the ground, she swung a leg out to turn Manaia Elliot’s cross home.

Adriana Taranto hit the crossbar for Western with a 91st-minute free kick, but the visitors couldn’t find the all-important winner. They head to Adelaide this weekend as Finals football begins.

Related articles from Her Football Hub: