Matildas Abroad Review: Cooney-Cross makes her debut; while San Diego and Rosengård remain at the top of the table

Before the international break begins, our Matildas Abroad had one last weekend of club action before departing for Spain. 

Kicking off in the USA, Alex Chidiac's Racing Louisville recorded a late 2-2 draw against the defending NWSL Champions Washington Spirit. Chidiac started for Louisville but was forced off just six minutes into the game, breaking her nose in a collision.

Trinity Rodman and Madison Elwell were both on the scoresheet for the Spirit to give them a 2-0 lead going into the break.  

 

Two goals from Nadia Nadim sealed the late draw for Racing, who collect their fourth draw of the season. 

Over in Kansas, Chloe Logarzo's Kansas City Current kept third placed Chicago Red Stars to a 2-2 draw as well, Logarzo is yet to feature since tearing her ACL with the Matildas in September, however, is making leaps and bounds in her rehab.

AUS v ESP Thin Banner CTA


Finishing off in New Jersey, Emily van Egmond's first-placed San Diego Wave FC travelled to take on NJ/NY Gotham FC as they looked to add some breathing room at the top of the table. 

A brace to Alex Morgan and a goal to Makenzy Doniak sealed the 3-0 win for Wave, with Van Egmond playing the whole game of San Diego. 

Wave FC remain in first on the ladder, and move two points ahead of their closest competitor in the Portland Thorns. 

Moving over to Sweden, Kyra Cooney-Cross made her debut for Hammarby coming off the bench in the 67th-minute for her new side. 

Fellow Australian, Courtney Nevin started for Hammarby and played the whole game as they went down 2-1 to BK Häcken. A missed spot kick by Hammarby's Emma Jansson in the first half saw the sides go into the break at a 0-0 deadlock. 


Two goals in quick succession to Häcken saw them take a 2-0 lead early in the second half, before Matilda Vinberg halved the deficit for Hammarby in the 96th-minute, however, Hammarby were unable to find the equaliser. 

Remy Siemsen's AIK had a tough task on their hands when they hosted Teagan Micah and Charli Grant's FC Rosengård, Siemsen and Micah both started for their respective sides and played the entire game. 

Rosengård took a 2-0 lead going into the break, thanks to goals from Sofie Brunn Bredgaard and Jelena Cankovic. The defending champions continued the scoring early in the second stanza, with Cankovic netting another before Olivia Schough scored two goals in the space of eight minutes. 


Rosengård made it six goals with Emma Berglund finding the back of the net in the 89th-minute, with Micah keeping a clean sheet in goals. While Grant was not named in the matchday squad for the encounter. 

Lastly, Clare Polkinghorne and Katrina Gorry's Vittsjö GIK hosted KIF Örebro. Gorry and Polkinghorne started, as the home side got the scoring underway before the halftime break, with Linda Sällström giving Vittsjö the lead, however, KIF Örebro immediately responded and scored two quick goals to take a 2-1 lead going into the break.

Vittsjö GIK were unable to find the equaliser as they faced a narrow defeat. Both Aussies played the whole game for Vittsjö GIK in their 2-1 loss.