Round one of the new-look A-League Women’s season threw up plenty of goals and even some shocking results. The CommBank Matildas were heavily involved in the action – here is how they fared.
Chloe Logarzo was subbed on for her first club minutes since rupturing her ACL in a historic 1-0 victory for Western United against Melbourne Victory.
Victory started with Alex Chidiac and Elise Kellond-Knight in midfield and certainly had their chances to score, but it was the boot of American marquee signing Jessica McDonald that separated the two sides, much to the delight of many of the 2,753 fans in attendance at City Vista Recreation Reserve.
An opening goal to Larissa Crummer helped Brisbane Roar to a 2-1 defeat of Newcastle Jets at Perry Park in Brisbane. T
he Roar’s leading goalscorer of last season started the game as the central striker and certainly made her presence felt early in round one. Katrina Gorry did not take part in the game after taking a break for some rest.
Newcastle fought their way back into the game in the second half, but a second-half penalty from the American Murphy Agnew was not enough to rescue a point.
The third game of the opening-day triple-header was an open, transitional affair between Canberra United and Perth Glory, ending all square at 2-2. The goals were to Grace Jale and Vesna Milivojevic for Canberra, and Liz Anton and Gabriella Coleman for Perth.
Sunday’s action started in Wellington where Melbourne City started their campaign with a bang, defeating Wellington Phoenix 4-1. It was the Chilean signing Maria Cote Rojas who was vital to the victory – she assisted one goal, scored the next, and won the penalty that led to the third.
CommBank Matildas Holly McNamara and Emma Checker were both sidelined with injury, but Young Matildas Daniela Galic and Bryleeh Henry started – Henry picking herself up her first goal of the campaign.
Adelaide United shocked last season’s premiers Sydney FC in the final game of the round, a goal to most recent Young Matildas captain Emilia Murray the difference as the game finished 1-0.
Jada Whyman made a number of impressive saves and will be disappointed not to keep the clean sheet in Sydney's first game of the season. Cortnee Vine looked lively throughout the game but was unable to help her team get past the impressive Adelaide goalkeeper Annalee Grove.
If you missed any of the action this week, don’t worry – your CommBank Matildas will be back in action next week!
NEXT WEEK'S ACTION
There will be four games in total on Saturday.
Wellington Phoenix will take on Western United at 1 pm AEDT, followed by the second triple-header of the season.
Larissa Crummer will look to add to her goal tally as Brisbane Roar take on Canberra United. Jada Whyman and Cortnee Vine will look to bounce back against a similarly hurting Melbourne Victory, who will hope that Alex Chidiac and Elise Kellond-Knight can pull them over the line in the first Big Blue of the season and grand final rematch. Newcastle Jets will take on Western Sydney Wanderers in the third game of the triple header.
The round will come to a close at 7 pm AEDT on Sunday as Perth Glory host Adelaide United in their first home game since 2020/21.
You can catch all of the action in the A-League Women live and free on 10Play, or on Paramount+.