Originally published on October 8, 2014
By David Caruso
Goals and action abounded over the fourth weekend of W-League action in Australia. Kate Gill scored five goals for Perth Glory who walloped Western Sydney 10-1 on Sunday. The victory continues Perth’s perfect season as they sit alone on top of the W-League ladder.
Elsewhere, Newcastle continued its turnaround from last year’s winless season thanks it part to Rhali Dobson’s Player-of-the-Week winning performance.
NWSL players did their part over the weekend as well with Samantha Kerr scoring a brace and Chantel Jones earning a cleansheet among the standouts.
Sydney FC 1 – 1 Melbourne Victory
Jasmyne Spencer, on loan from the Western New York Flash, struck for a goal in the sixtieth minute, her fourth goal in as many games, to break the scoreless deadlock at Lambert Park in Sydney this weekend. Melbourne’s Gema Simon answered, however, equalizing for the visitors in the 86th minute to salvage a point.
The draw marks the first of the year for the W-League. It also marks the first points dropped this season for Sydney who sit at the second spot on the ladder with ten points and a 4-3-1 record.
The draw also marks the last match at the helm of Sydney FC for Alen Stajcic as he leaves for the top spot with the Matildas. Daniel Barrett takes over next week for Sydney when they travel to Newcastle.
Simon has now scored in two straight matches for Melbourne, who remain undefeated in their last three after losing their opening match to Newcastle. At 2-1-1, Melbourne sit fourth.
Western Sydney 1 – 10 Perth Glory
Perth Glory shamed home side Western Sydney in a ten-goal massacre. Les Belles Dames Sans Merci, as they might be called in French, played through most of the first half, however, as a team in a tight contest. Both sides had chances and the match remained scoreless as halftime approached.
The Western New York Flash’s Samantha Kerr got the goals going in the 45th minute and then add as second goal, her third of the season, a minute later in added time.
Perth continued to pounce at the start of the second half with Kate Gill scoring five, yes five, goals—three within an eight minute range. In all, Perth scored eight times in the second half with Caitlin Foord (of Sky Blue FC) scoring a brace and Alanna Kennedy adding to the fun.
The win continues Perth on their perfect ways, with a 4-0-0 record and the top spot on the ladder all to themselves.
The loss leaves Western Sydney at the opposite end, at the foot of the ladder without a point.
Adelaide United 0 – Newcastle Jets 4
As impressive as Kate Gill’s five goals were, it was Newcastle’s Rhali Dobson who took home Player-of-the-Week honors with her two goals.
Dobson’s teammate, Tori Huster (on loan from the Washington Spirit) got things going with a goal in the 28th minute. That was only the scoring of the half.
The Jets continued the attack in the second half with Emily van Egmond (on loan from the Chicago Red Stars) scoring just a minute in. Then Dobson took over with goals in the 48th and 73rd minutes.
The win, Newcastle’s first since the opening weekend, places them at the fifth spot with six points and a 2-0-2 record. The loss, Adelaide’s fourth in as many matches, leaves them at seventh, just above pointless Western Sydney on goal differential.
Canberra United 2 – 0 Brisbane Roar
Canberra silenced the Brisbane Roar in front of their home crowd in a 2-0 victory.
Grace Field scored her first goal to give Canberra a 1-0 lead. Michelle Heyman was in the right place at the right time as a wild ricochet following a Stephanie Ochs cross rebounded off of Heyman to double the Canberra lead.
In a battle of NWSL goalkeepers, the Washington Spirit’s Cantel Jones earned the cleansheet while the Portland Thorns Nadine Angerer suffered the loss despite a fine performance featuring a spectacular late save.
The win places Canberra in third with nine points and a 3-0-1 record while the loss leaves Brisbane in sixth with a 1-0-3 record.
The Weekend Ahead
Week four action takes place this weekend when Newcastle (6 pts.) hosts Sydney (10 pts.), Perth (12 pts.) hosts Canberra (9 pts.), Brisbane (3 pts.) hosts Western Sydney (0 pts.) and Melbourne (7 pts.) hosts Adelaide (0 pts.).
The Soccer Desk will have W-League action as well as women’s league action from around the globe all season long.
(Photo courtesy of Kate Gill celebrating one of her five goals by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images.)