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The Melbourne Derby was the pick of this week’s Ninja A-League Women’s fixtures. However, nothing could separate the two sides as they settled for a 0-0 draw.
Melbourne City keep their lead at the top of the A-League table after Wellington Phoenix dropped points to the Central Coast Mariners.
Elsewhere, a record that had stood since 2008 was broken by Willa Pearson as Brisbane Roar welcomed Sydney FC. Here’s how all the latest action unfolded around the grounds in the A-League.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Newcastle Jets
The Wanderers and Jets had to settle for a share of the points as both sides looked to climb away from the bottom of the league.
Talia Younis gave the hosts a dream start inside a minute. She was given the freedom of Parramatta and she took full advantage as her shot from 35 yards flew past Georgia Ritchie in goal.
Newcastle looked to respond and a well-worked move resulted in Claudia Cicco getting a header on goal, but it was easy for Sham Khamis.
Into the second half and the Jets were only kept off the scoreboard by a timely block from Danika Matos to deny Sophie Hoban.
Melina Ayres bagged a deserved equaliser for the Jets with 12 minutes left. The goal owed much to the tenacity of Hoban to dispossess Wang Jing on the byline. She cut the ball back for Ayres who swept home past Khamis.
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Brisbane Roar 0-4 Sydney FC
Willa Pearson broke an A-League Women’s record as she became the youngest goal-scorer at 15 years and 51 days. She surpassed Sam Kerr’s impressive milestone that was set back in 2008.
An even first half saw little in the way of goalmouth action. That all changed just minutes after the restart when Sydney took the lead. A corner found its way to Mackenzie Hawkesby. She cut back on her left foot past Momo Hayashi and slotted in at the near post, leaving Chloe Lincoln with no chance. Remarkably, it was the first Sky Blues goal away from home this season.
On the hour, Pearson wrote her name into the record books. She timed her run to perfection to meet Abbey Lemon’s cross in the box to bundle home her first goal for the club.
Riley Tanner made it 3-0 with 68 minutes gone as she slammed home at the near post. Skye Halmarick rounded off a great night for James Slaveski’s side, charging down Lincoln’s attempted clearance to slot home the fourth.
A first win at the 12th time of asking for Sydney sees them move to within a point of second bottom Western Sydney.
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Perth Glory 1-0 Canberra United
Perth moved to within two points of the top six with an impressive win over Canberra in Western Australia.
In a game short in the way of clear-cut chances, Rola Badawiya came close after half an hour with a curling shot from the edge of the box.
It was much the same after the break with Hayley Taylor-Young firing well over for Canberra. Bethany Gordon could only redirect Emma Hawkins’ cross over the bar with their best chance of the afternoon.
With an hour gone, Susan Phonsongkham connected with Sarah O’Donoghue’s cross to force Sally James into a wonderful reflex save.
Glory took the points ten minutes from time when Phonsongkham’s corner was diverted into her own net by the unfortunate Taylor-Young as Canberra missed the chance to go top of the league.
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Wellington Phoenix 1-2 Central Coast Mariners
Another side also looking to hit top spot was Wellington Phoenix, but they too squandered the opportunity as the Mariners took all three points back across The Ditch.
Peta Trimis struck a wonderful free-kick to put the Mariners ahead in the driving wind and rain at Porirua Park.
The Nix equaliser was a problem all of the Mariners’ own making. A back pass to Annalee Grove was put under pressure by Lucía León. The loose ball fell to Makala Woods but her shot was blocked on the line. Mackenzie Anthony followed up and made no mistake to slide home.
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The hosts nearly led going into the break when Woods’ cross was turned onto the crossbar by León. But, it was the Mariners who led at the half-time whistle. Avaani Prakash’s ball was incisive and Temar Levin was on hand to convert from eight yards out.
Despite their efforts, Bev Priestman’s side were unable to find an equaliser as the Mariners picked up a vital win.
Melbourne Victory 0-0 Melbourne City
Melbourne Victory missed the chance to break into the Top Six thanks to a stalemate in the Melbourne Derby.
Holly Furphy had a great chance to put the hosts ahead when she pounced on Alexia Apostalakis’s miscontrol, but she dragged her shot wide of the far post.
City thought they’d taken the lead just before the break when Bryleeh Henry slid home, but she was denied by the offside flag.
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Victory were restricted to shots from distance through Chelsea Blissett and Taylor Ray that didn’t trouble Malena Mieres.
Holly McNamara came closest to breaking the deadlock with seven minutes left, but her shot rippled the top of the net as both sides cancelled each other out.
