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In Round 15 of the 2024/25 A-League Women season, Melbourne City worked to extend their lead atop the league table with a win over Newcastle Jets. The three points marked their tenth win of the season, keeping their unbeaten streak ticking over.
Elsewhere, Canberra United entertained the Central Coast Mariners, knowing that a win would lift them over their Gosford rivals and into the top six.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of all the action across the league in Round 15.
Adelaide United 3-0 Perth Glory
Adelaide United made it eight games without defeat on Friday night, sweeping Perth Glory aside at Coopers Stadium.
The hosts took the lead with 16 minutes played. A well-worked move through the heart of the Glory defence saw Emily Condon play an inch-perfect ball through for Erin Healy. Despite being closed down by two Perth defenders, Healy kept her cool to finish past Casey Dumont.
The lead was doubled just after the half-hour mark, when Chelsie Dawber lifted Lucía León’s cross over Dumont and Onyinyechi Zogg at the near post.
In added time, Healy secured her second goal and Adelaide’s third. Isabella Foletta cut out Tiarna Karambasis’s cross but couldn’t control it. Healy reacted quickest to smash home past Dumont. The result provisionally sent United second in the league, while it was the third defeat in four games for Perth.
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Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory lost vital ground on title rivals Melbourne City as they settled for a draw in Wellington.
It took the Phoenix just two minutes to make the breakthrough. Maya McCutcheon evaded her marker to head home Annalie Longo’s corner at the near post.
Nix goalkeeper Carolina Vilão was at her best to produce a double save from Rachel Lowe and then Alex Chidiac just moments after the restart.
Victory levelled on the hour. Tiana Jaber’s attempted clearance on the edge of the Phoenix box fell straight for the onrushing Nicki Flannery. Taking one touch to chest the ball down, Flannery used her second touch to rifle the ball past Vilão.
Emily Gielnik had the best chance to win the contest, but a sprawling Vilão denied her well.
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Canberra United 1-1 Central Coast Mariners
On Saturday, Canberra and the Mariners played out an entertaining draw at McKellar Park.
The hosts nearly made an early breakthrough when Michelle Heyman sent the ball across the face of goal. But recently-signed defender Jessica Seaman was there to poke it just beyond the post.
Eventually, Emily Husband’s Mariners took the lead through Jade Pennock. Brooke Nunn burst through the Canberra midfield before chipping the ball forward to Pennock. The on-loan Birmingham City forward shifted the ball onto her right foot to fire past Liz Anton and Canberra goalkeeper Sally James.
Canberra needed less than a minute of the second half to draw level. The Mariners turned the ball over just inside their own half. The ball made its way out to Maja Markovski on the left-hand side. Her cross found Heyman waiting on the penalty spot to simply sidefoot the ball home.
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The last five minutes were all about the woodwork for both teams. Taylor Ray’s free-kick smacked the Canberra post before the home side were denied twice in quick succession. Taylor Young’s long-range effort came back off the post, and Jynaya dos Santos hit the crossbar 30 seconds later.
The result keeps the Mariners in sixth place, two points ahead of Canberra in seventh.
Newcastle Jets 0-2 Melbourne City
Two second half goals kept Melbourne City on course for an unbeaten season.
Rebekah Stott nearly gave Melbourne the lead inside ten minutes, but her thunderbolt from 30 yards shook the crossbar. However, she was the hero at the other end just before half-time. Sophie Hoban got in front of Laura Hughes to meet Josie Wilson’s cross and send it towards goal. The shot beat Melena Mieres but not Stott, who thumped the ball away.
City broke the Jets’ resistance with 20 minutes to play. Mariana Speckmaier nodded a Jets clearance into Laura Hughes’ path, who let it fly from the edge of the box past the despairing dive of Danielle Krzyzaniak.
City denied the Jets an almost instant reply after Mieres made a brilliant save at her near post to thwart Claire Adams.
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Holly McNamara made sure of the points late on. She took advantage of Newcastle’s search for an equaliser and raced away past Tash Prior to notch her seventh goal of the season. The final result sends Melbourne City seven points clear at the top of the table.
Sydney FC 1-2 Western United
Sydney FC’s woes continued as they suffered another damaging defeat on Sunday.
Chloe Logarzo gave United the lead after six minutes. Her shot from eight yards out squeezed under goalkeeper Beth Mason-Jones, who was making her debut for the Sky Blues.
Sydney levelled on the quarter hour through Mackenzie Hawkesby. She timed her run well to latch onto Maddy Caspers’ flick on and fire through Chloe Lincoln.
Khali Johnson struck just before half-time for the visitors. She took control of the loose ball to fire home from the edge of the box.
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United were given an opportunity to add to the score when they were awarded a penalty 20 minutes from time. Johnson was fouled by Thompson but Mason-Jones denied Logarzo to keep the home side in with a shout.
Sydney were denied a penalty of their own when Claudia Mihocic brought down Amber Luchtmeijer, but the appeals were waved away by the referee.
This latest defeat sees Sydney 14 points off the top six, and almost certain to miss the Finals for the first time ever.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Brisbane Roar
A late Holly Caspers strike saw Western Sydney claim their second win of the campaign over a faltering Brisbane Roar.
Sienna Saveska gave the Red and Black an early lead. She intercepted a loose pass and coolly slid home for her seventh goal of the season.
Some resolute Wanderers defending kept them ahead as Brisbane laid siege to their goal.
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The Roar equaliser was worth waiting for. Laini Frier laid the ball off for Zara Kruger. The 18-year-old then unleashed a spectacular effort from all of 25 yards out that left Shan Khamis with no chance in the Western Sydney goal. The Wanderers’ winner came with two minutes left. Danika Maris’ slide rule pass was finished beautifully by Caspers to secure all three points.
Western Sydney are just a point off their rivals at the bottom of the league. Meanwhile, Brisbane still haven’t drawn a game this season.
