Round Ball Australia 
Princess Ibini in action for Sydney FC during the 2023/24 A-League Women season. Photo: Texi Smith
Each week during the A-League Women season, Round Ball Australia hands out a report card for the competition based on how the teams performed across the weekend’s fixtures.
Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix (1-1)
Melbourne Victory: B
It took some time for Victory to find their feet and feel comfortable in what most would have predicted as a routine win. But perhaps the announcement of Beattie Goad playing her final home match for the club might’ve played a factor if you’re searching for excuses.
A rash challenge five minutes into the second-half provided Jeff Hopkins’ side with a lifeline as Alana Jančevski converted the penalty. Disappointingly though, they were unable to open the floodgates and were too conservative in their approach for the final 15-20 minutes.
Although Wellington’s equaliser in the 90th minute was made possible by a superb cross and headed finish, Victory were too easily spread out into wide areas and were ball watching inside the penalty area. Structurally, in the dying moments when they needed to be resolute and solid, they failed.
Wellington Phoenix: A
The Phoenix came away with exactly what they wanted — leaving Melbourne with at least one point.
After conceding in the 51st minute through a clumsy challenge to concede a penalty, it could have been easy to lie down and surrender to one of the favourites for the championship. Instead, what was most impressive about this 1-1 draw was the character and fight shown from the Nix, who as a defensive unit, have been much tighter than they were at the start of the season.
Finding the goals up front is still going to be a lingering issue with Mariana Speckmaier’s absence clear for all to see. Emma Main had a glorious chance from inside the six yard box, only to spray the ball wide of the target in the 78th minute.
But Temple has gone back to basics and ensured the back four is in a stable enough position to keep the side in games for when they do see those opportunities arise as they did in the 90th minute.
Christian Montegan
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Western United (5-1)
Western Sydney Wanderers: A+
It was the Sienna Saveska show at Wanderland on Saturday as Robbie Hooker’s side picked up their first win of the season, defeating Western United 5-1.
The 18-year-old kicked off the scoring with an Olimpico, on her way to scoring a first half hat-trick to seal the game, the first multi-goal game of her A-League Women career, followed by goals to Cushla Rue and a first A-League Women career goal for Danika Matos, who, along with the team joining her in celebration, could not contain the emotions in celebration.
Having gone over 400 minutes without scoring a goal from Round 1 to scoring five in Round 6 showcases the Wanderers struggles this season a lot more than Hooker would like, but the important thing is that this game showcased that the Wanderers have the ability to perform well this season.
They were quality in attack, good through the midfield, and defensively strong when it counted, with Sham Khamis continuing her strong form in net to make some crucial saves.
The most important thing now is going to be finding a way to bottle the qualities of this performance up and bring them out each week to put some results together to try and chase a finals appearance.
Western United: D+
After securing a late winner against Sydney FC last week, Western United were brought back down to earth by Sydney FC’s cross-town rivals.
There were some redeeming qualities here for Western United, who played well to start the game, even after conceding the first goal, but things began to break down from there, and it was a very mixed performance once they conceded the second.
There were some bright spots, but it will mostly be a game to forget for Kat Smith’s side, as they shipped five goals, were riddled with defensive errors, and gave away a penalty (that was missed by Amy Harrison), and only got on the scoresheet from a successful Chloe Logarzo penalty.
The loss saw them drop out of the Top 6 on goal difference following the weekend’s action, and they have a tough trip to Gosford ahead of them in Round 7.
Poletti
Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets (1-2)
Sydney FC: D
The celebration of Princess Ibini’s 146th game for Sydney FC as she became the clubs leading appearance maker in the A-League Women (overtaking Teresa Polias) could not have got off to a better start, with Danielle Krzyzaniak being sent off in the 12th minute, before Indiana dos Santos gave the home side a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
But that was where the good times ended for the Sky Blues, who despite amassing a whopping 26 shots saw only seven of those on target, with the wastefulness proving costly in defeat.
As the Jets settled into the game with 10 players, Sydney were unable to adapt in a performance Ante Juric described as the team’s worst performance of the year in terms of energy and effort.
Not only did they have plenty of chances to build a commanding lead, but they had chances to shut down the Jets before the equaliser, and then before the eventual game-winner in the closing seconds of the game.
This start to the season now goes down as the worst for the Sky Blues under Juric, and if things don’t turn around soon, the Sky Blues are at serious risk of missing the A-League Women finals for the first time in club history.
Newcastle Jets: B-
Overall, it was an A+ performance for the Jets, but the far too common sight of Danielle Krzyzaniak receiving a card for an unnecessary error handicaps their grade, as she was sent off in the 12th minute for Denial of an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO), to go with her red and yellow card in previous weeks for a handball outside the box, the latter of which directly led to a goal.
In Krzyzaniak’s place, Tiahna Robertson more than stood up to the task in the Jets victory, staking her claim as to why she should be the starting keeper going forward.
Whilst the side struggled early as it adapted being down to 10, they grew into the game, keeping their composure and adapting to the situation without changing too much either defensively or on attack, forcing Sydney into low-percentage off-target shots as the home side tried to build on their one-goal lead and the player advantage.
The Jets were eventually rewarded for weathering the storm with an equalising goal to Deven Jackson after Tash Prior headed the ball into the crossbar moments earlier.
A late free-kick allowed Lauren Allan to seal the winner, giving the Jets their first victory over Sydney FC in over six years, as they moved into the Top 6 on goal difference.
Poletti
Brisbane Roar vs Central Coast Mariners (2-1)
Brisbane Roar: B+
Brisbane were superior with 12 more shots and 59 per cent possession, controlling the match on their terms which they have done for large parts of the season.
The experience and class of Tameka Yallop yet again shone through, registering her fourth goal of the campaign as it was her strike that sealed the three points.
But what’s most pleasing about this side is that the midfield seems to be clicking earlier than they probably anticipated. Momo Hayashi is an incredibly underrated deep-lying midfielder who is currently the glue to what the Roar do both on and off the ball in transition. Her partnership with 20-year-old Alicia Kai Woods works perfectly with their understanding of when to sit back and when to advance forward into the open spaces.
Alex Smith has put together a well-assembled squad with multiple players who have shown versatility to move in different positions when required. It’s this adaptability that could make the Roar a smokey in a so far unpredictable season.
Central Coast Mariners: C+
Until the last five minutes of the first-half, there were no real highlights to talk about besides Brisbane hitting the bar from 40 yards out and the Mariners’ Annalise Rasmussen hitting both posts from close range. That cagey affair is how Emily Husband likes to set up her teams away from home.
In saying that, it would be a fair question to ask whether the Mariners could perhaps be more adventurous before they concede a goal and switch on again — that’s exactly what transpired.
Going in with the approach to keep it tight is all well and good, but when the opportunities arrive in the attacking third, they must be taken, which is the risk Husband wants to take.
It’s not doom and gloom by any stretch. This is still a very well-equipped side with a lot of balance in the squad despite the absentees in pre-season. They just need to be more ruthless and solid in defence in the key moments.
Christian Montegan
Melbourne City vs Canberra United (4-2)
Melbourne City: B
This was everything you would expect from a Melbourne City performance, as they dominated possession, created a lot of chances, and dictated the pace of play, and were justly rewarded with three points in a game which saw the hugely anticipated return of Holly McNamara.
Despite conceding first after a turnover in midfield, City never wavered from their game plan, slotting four goals past Sally James (including one own goal from Maja Markovski, which was created by City) as they solidified their spot at the top of the table early in the season.
Their shots (17) to shots on target (8) rate was much improved in this game, which could be a worrying sign for the rest of the competition, as City are already one of the competitions more dominant teams, and if improved finishing is added to their game, the question becomes who can stop them from doing the double?
Canberra United: C+
A brace to Michelle Heyman would usually be enough to see Canberra secure a victory, but that was not the case on Sunday in a 4-2 loss to Melbourne City, which saw a strong attacking performance from the visitors that improved as the game went on.
Beth Gordon made her return from injury in the loss, her first minutes in quite some time, and could add a spark to the Canberra midfield as she works her way back to full fitness.
A potential concern for Antoni Jagarinec would be the defensive performance which looked very fragile and prone to mistakes throughout the 90 minutes against a quality City attack.
If Canberra want to compete in a competition that is wide open, the defence can not afford a performance like that against title contenders as the season goes on.
Poletti
Perth Glory vs Adelaide United (2-1)
Perth Glory: A-
Having walked down the tunnel approximately 10 minutes prior to kickoff and having looked to pull up slightly lame when coming off the week prior, the Welsh import Megan Wynne did not present much of a counter front to concerns over her fitness.
She then, however, proceeded to show exactly why Stephen Peters’ side is built so heavily off her confidence and quality within the team.
The complete control of traffic through the right hand side off the back of Wynne in particular, but also a potentially soon to be capped futsal international Nat Tathem, built a quite brilliant platform for the proceeding 45-50 minutes that made Glory’s task a relatively easy one and fed through to the rest of the team, something Peters rightly described as the best football Glory have played all season.
Set pieces were also a massive high point, with Georgia Cassidy displaying a lethal delivery assisted by the elements that provided a level of discomfort at many times for the reds defensive structure and counteraction.
However arguably the biggest triumph of the evening was the newly broken goal drought of the American Gabby Hollar, dispatching the awarded penalty on 75 minutes too far beyond Claudia Jenkins’ reach, with credit actually due on the keeper who dove the right way.
Of course when it rains it pours, and Hollar managed to snatch another let on from a corner to the far post, capping off Glory’s finest moment of the season.
This sees them sit, rather insanely, just two points from fourth and providing a spark that may just see the whole A-Leagues rejuvenated out west even if temporarily.
Adelaide United: D
Although they can stake a claim to perhaps being undeterred by the red card decision that saw Matilda MacNamara removed, especially off the back of a decent second half spell on the front foot, it wouldn’t do the Reds any favours in discussing an otherwise messy performance.
Naturally Adelaide approached the game playing towards their strengths, and also with the notorious breeze that often affects fixtures at the open-air Sam Kerr Football Centre.
As it were though, any semblance of meaningful attack was crammed into uncomfortable areas meaning distribution in the first half in particular provided only one real meaningful chance created when Fiona Worts miss-hit a ball squared centrally and subsequently was dispatched.
Defensively the red card likely opened up the final blows, though the lack of adaptability in quelling the threat provided by Wynne and Tathem early on, as well as Georgia Cassidy’s delivery on set pieces proved a headache that likely sustained their inability to get things on their terms when it mattered most.
Emily Condon was the likely upside for the visitors, though she started on the bench and was brought into the match after just 10 minutes, with head coach Adrian Stenta voicing displeasure at the concussion protocol that oversaw Erin Healy’s removal.
Matt Olsen
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