Westfield W-League Round 2 wrap

So two rounds down and we have found out a little bit more about everyone, so here is girlswithgame Round 2 Westfield W-League review, all the games wrapped up in one convenient little (ok, more like large) post.

PERTH GLORY 1 (Collette McCallum 10m) bt NEWCASTLE JETS 0 at ME Bank Stadium.

 Unfortunately I didn't get to catch much of this as was watching the Joeys play a curtain raiser at McKellar Park and couldn't find a TV, but have seen the goal and as everyone has no doubt already said, it was a fairly easy one for Perth, a few slips in the box from a Collette McCallum corner and it went in. Looked like it may have been awarded to Lisa de Vanna, but was given to her Matildas team-mate in the after-match report. Unforunate for Newcastle as it seems one slip-up cost them a point. But great for Perth who have now started what they wanted, a good record at home and pressure in the box helped lead to their first goal this season. Perth coach John Gibson was a man happy with his stars. From Perth press release, Gibson had praise for all three of his Matildas, McCallum, de Vanna and Emma Wirkus, but singled out Wirkus’ match and her contribution to the team."We needed a really good goalkeeper (this season) and she’s a wonderful character," he said.``She's been a fantastic addition to the squad and had a very strong performance for us today."

SYDNEY FC 2 (Sarah Walsh 20m, Catherin Paaske 83m) bt CANBERRA UNITED 1 (Ellie Brush 89m) at McKellar Park. So I do get paid to followed Canberra for my day job, so apologies for the United bias that might creep in now. But in the end, Sydney FC deserved their victory because their touches of international class paid off. For Sarah Walsh's first goal, she had given Nicole Sykes trouble already, but she recieved a perfectly weighted ball from midfield and on the turn - was just half a pace ahead of Sykes. That was all Walsh needed, the Sykes twins might currently be the fastest players over 20m in Matildas squads, but before them Walsh held that title. Once she had that half-step, Lydia Williams had very little chance against the Matildas and Women's pro league striker. A great goal. It was a very, very tight second half and United moved the ball around exceptionally well, but just could not find a finisher. Then Sydney's international class did when Julie Rydahl placed a corner kick to her Danish national team and Swedish club team-mate Catherin Paaske at the far post. Paaske, who is a former nominee for FIFA women's world player of the year and has over 100 caps for Denmark as well as a huge haul of goals, easily headed it in. Poor Ashleigh Sykes then summed up Canberra's afternoon when a few minutes later, recieved a ball in the box from Tseng Shu-o, then completely by herself, hit it to Sydney keeper Nikola Dieter. The rebound then fell to Sykes but she hit it straight back to Deiter again, who palmed it out. Canberra scored from the resulting corner through Ellie Brush and then launched a frenetic injury time attack, but just couldn't buy a goal from free play. Overall it was a great game, fast tempo with some well scored goals. Garriock, Paaske, Kyah Simon and Kylie Ledbrook were excellent as Sydney's middle four. Sydney FC coach Alen Stajcic - who was almost shaking with just how cold it was at McKellar, we always turn on the weather in Canberra - said that he was happy his team was starting to gel despite limited preparation.

"I thought we probably played a little bit better last week than we did today,'' he said. ``I thought it was probably pretty even and Canberra probably dominated the second half, I’'m not happy with the way we played in the second half, they outplayed us, but we’re happy to win and get some confidence.
``[Now to improve] we just need to train together, we haven’'t been together long as an actual unit, we’ve only really been together for two weeks now.
``There is no speficic thing, it’s just working out how to work together.''
His counterpart Ray Junna was rueing not having a noted goalscorer, but also said United couldn't afford to dwell too much on what was the toughest start to the season for any club.
“[If they can score] then it will give them that little b it of confidence, for someone like Ellie [Raymond] playing in this type of environment, playing ACTAS football she can take an extra touch, look up and at the moment in this league, it has to be instinctive,”'' Junna said.
``So hopefully she will adapt and that her best is yet to come.
``We’'ve got to look at it that way, there is no use getting disillusioned or downhearted, we’ve just got to keep pressing and get a result.”
Also, I must mention, special call-out to Ellie Brush and her spectacular bicycle kick attempt at goal. She's done it before at McKellar Park and brought it out again in the first half. It gained a huge cheer from the crowd.

BRISBANE ROAR 1 (Ellen Beaumont 84m) bt MELBOURNE VICTORY 0 at Epping Soccer Stadium.
Melbourne almost managed to sneak through and claim a point against Brisbane, proving that they could be an good prospect this year. But most interesting for Brisbane, Sasha McDonnell started and from the match report, apparently created a host of chances. McDonnell was a late signing to Brisbane Roar, as Roar coach Jeff Hopkins said he thought she should go elsewhere as he couldn't guarantee her a starting spot, but now perhaps she could be a regular? Doubly interesting as McDonnell and her best mate, Kara Mowbray, had to play against each other in this game instead of helping set each other up for Canberra United. I look forward to being able to watch Melbourne Victory ASAP so I can see for myself exactly what type of team they have managed to put together.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 2 (Trudy Camilleri 73m, Ashleigh Connor 87m) bt ADELAIDE UNITED 0 at Bluetongue Stadium. Referee: Kate Jacewicz. So the surprise packet in the first two rounds keep improving and the Mariners are equal on points with Brisbane at the end of Round 2. Which makes for a fantastic set-up against Brisbane in Round 3, can the Mariners prove they are the real deal then? In this weekend's game, it was substitutes that scored both the Mariners goals to beat the hapless Adelaide - who are now one of only two teams, the other being Newcastle, who are yet to score a goal in two W-League games. Central Coast head coach Stephen Roche was very happy with the performance of his team.
``We started the match slowly but after the first 20 minutes it began to look like we wanted to play football,'' he said.``I thought the two finishes were outstanding particularly Trudy’'s who showed commitment to get that shot away under pressure.
``I thought everyone played well today, which, is pleasing as it cause s more selection headaches for me. It's good to see everyone fighting for squad berths.
``Top of the table after two rounds, I can’t ask for more than that but the real challenge is to stay there.''

*And just one housekeeping tip, if it appears my goalscorers are wrong from others, it seems there has been plenty of confusion around in regards to who actually scored in the first few rounds. For example, the AAP wires had Courtney Buetel scoring once last week, when clearly anyone watching would have known she scored twice. So in an effort to keep some consistency, I will put down the goalscorers that I get from the official club match reports. So if they are different, that's why. Happy W-League watching and stay tuned for part two of Matildas coach Tom Sermanni's season preview.

Also in other news quickly, the under-17 Australian girls team have started their ASEAN Cup campaign brilliantly, with a 14-0 win over the Phillipines. Here is the match card,
Australia 14 (Teigen Allen 7’/70’, Heidi Makrillos 13’/15’, Sam Kerr 38’, Alanna Kennedy 43’/60’/73’/90’+3, Caitlin Friend 44’/79’/81’, Ashlee Faul 55’, Brittany Whitfield 85’) bt Philippines 0
AFF U16 Championships, Myanmar, Aung San Stadium, Yangon
Australia line-up: Amy Higgins (GK), Hannah Brewer, Alexandra Huynh, Erika Elze, Ashlee Faul, Sam Kerr (Rebekah Stott 46’), Alanna Kennedy, Ruth Wallace, Sharni Brown, Heidi Makrillos (Caitlin Friend 33’), Teigen Allen (Brittany Whitfield 70’)
Subs not used: Brianna Davey (GK), Tara Andrews, Nicola Bolger, Stephanie Catley, Emily van Egmond, Caitlin Foord. Debutants: Ashlee Faul, Heidi Makrillos, Sharni Brown.