Ninja A-League round-up: Perth shines as Victory claims crucial points | OneFootball

The Ninja A-League returned this past weekend with five sides looking to stake a claim on what increasingly looks like the three remaining Finals spots.

Western United, Brisbane Roar, Central Coast, Canberra United and Wellington Phoenix all have desires on post-season football. Brisbane would have to wait a week, however. Their match against Melbourne City was postponed due to Cyclone Alfred.

Here’s how the A-League Women action unfolded during Round 18.

Perth Glory 3-0 Western United

Perth’s outside chances of a Finals berth received a huge lift as they dismantled Western United on Friday.

Kelli Brown gave the hosts the lead in the 14th minute. She coolly converted Sarah O’Donoghue’s wonderful pass to open the scoring.

A mix-up in the Perth defence nearly gave the visitors a chance for an instant reply, but Chloe Logarzo struck the post.

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Ten minutes before half time, Perth’s Casey Dumont kept out Isabel Dehakiz’s sensational volley with an equally impressive save.

Western were reduced to 10 players when Julia Sardo was sent off in the 70th minute.

Brown made the points with just under 10 minutes to play. Her initial shot was parried back out by Chloe Lincoln, allowing Brown to roll home the rebound.

Susan Phonsongkhan’s spot-kick capped off an impressive night for the Glory.

Newcastle Jets 1-0 Sydney FC

Newcastle claimed all three points against Sydney to give themselves some breathing room from the Sky Blues at the bottom.

Sydney goalkeeper Beth Mason-Jones had to be alert to deny Lauren Allan and Sheridan Gallagher from distance.

Allan and Gallagher combined for the Jets’ goal just before the break. Mason-Jones palmed Allan’s header away, but Gallagher was on hand to poke the ball in from close range.

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Mackenzie Hawkesby blazed over for Sydney early in the second half. The visitors were dealt a further blow when Mason-Jones was forced off with a knock. Her replacement was Jasmine Black, who capped her debut with a great save to deny Deven Jackson and keep Sydney in the game.

Late on, Newcastle hit the bar through Lorena Baumann. Shea Hollman then headed a chance over the goal in injury time for Sydney, who couldn’t find the equaliser and remain bottom of the league.

Adelaide United 1-0 Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast’s faltering form continued as they lost for the third game running.

Brooke Nunn was first to get a shot in anger away. Her long-range strike made sure Claudia Jenkins was alert in the Adelaide goal.

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, Chelsie Dawber broke the Mariners’ offside trap and raced in on goal. But goalkeeper Sarah Langman was there to deny her brilliantly.

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Eventually, Dawber played a key role in the Adelaide goal. Erin Healy picked up her pass on the edge of the box. The American dodged her way past Annabel Martin before firing under Langman in the 50th minute.

The Mariners were reduced to 10 on the hour when Shadeene Evans received her second yellow.

Nunn went close again in the dying moments but curled her effort over the goal from a narrow angle.

Adelaide remain in the hunt for the Premier’s Plate.

Wellington Phoenix 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers

Wellington came from behind to maintain their Finals push at the expense of an improving Wanderers.

The hosts created some good early chances, as Manaia Elliott and Lara Wall both went close.

Despite that, Western Sydney struck first. Bronte Trew seized on a poor touch from the Wellington defender and rounded goalkeeper Carolina Vilão to slide the ball home.

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Emma Main should’ve levelled, but she ballooned her shot over from six yards out.

Into the second half, the Wanderers had their keeper to thank for preserving their lead. Sham Khamis parried away Alyssa Whinam’s shot and recovered to tip Elliott’s follow-up wide.

However, the Wellington pressure eventually paid off in stunning fashion. A corner was cleared only as far as Mebae Tanaka, who let rip from 16 yards out. Khamis wasn’t keeping that one out.

The turnaround was complete with five minutes to go. Olivia Fergusson displayed an incredible bit of instinct to turn home a cross from Zoe McMeeken.

Western Sydney’s wait for a clean sheet this season goes on.

Melbourne Victory 2-0 Canberra United

Two late goals from Melbourne Victory kept the pressure on cross-town rivals, City, at the top of the league.

In a game that took a while to get going, Victory hit the top of the bar through Claudia Bunge in the second half.

Maja Markovski saw her shot kept out by Courtney Newbon at her near post moments later.

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Kayla Morrison thought she had given the home side the lead with just under 25 minutes to go, but she was denied by the offside flag.

Victory did take the lead, thanks to Holly Furphy’s tenacity. She out-muscled Tegan Bertolissio before hammering the ball past Sally James at her near post.

Emily Gielnik made sure of the points with a well-placed header seven minutes from time. That was the Matildas player’s tenth goal of the season, which extended her lead in the Golden Boot race.

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