THE race for the A-League Women Premier’s Plate will be a five-way finish after a string of contenders dropped points on a bumper Sunday card.<\/p>\n
Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City played out a 0-0 stalemate and Western United lost 3-1 to Newcastle, allowing Sydney FC to take top spot with their 4-2 win over Wellington.<\/p>\n
Two weeks from finals, the Sky Blues (36 points) lead the league and have a game in hand on the chasing pack, with Western United (35), City (35), Central Coast (34) and Victory (33) all within a single win.<\/p>\n
Sunday’s Melbourne derby promised plenty but delivered little, with neither team able to stamp their authority on the contest and strike a blow in the race for the Premier’s Plate.<\/p>\n
The Citizens edged possession and the shot count, but didn’t create much of note in the scoreless draw.<\/p>\n
Their best chance came from a sweeping counterattacking move shortly before the hour, Emina Ekic firing a driven cross through the box although none of her teammates could direct the ball goalward.<\/p>\n
Victory striker Emily Gielnik missed a couple of half-chances, including a one-on-one effort that was easily tended to by City keeper Barbara.<\/p>\n
There was no such stumble for Sydney FC in their trip to New Zealand, as they survived a second half scare to beat Wellington 4-2.<\/p>\n
Star winger Cortnee Vine scored twice and assisted another, twice benefitting from perfect Mackenzie Hawkesby set-piece delivery to net goals.<\/p>\n
Her first was unstoppable, volleying a corner home past Phoenix keeper Rylee Foster with genuine ferocity. But after being down 3-0, Wellington found a way back in with Isabel Cox and Mariana Speckmaier scoring in a nine-minute span, before Jordan Thompson coolly sealed the points on 75 minutes thanks to a Vine assist.<\/p>\n
Sydney jumped Western United for top spot after the former leaders fluffed their lines in the first A-Leagues match at their new Regional Football Facility in Tarneit.<\/p>\n
Libby Copus-Brown needed just five minutes to put the Jets in front via a gorgeous Sarina Bolden cross, and when United’s Aimee Medwin levelled things on 20 minutes, Newcastle’s Lauren Allan had her side back in front less than 60 seconds later.<\/p>\n
United would be ropeable with conceding the match-sealing goal, leaving star Jet striker Bolden completely unmarked to head home a corner on 66 minutes.<\/p>\n
Central Coast’s businesslike shift saw them thump four first-half goals past Canberra United to continue their climb up the table after a 4-1 win.<\/p>\n
In their first campaign back in the competition, the Mariners are almost certain to play finals after Rola Badawiya found two goals in the opening 35 minutes in Gosford.<\/p>\n
Chinese forward Wurigumula and Kyah Simon also scored for the Mariners, while Nicki Flannery netted a late consolation for United. The Mariners have now won four straight games.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE race for the A-League Women Premier’s Plate will be a five-way finish after a string of contenders dropped points on a bumper Sunday card. Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City played out a 0-0 stalemate and Western United lost 3-1 to Newcastle, allowing Sydney FC to take top spot with their 4-2 win over Wellington. […]<\/p>\n