Premiers Melbourne City and second-place Sydney FC have walked away with the advantage in the A-League Women semi-finals after the first legs of their ties against Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners respectively.
Read our review of all of the Matildas at Home action below.
The Newcastle Jets were unable to make their home advantage count as they fell 3-0 to a clinical and well-organised Melbourne City side. City was able to silence the massive crowd of 6,836 – the second largest standalone finals crowd in A-League Women's history – and the Jets face an uphill battle of getting back into the tie in the second leg in Melbourne.
An early goal from Daniela Galic set the tone for the game. While both sides had their chances, City were able to capitalise on theirs more effectively. Goals to Emina Ekic and CommBank Junior Matilda Shelby McMahon in the second half added to City’s advantage.
All hail Daniela Galic 🙌💥
Pollicina's effort found the post but Daniela Galic was there for the cleanup to open the scoring in for the Premiers, @MelbourneCity!
We're in for a thriller- #NEWvMCY is LIVE on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/pHWgtRvma6— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) April 21, 2024
Galic started and played the full game for the away side.
Sydney FC will also go into their home leg with a lead, albeit a slender one, overcoming the Central Coast Mariners 1-0 at Industree Group Stadium. In a match where both goalkeepers made their impacts felt, it was Mackenzie Hawkesby who got the breakthrough in the second half, a goal that would prove decisive.
Dos Santos 🤝 Hawkesby 🔥
Sydney FC's 16-year year old sensation played a brilliant through ball to find her teammate who then made no mistake! 🥶#CCMvSYD pic.twitter.com/wyAOV7pnEs— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) April 21, 2024
Jada Whyman was named Player of the Match for Sydney FC as she managed to keep a clean sheet in the face of several Mariners opportunities. Cortnee Vine started and played the whole match, and was causing opposition defenders nightmares with her pace and ability on the ball.
Meanwhile, Kyah Simon started and played the full 90 for the Mariners, and will be looking to find the back of the net in the second leg to help her side overcome the deficit.
The second legs of the semi-finals will take place on Saturday, 3pm AEST in Sydney, and Sunday, 1pm AEST in Melbourne.