Westfield Matildas in the Westfield W-League: Raso returns for Roar, Foord driving Sydney up the ladder

Brisbane Roar may have lost 3-1 to Sydney FC in Round 12 of the Westfield W-League, but they won in spirit with the return of Westfield Matildas winger Hayley Raso. 

The 24-year-old had missed out on five months of football after suffering three fractured vertebrae while playing in the National Women’s Soccer League for Portland Thorns FC. 

(Feature Image credit: Brisbane Roar)

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After months of rehab — and learning how to walk and run again — Raso came on at the start of the second half to rapturous applause from the Lions FC Stadium crowd. 

She and teammates Clare Polkinghorne and Mackenzie Arnold, who both played the full 90 minutes, were unable to stop Sydney from running away with all three points. 

Crucial to that win was Westfield Matildas forward Caitlin Foord. Goals either side of half-time means Foord is now second in the Golden Boot race, amassing a staggering nine goals and three assists this season. 

Foord’s first goal was a penalty, while the second brought out a finish of which every striker would be proud. After bringing down a laser-like through-ball from Lisa De Vanna, the 24-year-old ran in on goal and slotted the ball through Arnold’s legs.

Foord, Alanna Kennedy — who assisted Natalie Tobin’s goal — and Princess Ibini played the full 90 minutes, while Chloe Logarzo was substituted for De Vanna on 65 minutes. 

Butt runs rampant as City hit four against Newcastle

Tameka Butt made a huge statement for Melbourne City at a time when her side needed to make an equally large splash in the water. 

Head coach Rado Vidosic came out during the week conceding his side’s final chances were not solely contingent on City’s ability to grab six points from their last two games — alas, it will require some luck, too. 

City held up their end of the bargain with a 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets — instrumental in this was Butt, who had the equal most amount of shots (3), attracted the most fouls (3) and grabbed an assist for her troubles. 

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Butt also played the full 90 minutes, as did her team-mates Lydia Williams, and Elise Kellond-Knight.

At the other end, the picture is not so bright for Newcastle Jets’ duo of Westfield Matildas. Despite both playing the full 90 minutes, Gema Simon and Larissa Crummer felt the wrath of a rampant Melbourne City outfit. 

Shipping four goals is never a good feeling, but the only way is up for Newcastle who must quickly dust themselves off to close the six-point gap from Perth Glory.

Carpenter’s wood-be encounter against Gielnik and Alleway postponed

Westfield Matildas fans will have to wait a little bit longer for this exciting match-up: Ellie Carpenter was set to do battle with Emily Gielnik and Laura Alleway before the threat of lightning postponed proceedings between Canberra United and Melbourne Victory at Queanbeyan. 

Carpenter has enjoyed newfound freedom at Canberra United with Heather Garriock deploying her as a wing-back and at times even a winger. 

Depending on her position, she would have either had to contain Gielnik and or be tasked with getting around Alleway. 

Thankfully, the game will be played at a later date within the next two weeks, so we will still be able to see the three stars do battle.

Heyman unable to guide Adelaide out of the Red

Adelaide’s season has taken a downward turn over the past two weeks, with consecutive losses throwing Ivan Karlovic’s side out of the top four. 

After succumbing to a 1-0 loss to Canberra United in Round 11, things got worse for the Reds when they were trounced 4-1 at home by the previously winless Western Sydney Wanderers. 

Westfield Matildas forward Michelle Heyman was unable to turn the tide, left isolated up front as the Wanderers’ dynamic midfield of Kylie Ledbrook and Lo’eau LaBonta overran Dylan Holmes and Georgia Campagnale. 

With games against Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar remaining for Adelaide United, it seems their Round 14 encounter may just be a classic, fate-deciding six-pointer.

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