W-LEAGUE WRAP: Sydney slotted in four goals for the second time in two weeks to continue their championship-winning form, while Perth notched up four goals of their own to record their first and confidence-boosting season three win.
Sydney proved that their red-hot round one form, which saw them put away four goals against Roar Women, is where they aim their season to stay. They slotted in four against Melbourne Victory Women who, having stared the season on a bye, were making their first season three W-League appearance.
Kyah Simon opened the scoring for Sydney in the 30th, before Melbourne Victory's Jodie Taylor levelled the scores with a penalty strike. But Simon struck again just six minutes later to regain Sydney the lead. One goal looked to be the margin as the game closed out, before Kylie Ledbrook and Catherine Cannuli gave Sydney their third and fourth goals in the 84th and 90th, respectively. The win puts Sydney firmly into first spot on the ladder with two from two wins and an impressive goal difference of five.
Looking to regroup from their shock loss to Sydney in round one, Roar Women headed south to Canberra for a season one grand final rematch. Tameka Butt, who opened the scoring against Sydney last week with a stellar, long-range shot, edged the Roar ahead just before half time. But dual international Ellyse Perry, who divides her time between playing football for Canberra and cricket for New South Wales, evened the scores in the 82nd. Both traditionally evenly-matched teams pushed for a second goal in the remaining minutes of the match, but the result remained locked at one apiece. Roar Women now chalk up a draw and a loss from their first two matches, while Canberra record a win and a draw.
In the round's televised match, Perth Glory Women took on Adelaide United Women, with both teams conscious of the unforgivably short season and the need to get some wins on the board. Channelling a Sydney-style four-goal victory, Perth Glory made the most of their lion's share of possession to record a win in front of their hometown crowd. Sam Kerr proved something of a penalty magnet, first being awarded a spot kick after she was taken down late by a defender and then again, almost inconceivably, by the Lady Reds' goalkeeper and captain Sian McLaren, just minutes later. Kerr's striking partner and fellow Matilda Kate Gill took both kicks, solidly slotting the ball into the left-hand corner each time.
Midfielder Shannon May took it to 3-0 in the 36th after seizing on a ball McLaren had punched away, and then Kerr showed that she can score goals as well as draw penalties, running in unmarked to tap in an Elisa D'Ovidio cross in the 80th.
The round two results see Sydney claim the top of the table, followed by Canberra in second. Round three will see Canberra host fellow cold-climate team Melbourne, Newcastle host the Roar, and Sydney take on Adelaide, while post-victory Perth Glory get the week off.
