Could This Be Why We’re Still Undefeated? A Look at Mitre Moments

“She’s an excellent player and executed well,” said Matricciani when discussing McNamara’s goal and overall display.

“Initially, the physio suggested substituting her due to a gash that couldn’t be stitched in time, but they managed to patch it up, and she continued to play.”

“We had already planned for her to play only 60 minutes due to her heavy workload this week, as she isn’t quite at full match fitness yet.

“So we managed to keep her on for another 10-12 minutes, though she’ll be disappointed about missing the penalty, especially as she’s vying for the top goalscorer title with Gielnik. But we’re all just glad we won the match.”

“We created a multitude of chances today while restricting them to only a few half chances, so overall, it’s very satisfying.”

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He added: “The key for us is the number of chances we’re creating. I believe we had five or six excellent opportunities, along with another four or five half-chances, while the Phoenix only managed around three.”

“If we limit our opponents’ chances to three or four while consistently creating five, six, or more for ourselves, we should have more wins than losses, which we’ve upheld throughout the season.”

“Perhaps that’s why we remain unbeaten.”

Roar aiming for landmark trip to turn their fortunes around

Brisbane Roar find themselves on the fringes of finals football after a 2-1 defeat to Central Coast Mariners.

Despite taking an early lead within just 21 seconds at Industree Group Stadium, the Roar finished empty-handed, marking their fifth consecutive loss in the Ninja A-League.

“It’s been a big week for us,” noted Brisbane Roar defender Holly McQueen. “We are a bit fatigued, but I believe we managed to stay in the game for most of it.”

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“Unfortunately, we made a couple of errors that led to their goals.”

Coming off a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Melbourne City in the preceding match, the Roar knew a victory in Gosford would significantly boost their finals aspirations, while a loss would push them out of the top six for the first time this season.

“We’ve maintained a good atmosphere,” McQueen reassured when asked if morale had dipped within the dressing room.

“The team is united with the staff, and we are focused on overcoming this rough patch.”

With only two matches left, the Roar currently sit in seventh position on the table and are two points shy of the top six.

In search of a spark to revive their fortunes, Brisbane is planning a landmark trip that the players hope could break their slump in form.

Head coach Alex Smith and his squad are set to head to Singapore on Tuesday for a week filled with activities involving local football clubs, culminating in a friendly match against a Singaporean NPL XI.

“We’re all very excited. It’s a getaway we haven’t done before, and it’s just another bonding experience for us.”

She continued: “Absolutely. It’s going to be a refreshing experience, helping us come together and prepare for the final few matches.”

Western ‘find their rhythm’ to secure finals place

Western United captain Chloe Logarzo hailed her side’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle Jets as their finest performance of the season, officially securing a spot in this year’s Finals Series.

Goals from Catherine Zimmerman and Keiwa Hieda ensured a dominant display for Kat Smith’s side, which controlled the game throughout.

This win, coupled with the Mariners’ 2-1 victory over Brisbane Roar, confirmed Western’s position in the finals, with Logarzo expressing confidence in the squad’s form.

“That was likely our top performance as a unit,” said the captain post-match.

“No match in this league is a stroll, and it was fantastic for us to find our rhythm. I felt we could have pushed for another 20 minutes.”

Currently sitting fourth on the ladder, Western has recorded consecutive wins in the league and is in a prime position to secure a home elimination final. They understand securing this position is attainable should they match the Mariners’ results in their final two matches of the season.

“I genuinely believe we were clinical in our possession, finding space effortlessly and exploiting gaps, which was a focal point during our training.”

“Our execution of the game plan was exceptional. I’m genuinely thrilled with our performance, which capped off a brilliant week of training.”

For Western, the showdown against Newcastle could have unfolded differently given their two-week break before the match at No.2 Sportsground.

“For us, it was all about staying concentrated and utilising this time to focus on our own game. I know it sounds cliché, but we found joy in the process, and that downtime felt like an eternity.”

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“Getting back out there and playing again was exhilarating.”

Western now faces another two-week hiatus due to the international break before hosting third-placed Adelaide United on April 12 and wrapping up their season away against Wellington Phoenix.

Canberra surge into finals contention after gritty away victory

Canberra United are now in an excellent position to qualify for the finals for the first time since the 2020-21 Ninja A-League season, having moved into the top six with two matches to go.

A hard-fought 2-1 win against Perth Glory saw Canberra leapfrog Brisbane Roar into the crucial sixth position, with legendary striker Michelle Heyman optimistic that their confidence will surge following this hard-won victory.

“It’s extremely tough to travel across Australia and secure three points,” said Heyman after the match.

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“This was exactly what we needed to continue our fight for finals football.”

The standout player in the West was midfielder Mary Stanic-Floody, who celebrated her 50th Ninja A-League appearance with both a goal and an assist to lead her team to victory.

“Mary is just exemplary,” Heyman remarked regarding her teammate’s performance.

“Every time she steps onto the field, she knows precisely what is expected of her and executes it flawlessly.”

“I’m incredibly proud of how far she’s come since last season, transitioning to her current form this season.”

“She is now finishing her chances and creating even more. She is certainly one to watch in the A-League’s future.”

While Heyman prepares for the CommBank Matildas camp ahead of matches against Korea Republic, her teammates will enjoy some well-deserved rest leading up to their final two league games.

“Yes, it’s going to be a challenging couple of games, but we will ensure we’re ready with ice baths and proper recovery for our upcoming clash against Wellington.”

She added: “Wellington is one of the top pressing teams, and (Annalie) Longo is perhaps the most creative player in the league, so our top priority must be to restrict her touches and feeding opportunities for her teammates.”

“If we can neutralise her, we can effectively disrupt their entire gameplay. Fingers crossed we all get the recovery we need for that match.”

“I’m heading into international break and have a couple of matches to play, so hopefully, I can stay fit. It’s all about rest and recovery moving forward.”

Victory keep Premiership hopes alive after thrilling Original Rivalry clash

Melbourne Victory heads into this weekend’s rescheduled match against the Wanderers aware that their Premiership aspirations remain intact following a dramatic triumph over Adelaide United in Round 21.

With the match tied at 1-1 as stoppage time approached, midfielder Nikoletta Flannery netted her second goal of the afternoon in the 91st minute, ensuring Victory stayed competitive at the top of the table.

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The victory temporarily brought Victory to within two points of leaders City before Matricciani’s team reclaimed a five-point advantage with their win over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.

With their club-record unbeaten run now at 10 matches, Victory will be confident of closing the gap back to two points with a win against struggling Western Sydney Wanderers this weekend.

To further bolster their chances, head coach Jeff Hopkins will have joint Golden Boot leader Emily Gielnik available for the Sunday encounter against the Wanderers.

Sharing the top scoring position in the Ninja A-League this season with Holly McNamara from Melbourne City, Gielnik has netted 12 times but was left out by CommBank Matildas interim head coach Tom Sermanni for the upcoming two games against Korea Republic, thus ensuring she will take centre stage in the clash against Western Sydney at Wanderers Football Park.