Ninja A-League round-up: Central Coast Mariners get Championship defence off to flying start | OneFootball

The Ninja A-League Women returned for the new season and four teams banked their first wins, including league leaders Central Coast Mariners.

With the slates wiped clean for everyone, the first round of fixtures was a chance for teams to set the tone for the new campaign ahead.

With Western United sitting this season out, one team will receive a bye each week. Wellington Phoenix will have to wait until next week to get their season started.

Here’s how round one shaped up.

Western Sydney Wanderers 1-3 Perth Glory

Perth Glory got their season off to the ideal start with a win over last season’s Wooden Spooners.

Gabby Hollar put Perth ahead just before the half hour mark. She was on-hand to finish when Wanderers goalkeeper Brianna Edwards dropped Grace Johnston’s cross after being sandwiched by teammate Ella Buchanan and Glory’s Rola Badawiya.

Badawiya doubled Perth’s lead just after the restart from close range. Again, Johnston was the provider as Stephen Peters’ side gave themselves daylight.

Buchanan’s scrambled finish dragged Wanderers back into the contest a couple of minutes later, but Hollar’s second barely a minute after the restart sealed the points for Perth.

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Sydney FC 2-2 Melbourne City

The most eye-catching game of the weekend saw Sydney FC and Melbourne City play out an entertaining draw.

Sydney — looking to bounce back from an historically poor previous season — took the lead with 20 minutes gone. Mackenzie Hawkesby’s corner cannoned in off the unfortunate Rebekah Stott.

City levelled deep into first half stoppage time. Leticia McKenna’s long-range effort crashed off the bar and into the path of Shelby McMahon who stopped to head home on the line.

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Hawkesby restored Sydney’s lead from the penalty spot after she was felled by Aideen Keane with just after an hour gone.

Keane went from villain to hero as she capped off a wonderful passing move to bring City level again in the 75th minute to ensure a share of the points.

Brisbane Roar 3-2 Melbourne Victory

Tameka Yallop’s late strike saw Brisbane come from behind to beat last season’s Grand Final runners-up Melbourne Victory.

New signing Bente Jansen marked her debut with a goal to Roar ahead in the 22nd minute. She latched onto Kayla Morrison’s wayward pass to curl home past Courtney Newbon.

Two quick-fire Victory goals saw them lead at the break. Rhianna Pollicina’s stunning strike from the edge of the box left Chloe Lincoln with no chance in the Brisbane goal.

Kennedy White bagged her first goal for the Vuck, poking home Morrison’s header back across goal.

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Sharn Freier capped her Brisbane return by side footing home the equaliser when Newbon could only parry Jansen’s cross.

Against a dramatic backdrop of an incoming thunderstorm, Yallop’s late header sealed an opening night win for Brisbane.

Central Coast Mariners 3-0 Adelaide United

The Mariners got their defence of the Championship off to the perfect with a convincing win over Adelaide.

The Reds had the better of the early chances, but couldn’t capitalise as Dylan Holmes and Matilda McNamara both went close.

That profligacy came back to haunt Adelaide as the Mariners took the lead with five minutes of the first half to play. Isabella Coco-Di Sipio threaded the needle to find Peta Trimis at the back post. She had the simple job of rolling the ball home past Claudia Jenkins.

Two minutes later, the champions had a second. A lightning break lead by Trimis saw her turn provider for Jynaya dos Santos who steered the Mariners into a two-goal lead.

Isabel Gomez rifled in the Mariners’ third of the afternoon to complete a dream debut for new manager Kory Babington.

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Canberra United 1-2 Newcastle Jets

A late winner from India Breier saw the Jets come from behind to win in Canberra.

United took a 14th minute lead through Michelle Heyman (who else?) when she was picked out by a wonderful Emma Robers through ball. Under pressure from the retreating Tash Prior, Heyman kept her cool to slide the ball past the outstretched leg of Anna Leat.

The Matildas legend nearly headed in a second two minutes later, but was denied by the post after connecting with Bethany Gordon’s cross-field ball.

Charlotte Lancaster pulled the Jets level with 33 minutes gone. It was a long pass from Leat to play in Lancaster, who cut in and finished ruthlessly at the near post.

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Canberra nearly retook the lead almost instantly, but Mary Stanic-Floody and then Josie Aulicino were denied in quick succession by blocks from Prior.

In the end it was Breier who proved to be the difference-maker. She picked off Nanako Sasaki’s poor pass and finished past Sally James to seal the win.

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