Murdoch University Melville came from behind to defeat UWA Nedlands on Sunday and claim their first points of the 2024 NPLWA - Women's season.
Tiana Botha scored the late winner to give MUM FC a 2-1 win, a result whch meant Steve Atkins’ side leapfrogged their opponents and sent UWA to the bottom of the league after five rounds.
On a wind-affected afternoon at UWA Sports Park it was the home side who took a fourth-minute lead. American midfielder Michaela Thawley scored a second long-ranger of the season as she spotted Manon Gebauer off her line and lobbed the goalkeeper from 25 yards.
The home side had the better of the territory and could have doubled their lead midway through the first half when Emily Dinsdale’s effort came back off the crossbar.
MUM FC never tested Morgan Springer in the Uni goal in the opening half despite some decent passages of play. But they were level early in the second period when substitute Luana Ascenzo-Cabello’s low fre- kick was turned into her own by the unfortunate Franca Dobbin.
Both teams then had their moments to win it. UWA’s best chance came when Mackenzie Rastatter headed a corner over the crossbar, a miss which proved costly when Murdoch skipper Botha delivered the match-winner late on.
The forward fought off the attentions of two home defenders to carve out an opportunity, which she dispatched brilliantly with her left foot past Springer to make it two MUM FC wins in a row following last weekend’s Hyundai State Cup success.
The only change at the top has seen Perth SC go second on goal difference, as the Azzurri, Perth RedStar and Balcatta Etna all picked up wins over the weekend.
Leaders RedStar maintained their 100% record in season 2024 with a 4-2 win over a gutsy Fremantle City in the northern suburbs.
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Renee Leota scored the opener on 36 minutes as she expertly brought down Andrea Teixiera’s free-kick to hit low and hard on the turn.
But City were buoyed by a first win of the season in Round Four and levelled spectacularly before the break. Clara Hoarau’s pearler from 18 yards gave Gabby Dal Busco no chance in the RedStar goal and it was 1-1 at half-time.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side restored their lead early in the second half when Momoko Sakairi got to the byline and stood up an inch-perfect cross for Leota to nod in from close range.
Reina Kagami collected Manami Arai’s pass with a quarter of an hour left and struck in trademark fashion to get her seventh goal of the season.
But the visitors were not done and set up a grandstand finish when Alex Poad slipped a pass through for Tanika Lala to net her first goal since joining City.
Freo pushed for a third and Janice Kiama’s late drive from the edge of the box was well saved by Dal Busco, before the defending champions went down the other end to seal it with the last kick of the game. Caitlin Doeglas found Arai who slotted in her first RedStar goal as the leaders remain three points ahead of Perth and Balcatta.
The Azzurri are second and ahead of Etna on goal difference following a 6-1 win over Hyundai NTC on Friday night.
Perth were awarded an early penalty kick when Jess Flannery went to ground in the area and she got up to convert with 13 minutes on the clock.
Ella Lincoln capitalised on a mistake to run in and strike low past Megan Phillips and Daisy McAllister made it two long-range goals in as many rounds when she lifted over the goalkeeper from 35 yards out.
The Azzurri were in cruise control and made it four at the half when Lincoln flashed across goal into the bottom corner.
NTC pulled one back through Maja Archibald’s excellent second goal of the season from distance.
But it would be Perth’s night as Anika Stajcic came off the bench to score her first two goals for the club and make it three wins in a row for Danielle Brogan’s side.
Balcatta are third after three first-half goals saw them cruise to a 3-0 win over Subiaco at Home Group Stadium.
Peter Rakic’s side scored first on 12 minutes with a brilliant team move down the right, which involved Lucy Jerram, Monique Prinsloo and Faye Phillips, who applied a simple finish.
Phillips then bagged a second just past the half-hour mark as she linked up with Jerram to pick out the corner and make it three goals in two home games.
The hosts had a third before the break as Alyssa Van Heurck led the charge with a run from her own half, before finding Jerram who hammered low across the goalkeeper to make it seven for the season and join Kagami at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Marianna Tabain lifted a high up-and-under effort over Rebecca Bennett to give Subiaco a second-half consolation. But the damage was done in the first half as Greg Farrell’s side remain fifth, while Balcatta look ahead to next week’s challenge against leaders RedStar.