Kahli Johnson opens up on Western United departure, while there’s a win for fans
As Kahli Johnson prepares to depart for Canada, she has revealed a key trait in Western United’s squad which is a “great representation” of the A-Leagues club. Erin Smith brings you the latest in this week’s ALW Tackle.
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There was no fairy tale ending for Kahli Johnson’s final A-League’s Women’s match with Western United falling to rivals Melbourne Victory 1-2.
Johnson, 21, announced earlier this week she had signed with Calgary Wild in the new Canadian league and would be departing after this clash.
The forward certainly did her best to help deliver another three points for United but Victory just proved more clinical in front of goal.
“It is definitely a little bittersweet. I wanted to really go out and get the win for all the players and fans but it wasn’t to be,” Johnson said.
“I think it shows the fight we have as a team, we haven’t gotten the results that we’ve always wanted this season but I just think the character that we show on the field is just a great representation of the culture that this club has, we always try and get in there and never give up to the end.
“We’ve had some tough games, at the end of the day we show our character when we can bounce back and put on those hard performances, that is what they are going to be looking to do for the next game and I back the girls.”
It was a much improved performance from United who lost 4-1 in their first clash with the Melbourne rival earlier in the season.
Johnson, who has scored eight goals this season, came close to getting another but it was officially recorded as an own goal to Emily Gielnik.
Neither team really dominated the game – it was very transitional, with plenty of midfield turn over.
Melbourne Victory were certainly missing Alana Murphy, absent on Matildas duty, forcing Alex Chidiac to play a more defensive role.
Victory’s Holly Furphy was first to score – with a well composed shot after picking up a lose ball from a corner.
Both teams had plenty of chances but just couldn’t finish them.
Right before the halftime break the ball was sent pinballing around the goal box – finally bouncing off Gielnik and bobbling over the line to level the scores.
Victory captain Kayla Morrison set the tone for the second half – a soaring header in the 47th minute putting the visitors ahead.
Western United rose to the occasion – desperately firing any shot they could at the net – most from outside the 18-yard-box. But the scatter-shot approach didn’t rattle Victory keeper Courtney Newbon.
Johnson looked like getting another equaliser in the 71st minute but was deemed off-side.
The win puts Victory a step closer to league leaders City, and is their seventh consecutive win.
Morrison said if Victory can sort out a few things they will be “unstoppable”.
“That was definitely a big win for us in terms of where we are sitting on the ladder, it wasn’t the best game we have ever played and the team will be a little disappointed with the performance but we grinded it out and that has something to say about us as a team,” Morrison said.
“We want to be threatening, we want to be accurate with our crosses and then we really want to capitalise on any chances that we get, once we get that down we’ll be unstoppable.”
BROADCAST WIN
It was a big match, rival clubs, two versus four, and kudos to broadcaster Paramount giving the match a bit of extra love.
The game was commentated by two former Matildas Grace Gill and Alicia Ferguson – who provided expert analysis during the match.
But the big win was a halftime show.
Both Gill and Ferguson took fans at home through the highlights, provided analysis and even recapped the earlier games from the day.
Fans are usually left to watch an empty green field during the halftime break.
They followed it up with a post-match wrap up including player interviews.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Newcastle Jets 2 vs. Perth Glory 1
Goal scorers: Jets: Sophie Hoben x2. Glory: Ella Lincoln
Two early goals to Sophie Hoben, scored within the opening three minutes gave Jets their first win in 10 matches. It ended on a sour note though with Libby Copus-Brown shown a red card for a reckless tackle. Perth tried to stage a comeback and dominated possession. Things looked to take a turn when Ella Lincoln got Glory on the scoreboard but just four of their 15 shots were on target and they couldn’t find the net a second time.
Melbourne City 1 vs. Canberra United 1
Goal scorer: City: Taylor Otto. United: Aideen Keane
Melbourne City have survived a tough encounter with a relentless Canberra side to equal the A-League’s Women’s unbeaten record streak of 18 games. Both teams were depleted with City missing Holly McNamara and Canberra Michelle Heyman due to their trip to the USA with the Matildas. City dominated the first half but couldn’t find a way past United’s super keeper Sally James. City’s goal in the 52nd minute was far from pretty – hitting the net after a chaotic scramble in the box. That wasn’t the end of the drama. Canberra’s patience paid off capitalising on a massive defensive error from City – allowing Aideen Keane to dart through and shoot into an empty net.
“I was feeling the pressure a little bit,” Keane said post match. “I was super pumped to be in that position where I could get that goal and level the game.”
City captain Rebekah Stott described the match as “frustrating” but said the team was “proud” to equal the 18-game unbeaten streak.
“We obviously want to go and beat that record, we haven’t been talking a lot about it, we know it’s a goal but it’s not something we are focusing on every single day. We want to be hard to beat and I think being hard to beat can help you get that record.”
It is a huge result for Canberra who now only sit outside the finals contention due to goal difference.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 def Central Coast Mariners 1
Goal scorers: WSW: Olivia Price, Holly Caspers. Mariners: Isabel Gomez
Western Sydney Wanderers staged an epic fight back to pull off a shock upset over the Mariners.
It was a scoreless first half with Isabel Gomez first to find the net for the Mariners in the 68th minute. The match was the first time Gomez had featured in the starting side since her injury in November. A brilliant ball from Sienna Saveska, fresh of the Young Matildas Four Nations tournament, put through a beautiful ball to WSW teammate Olivia Price who banged it into the goal – levelling the scores at the 80th minute mark.
Just as every thought the game was going to end in a draw Central Coast’s Jessika Nash got a poor touch on the ball – delivering it straight to the Wanderers midfield. Holly Caspers got the ball at her feet and didn’t cave under the pressure scoring the match winner in the 93rd minute.
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