The W-League produced two superb semi-final matches on Sunday, with Sam Kerr’s sensational scoring streak highlighting the action, as the 25-year-old striker notched her fourth career W-League hat-trick.
Sending Perth Glory into the Grand Final with a 4-2 extra time win over Premiers Melbourne Victory, Kerr added to her W-League golden boot tally – she now has 16 across the regular season and finals combined – to give Perth the first chance at Grand Final success since its loss in the decider in 2017.
The mercurial striker helped Perth recover from a slow start to give the Glory a win away from home, scoring twice in extra time to secure passage to the final – with each goal complemented by her trademark backflip.
Kerr will now look to further add to that tally in the season’s finale against Sydney this Saturday, in a campaign where Kerr has become the all-time leading goal-scorer in the W-League.
”I don’t normally score in finals so it’s pretty special for me. I seem to have made a lot of finals and never scored so I feel pretty good,” Kerr said.
While Kerr remains a household name in Australian women’s football, a name in the men’s game with a similarly keen eye for goal didn’t take much time to make an impact for his new club on Saturday evening.
After signing for Melbourne City within hours of the January transfer window closing, Socceroo Jamie Mclaren made an immediate impact upon his return to the A-League in his debut for City.
Scoring a neat back heel to give City an important point against Adelaide United, Mclaren said he couldn’t wait for more goal-mouth action in the coming weeks.
“It was pretty special… we kept pushing for that goal, for that equaliser and we got it and I felt like the crowd really got behind us. It was great to play in front a Melbourne crowd, for me was the first time, so it’s just fantastic to get out there and I can’t wait for more.”
In the Hunter, Newcastle Jets’ PFA Delegate Jason Hoffman reached an incredible 200 appearances in the A-League last Thursday.
After setting his ambitions as a youngster on playing just one game for his hometown club the Jets, Hoffman said he was incredibly proud of the achievement.
“Probably when I was 12, I realised I wanted to work hard and try and get one game and if I could be a professional player and play one match, that was obviously the start,” Hoffman told the Newcastle Herald.
“I guess to fast forward 13 seasons now to 200 matches, it’s something I’m really proud of. And I’m proud to say that through the tough times I’ve shown some resilience to reinvent myself and try and give my best for whatever team I’ve played for. Without a doubt, playing for Newcastle has definitely been a highlight of the career.”
Hoffman, who also played 80 times for Melbourne City, became the 28th player to reach 200 A-League appearances.
In the same match Hoffman reached his milestone, PFA Executive Member Glen Moss became the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in A-League history.
Moss, the 36-year-old New Zealand stopper, saved Roy Krishna’s 87th minute penalty to ensure the Jets shared the spoils with the Nix.
The penalty save was Moss’ tenth – the highest number by a goalkeeper in competition history.
In Brisbane Roar’s win over Sydney FC, defender Izaack Powell become the youngest play to ever pull on the Brisbane Roar A-League jersey. Four days shy of his 17th birthday, Powell was just 16 years and 361 days old when he debuted.
Meanwhile, Dylan Wenzel-Halls scored an incredible winner for Roar against Sydney to had them a vital three points. It was the 26-year-old’s second in as many games and his first at home at Suncorp Stadium.
“Words can’t describe [the feeling], I just hit it as hard as I could. We worked hard, it wasn’t easy, but it’s great to get the three points. I love celebrating with the fans, they’ve supported us through thick and thin.”
Other milestones
- In Sydney FC’s W-League semi-final win over Brisbane Roar at Dolphin Stadium, Sofia Huerta scored Sydney FC women’s 300th W-League goal
- Following his penalty against Melbourne Victory, Neil Kilkenny has now netted five goals for Perth Glory this season; the highest number of goals the defensive midfielder in one season in his career. Kilkenned scored four goals in a season with Leeds United back in 2008/9.
- Kilkenny’s teammate Andy Keogh recently reached the milestone of 50 goals in the A-League, following five seasons in the competition with West Australian club
