There were milestones aplenty achieved across an action-packed weekend of W-League and A-League fixtures. The PFA recaps the outstanding achievements of its members and players in Australia’s domestic competitions in this week’s #MilestoneMonday
PFA Executive Committee member and Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams reached a century of appearances in the W-League in Melbourne City’s return to form with a 3-1 win over Newcastle Jets on Sunday.
Williams, who has earned those 100 appearances across two clubs in Canberra United and City, joined the W-League in its first season, over a decade ago.
Honoured to become a part of the 100 club. I couldn’t have done it without all the support of @WLeague @FFA @WestfieldAU. My teammates both past and present, thank you, you are amazing! I love y’all. Especially these @MelbourneCity gals! 💙💙💙 https://t.co/m3mybSehUn
— Lydia Williams (@lydsaussie) December 9, 2018
Williams moved to Canberra with her family at the age of 11 from Kalgoorlie – and was an eventual product of the Australian Institute of Sport and local clubs Tuggeranong and Woden in the ACT, before joining United.
Establishing herself as one of the standout goalkeepers in Australia, Williams has plied her trade in America’s NWSL between W-League seasons and made the high-profile switch from United to City in 2016.
Williams has earned plenty of individual and team accolades, with the stopper being named the W-League goalkeeper of the year for the 2016-17 season – when she helped guide City to one of its three W-League Championships.
Meanwhile, Western Sydney Wanderers’ Leena Khamis also became a centurion in Round 6 of the W-League, in an entertaining encounter against Canberra United. Coming up against her sister, Sham Khamis, the siblings literally collided in a fierce challenge for the ball in the first half.
Brushing herself off from the heavy collision, Khamis netted the Wanderers’ first equaliser – and her first ever goal for the Red and Black – before the match finished all square at 2-2.
100th @WLeague game and her first Red & Black goal, we spoke to @Leena_Khamis about her milestone moments on Friday night #WSW pic.twitter.com/DaJGldB8oA
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) December 9, 2018
Khamis, a 32-year-old veteran of the W-League, played with Sydney FC for her first 10 seasons, but made the off-season switch to Sydney’s rivals in the West, after notching 94 appearances with the Sky Blues
Caitlin Foord scored her second career hat-trick in the space of a month, adding a second treble to her name in Sydney FC’s 5-1 win over Brisbane Roar at Seymour Shaw Park on Sunday.
⏱15'
⏱67'
⏱83' GOALLLLLWatch EVERY moment @SydneyFC's @CaitlinFoord found the net against Brisbane Roar FC in Round 6⃣👏👏 pic.twitter.com/eXKJ2VA93t
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) December 10, 2018
Foord led the emphatic victory, with her second career hat-trick – her first at club level and in the W-League – following her first ever international hat-trick last month for the Matildas against Chile.
Tameka Butt’s strike for Melbourne City brought up her 50th goal of her career in the W-League. Having played for Brisbane Roar in the W-League across 11 seasons, Butt had scored 49 goals for the Queensland outfit, so her first strike for her new club – having made the switch to City in the pre-season – secured the milestone.
The journey from goal #1 to goal #50 has been unreal !! Thanks @WLeague https://t.co/fUk4W65cjj
— Tameka Yallop (Butt) (@Tameka_Yallop) December 10, 2018
Another player who, like Butt, has played in the orange of Brisbane and the blue of Melbourne City – Luke Brattan – made his 150th appearance in the A-League in City’s 1-0 loss against Perth on Saturday.
Brattan, who was born in Hull in England, made the milestone appearance after 9 seasons in the competition.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrJ7rsuhbVD/
The central mifielder enjoyed most of his career at Roar, where he played 6 seasons and made 91 appearances in the orange kit.
Although scoring is not his forte – he has scored on just 6 occasions for Brisbane Roar and three for City – Brattan netted a sensational volley for City last week.
Newcastle Jets duo Kaine Sheppard and Brazilian import Jair scored their first A-League goals as the Jets defeated Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
Petratos ➡️ Georgievski ➡️ Sheppard ➡️ GOAL! #MadeOfNewcastle pic.twitter.com/neJTwjI8AB
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) December 10, 2018
Both players joined the Jets in the off-season, and each scored their maiden goals for their new club either side of the half-time break in what was the Jets’ 350th match in the A-League.
Sheppard, who was born in England and came through Leyton Orient’s youth system, joined the Jets after scoring 14 goals in 22 games for Victorian NPL side Avondale.
Another Englishman in Steven Taylor – the former Newcastle United and Peterborough United defender – scored his first A-League goal.
☄️ That cross and that header….
Don't think anyone will take that one off you Stevie 😉#StandUpWithYourNix #CreateHistory #SYDvWEL (0-3) pic.twitter.com/BtTnW2Z155
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) December 8, 2018
Taylor opened his goal-scoring account for the Wellington Phoenix in their upset 3-1 win over reigning A-League champions Sydney FC. Taylor added to Roy Krishna’s early brace with a thumping header.
Krishna, who last week edged out Paul Ifill to become the all-time top goal scorer of the Phoenix and also became a New Zealand citizen during the week, added two goals to his now record tally for the Phoenix and now has 36 goals for the club.
In an all-round performance for the Phoenix, captain and club stalwart Andrew Durante also secured 100 career wins for the Phoenix, following the impressive display against the Sky Blues.
CONGRATS | Massive congratulations to #Nix Captain @A_Dura22 who is now on 💯 @ALeague wins!
What a way to get it, well done Skip!#CaptainFantastic #SYDvWEL pic.twitter.com/0nwGB9Kbf0
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) December 8, 2018
Last, but not least, young midfielder Keanu Baccus scored his first A-League goal against the Mariners with a thumping strike from outside the box for the Wanderers.
Keanu Baccus is over the moon to have scored his maiden @ALeague goal tonight #WSW #WSWvCCM pic.twitter.com/xtLQQTaua4
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) December 7, 2018