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Fishlock’s brace lifts unbeaten City in Melbourne derby

Jess Fishlock's brace kept Melbourne perfect on the season and in control of city bragging rights. (Photo: Westfield W-League)

Jess Fishlock’s brace kept Melbourne perfect on the season and in control of city bragging rights. (Photo: Westfield W-League)

Melbourne City won the first edition of the Melbourne derby this season on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Melbourne Victory as Jess Fishlock scored twice. Sydney FC won at home over Adelaide 2-0 to remain tied with City for the Westfield W-League lead with 9 points, but Sydney has played one more game.

Australian international Steph Catley (Orlando Pride) hit the net once to add to Fishlock’s brace for Melbourne, with all the goals coming in the last half hour of the match. The derby attracted an attendance of 1,943, the highest of the round. For City, NWSL loanees Lydia Williams (Houston Dash), Laura Alleway (Orlando Pride), Catley and Fishlock (Seattle Reign) played the entire match and Erika Tymrak (FC Kansas City) subbed out with 7 minutes remaining. Lauren Barnes (Seattle Reign) was out for a week with a wrist injury. For Melbourne Victory, goalkeeper Bianca Henninger (Houston Dash) was substituted with 20 minutes left while Samantha Johnson (Chicago Red Stars), Christine Nairn (Seattle Reign) and Natasha Dowie (Boston Breakers) played the entire match.

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Fishlock was recently named as an assistant coach for Melbourne City as head coach Joe Montemurro is working with both the men’s and women’s sides. Melbourne has also opened a Women’s Elite Women’s Training Facility for the side at the club’s Football Academy. The facility will include dedicated women’s and youth changing rooms, a gym, medical and coaching offices and is designed based off of facilities in Manchester and New York.

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Sydney FC 2, Adelaide United 0

Sydney FC stayed level with Melbourne City at the top of the table with a 2-0 home win over Adelaide United on Sunday in front of 1,535 fans. Australian U-20 midfielder Remy Siemsen scored in the 43rd minute (her second goal in a week) and Adelaide defender Emily Hodgson put the ball through her own net late in the match. For Sydney, Australian NWSL players Alanna Kennedy (Western New York Flash) played 90 minutes, Caitlin Foord (Sky Blue FC) subbed out in the 45th minute and Kyah Simon (Boston Breakers) did not play. For Adelaide United, NWSL loanees Monica of Brazil (Orlando Pride), Danielle Colaprico, Sofia Huerta and Katie Naughton (all three from Chicago Red Stars) played the entire match.

Brisbane 2, Western Sydney 0

Brisbane Roar won their second match of the season and leaped into third place with a 2-0 road win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday. Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Butt scored first-half goals in front of 350 fansMaddy Evans (Orlando Pride) played 67 minutes for the Roar, subbing out for Allira Toby, while Western Sydney’s American imports Kendall Fletcher (Seattle Reign), Alex Arlitt (FC Kansas City) and Paige Nielsen (Seattle Reign) all played 90 minutes, with Katie Stengel (Washington Spirit) subbing out in the 70th minute for Sarah Yatim.

 Canberra United 5, Newcastle Jets 2

Canberra United also won their second game this season with a 5-2 home triumph over Newcastle Jets on Saturday November 26Australian international and former Western New York Flash forward Michelle Heyman scored in the 19th minute and American Stephanie Ochs (Houston Dash) doubled the lead 14 minutes laterHeyman scored again in the 53rd minute and Australian youth international Grace Maher scored her first ever W-League tally in the 65th minute for Canberra, two minutes after Rhali Dobson (once capped by Australia and a Jet since season one in 2008/09) scored the Jets first goal. Jen Hoy (Chicago Red Stars) scored the Jets second goal (and her second of the season) with two minutes left in the match before 17-year-old substitute Nickoletta Flannery (an Australian U-20 international) scored Canberra’s fifth in injury time and her first W-League goal as well. Heyman, the all-time W-League record holder in goals with 57scored her first two of the season. Ochs’ tally was her first of the season but ninth all-time in the league. The match attracted 871 fans to Canberra’s ground.

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Canberra NWSL loanees Ochs, Hayley Raso and Celeste Boureille (both Portland Thorns) started, with Boureille subbing out after an hour for 17-year-old Australian youth international Clare Hunt (a local Academy product making her third appearance of the season). Canberra striker Jasmyne Spencer (Orlando Pride) missed this week and will be out next week due to an ankle injury. For NewcastleHoy and Megan Oyster (now with the Boston Breakers) played 90 minutes while Arin Gilliland (Chicago Red Stars) subbed out in the 79th minute. Goalkeeper Kelsey Wys (Washington Spirit) injured her ACL last week and is out for the season. With the win, the Capital city side is now tied with the New South Wales-based Jets in the standings for fourth. Newcastle had entered the match tied with City and Sydney FC for first place.

[EXCLUSIVE: Why Beverly Yanez decided to play in Australia this NWSL offseason]

Table after four rounds

1. Melbourne City (3-0-0, 9 pts, +5)
2. Sydney FC (3-1-0, 9 pts, +4)
3
. Brisbane Roar (2-1-1, 7 pts, +2)
4
. Canberra United (2-1-0, 6 pts,. +3)
5. Newcastle Jets (2-2-0, 6 pts, +1)
6. Perth Glory (1-1-1, 4 pts, +1)
7. Western Sydney Wanderers (1-3-0, 3 pts, -5)
8. Adelaide United (0-2-1, 1 pts, -3)
9. Melbourne Victory (0-3-1, 1 pts, -8
)

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Round five

Adelaide vs Canberra3:30 am EST (Saturday)
Newcastle vs Sydney10:30 pm EST (Saturday)
Melbourne Victory
 vs Perth12:00 am EST (Sunday)
Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne City, 1am EST (Sunday)

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