As the FA WSL heads towards the Christmas break, the teams are looking to finish 2020 on a high. The Westfield Matildas were involved as ever.
Here are three talking points from the round that was.
New coaches rack up wins
Prior to the last international break, West Ham and Tottenham had changes in their coaching ranks. Now two weeks after the international break, both Rehanne Skinner at Spurs and Billy Stewart at the Hammers have enjoyed positive starts to the tenures.
Tottenham are two from two under Skinner – a pair of 3-1 victories. Alanna Kennedy has been getting plenty of game time these past two weeks.
Alex Morgan has scored in her last two games, contributing greatly to Spurs’ wins. The team will face Chelsea in an important clash before the Christmas break.
As for Stewart and West Ham, the performance was there against Chelsea but the result wasn’t forthcoming last week. This week, the performance and the result synced up with a solid 4-0 win over Bristol City.
A typical EVE performance
Westfield Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond was influential against Bristol in the Hammers’ victory.
She put in the kind of performance that Australian fans were treated to during the Olympic qualifying games earlier this year and Melbourne City fans enjoyed week in, week out on their way to another Westfield W-League title.
Van Egmond was named player of the match, covered tonnes of ground between the boxes, and managed a goal and an assist. A swift West Ham counter attack was finished off by van Egmond, whose deft touch beat the Bristol defender and ‘keeper.
She then whipped in a great cross for Rachel Daly to score off less than 10 minutes later. A clean sheet for Mackenzie Arnold topped off a great day for the Matildas in West Ham colours.
Kerr on the scoresheet again
Westfield Matildas captain Sam Kerr scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over a tough Brighton outfit.
Chelsea extended their undefeated run in the league and, thanks to Arsenal’s defeat at the hands of Manchester City, find themselves only three points behind Manchester United in second.
The home team applied pressure and defended doggedly until the 21st minute. A Pernille Harder run to the by-line saw the Dane cut back a cross. Kerr lost her marker and found enough space to head the ball and direct it past the goalkeeper.
The Blues will look to carry on their winning ways at home to Benfica midweek in the UEFA Women’s Champions League before hosting Tottenham on the weekend.
