This weekend saw the completion of the fourth round of the Westfield W-League and, for the first time this season, all five members of the Orlando Pride competing in the top-flight Australian league took the field.
Pride defender Alanna Kennedy recorded her 2019 W-League debut coming off the bench for Sydney FC in a 2-1 loss to the Melbourne Victory, while Orlando teammate Emily van Egmond got on the scoresheet for Melbourne in the match, recording her third finish of the season. Van Egmond along with Pride teammates Claire Emslie, Camila and Carson Pickett all played a full 90 for their respective sides over the weekend.
Thursday, December 5:
Brisbane Roar FC 2, Canberra United 1
The first match of the weekend featured two members of the Orlando Pride squaring off in forward Camila for Canberra and defender Carson Pickett for Brisbane. Both played the entirety of the match for their respective clubs, with Brisbane earning their first victory of the year on the road. The Roar jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the break with finishes from Tameka Yallop and Hayley Raso in the 17th and 41st minutes respectively, with Elise Thorsnes scoring the lone goal for Canberra in the 66th minute of the match.
31' | CHANCE! United have their best chance of the match, as a lovely ball from @camilinha94mp just evades the head of Thorsnes! (0-1)#GoGreen #WLeague #CBRvBRI
— Canberra United (@CanberraUnited) December 5, 2019
36' | CHANCE! Pickett picks out Raso who can't find the target with a lunging header.
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) December 5, 2019
(0-1) #BRIvCBR #RoarAsOne #WLeague
75' | Fifteen minutes to go in this one! Can we claw another one back? (1-2)#GoGreen #WLeague #CBRvBRI pic.twitter.com/5fDNSZSVrp
— Canberra United (@CanberraUnited) December 5, 2019
77' | CHANCE! @Cars_Pickett16's free-kick forces Khamis into a lunging save. We're pushing hard for a third!
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) December 5, 2019
(1-2) #CBRvBRI #RoarAsOne #WLeague
Sunday, December 8:
Melbourne City 2, Sydney FC 1
The final match of the fourth round of the Westfield W-League saw three members of the Orlando Pride take the field, including a 2019 W-League debut from Pride defender Alanna Kennedy. Orlando teammates Emily van Egmond and Claire Emslie both played the entirety of the match for Melbourne City, while Kennedy entered the match after the halftime break to register her first minutes in the W-League this season. Van Egmond opened the scoring in the match in the third minute, her third finish of the 2019 campaign. Houston Dash midfielder Sofia Huerta leveled the two sides just before the break in the 40th minute, but Milica Mijatovic scored the game-winner for the visitors in the 76th minute to hand Sydney their first loss of the 2019 campaign.
.@em_surf opens the scoring in Sydney! #SYDvMCY
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) December 8, 2019
@FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/xE05LC2b2t
18'| CHANCE!
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) December 8, 2019
A great ball by Kinga and Emslie almost doubles our lead but her shot fires into the post! 0-1 #SYDvMCY #WLeague
46' SUB at HT for the Sky Blues. Tobin OFF, @AlannaKennedy ON. 1-1#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions #SYDvMCY
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) December 8, 2019
73' CLOSE! @midfielderT whips the free kick towards the penalty spot and @AlannaKennedy rises highest to head at goal, but she powers it over the bar! 1-1#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions #SYDvMCY
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) December 8, 2019
Three in four for @Em_surf! #SYDvMCY #ForeverCity pic.twitter.com/bwr7fBfN5k
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) December 8, 2019
Other W-League Results
Saturday, December 7:
Melbourne Victory 1, Western Sydney Wanderers 1
NWSL Players Rostered - Melbourne Victory: Emily Menges (Portland Thorns), Haley Hanson (Houston Dash), Darian Jenkins (Reign FC); Western Sydney: Abby Smith (Utah Royals FC), Sam Staab (Washington Spirit), Amy Harrison (Washington Spirit), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Kristen Hamilton (North Carolina Courage), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)
Newcastle Jets 2, Perth Glory 1
NWSL Players Rostered - Newcastle Jets: None; Perth Glory: Celia Jiménez (Reign FC), Morgan Andrews (Reign FC), Ari Romero (Houston Dash), Crystal Thomas (Washington Spirit)
Round 5 Fixtures:
Melbourne City vs. Melbourne Victory (Thurs. Dec. 12, 3:30 a.m. ET / WATCH)
Perth Glory vs. Canberra United (Fri. Dec. 13, 6:15 a.m. ET)
Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United (Sat. Dec. 14, 1:30 a.m. ET)
Newcastle Jets vs. Sydney FC (Sun. Dec. 15, 12 a.m. ET / WATCH)
Western Sydney Wanderers: Bye
