From the Women’s Super League to France’s Division 1 feminine. KEEPUP has you covered with all the Australian women’s football action beyond the A-Leagues.
Where to next for Gorry and Grant?
That is the big question after Matildas pair Katrina Gorry and Charli Grant both departed Vittsjo in Sweden.
Gorry farewelled the Swedish outfit at the conclusion of the campaign after spending the past two seasons in the Damallsvenskan, while Australian teammate Grant also said goodbye having initially arrived on loan in 2022.
FULL SQUAD: A-Leagues gun earns Matildas recall for Canada friendlies
Both players have been tipped to join the Aussie contingent in the Women’s Super League (WSL), where Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal), Mary Fowler (Manchester City), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City), Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham), Teagan Micah (Liverpool), Charlize Rule (Brighton and Hove Albion), Mackenzie Hawkesby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Courtney Nevin (Leicester City), Remy Siemsen (Leicester City) and Clare Wheeler (Everton) all currently play.
Amid the WSL speculation, Matildas legend Alicia Ferguson picked out some clubs she believes could be a logical new home for the Aussie duo.
“(The) majority of the Matildas are in the WSL and I still believe it’s the best league in the world,” Ferguson said on Dub Zone.
“At the moment for depth and quality, Teagan Micah would love to see Charli at Liverpool and Liverpool just got done 5-1 by Chelsea overnight but another club where they’ve been a bit hit and miss and probably need a bit more attacking prowess is Spurs.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF DUB ZONE
“They’re kind of there or there abouts. Look Aston Villa had a great season last season under Carla Ward (but) have been struggling this season… Emily Gielnik was there.
“But I think West Ham could be another one. Mackenzie Arnold is there and our Aussies love to hang out with Aussies.
“Rehanne Skinner who was a former Spurs coach as well.
“I think there’s options. I think probably out of those clubs, they’re the ones that would suit and again, it’s gotta be about minutes for these players.
“That’s what they need to continue being in selection in Tony Gustavsson’s Matildas squad so I think that’s going to be a key consideration for them.”
Could the reigning Julie Dolan Medallist return to Australia?
Alex Chidiac is playing her football in Mexico but there are question marks over her future after she was not called up by the Matildas for next month’s friendlies against Canada.
Chidiac has struggled for game time since joining Liga MX Femenil outfit Tigres UANL on loan from Racing Louisville in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in August.
She was again a late substitute over the weekend, coming off the bench in the 87th minute of Tigres’ 0-0 draw with Monterrey in the opening leg of the Liga MX Femenil semi-final.
Chidiac starred at Melbourne Victory last season, earning the Julie Dolan Medal and a Liberty A-League return could be on the cards.
“Well I think clubs will be having the conversation and they’ll be making their bids because everyone wanted a piece of Chids but she chose Melbourne Victory the last two seasons,” Teo Pellizzeri said on Dub Zone.
“Obviously was the Dolan Medallist from the last campaign and won that medal from a small sample size.
“Tigres drew 0-0 in their first leg of their semi-final in Mexico. If they’re knocked out, Chids’ parent club Racing Louisville – the contract ends in December. This could be the transformational mid-season signing, not necessarily for Victory.
“I imagine every club will be lining up, just asking the question ‘Alex would you like to come back and play in the A-Leagues’.”
Ferguson added: “She’s an experienced attacking player… of course clubs would want her.
“But in terms of the Matildas, she needs to be playing regular minutes and that’s going to be difficult for her to get back into the team until she’s doing that.”
Cooney-Cross named POTM after ‘hard’ start in England
Caitlin Foord scored a long-range stunner and Kyra Cooney-Cross was named Player of the Match in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Foord made it 2-0 on the night with an effort from distance as the Australian forward made it two goals in two games for the Gunners, who have now won five WSL matches on the bounce to sit three points behind defending champions Chelsea.
While Foord scored, her Arsenal and Matildas teammate Cooney-Cross earned best-on-ground honours having made her third consecutive start, including back-to-back in the WSL.
“I’m happy to be playing, the start was a bit hard but look at the team I’m playing in,” Cooney-Cross told Sky Sports post-match as Steph Catley came off the bench in the second half.
“I’ve got some amazing players to train with every day, like Lia Walti and Kim Little I get to learn off. And then you’ve got Beth Mead, Viv Miedema, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, it can’t get much better than that,” Cooney-Cross said.
“In the second half, we started that off really well, obviously first half wasn’t so great. We needed to keep the ball better and it was very transitional but in the end, we got three points.
“We just kept the ball so much better and stayed loyal to our game plan. [In] the first half we struggled to keep the ball and I think that’s the difference.
“This is our first clean sheet, so I think today’s game sums up the season and we’re really happy.”
For Brighton, Charlie Rule was introduced in the second half while Mackenzie Hawkesby was an unused substitute.
Elsewhere in the WSL, Alanna Kennedy was named Player of the Match as Manchester City trumped neighbours Manchester United 3-1 at Old Trafford.
City bounced back from consecutive defeats to return to winning ways at the home of their neighbours, where a record 43,615 crowd for a Manchester United WSL game were in attendance on Monday (AEDT).
Kennedy impressed for the visitors, while Mary Fowler came on in the 89th minute as City moved up to third in the standings, three points behind Arsenal and six adrift of Chelsea.
“I think we started off really well and going down a goal tested our character as a team, but I’m so happy and proud of everyone with how we turned it around and we won in the end,” Kennedy told Matchday Live.
“I think it was about keeping things simple and sticking to our processes [after going a goal down] and believing in our game plan.
“I thrive in those situations where your back is against the wall, so it was nice to come out and get the three points.
“[The fans] were amazing and they’re amazing each week so it was great to have them here. We appreciate them all and hopefully see them again next week.”
Sam Kerr was not among the goals but she did set one up as league-leading Chelsea crushed Teagan Micah’s Liverpool 5-1. Micah was on the bench for Liverpool.
Remy Siemsen was again in Leicester City’s matchday squad following an injury lay-off but she was not used as the Foxes drew 1-1 with Tottenham. Courtney Nevin played the entire match.
Clare Wheeler‘s Everton were twice pegged back in a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City.
Other Matildas around the globe
There is simply no stopping Ellie Carpenter and Lyon following their 4-1 rout of Dijon in the Division 1 Feminine.
After their 9-0 demolition of Sparta Prague in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Carpenter was rested by the red-hot French champions on Saturday (AEDT).
Lyon have won all eight of their league fixtures to date, scoring 35 goals and conceding just three to be three points clear atop the standings.
Sarah Hunter‘s Paris FC are second after edging Bordeaux 1-0 on Monday (AEDT). The former Sydney FC star was introduced at half-time and played 45 minutes in a huge boost for her.
It was her second league appearance of the season.
As for Clare Hunt, she completed the full 90 minutes as Paris Saint-Germain beat Fleury 2-1 thanks to a 97th-minute winner.
In Spain’s Liga F, Hayley Raso returned to the starting XI as Real Madrid were swept aside 5-0 by league-leading defending champions Barcelona in a blockbuster Clasico.
