Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Melbourne Victory have leapt to second on the A-League Women table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle.
And Western Sydney have continued their revival with a 2-0 win over struggling Canberra United.
Young Victory playmaker Sienna Saveska was the difference at AAMI Park on Sunday, scoring her maiden goal for the club in the 25th minute.
Saveska, who joined from Western Sydney ahead of the 2025-26 season but barely featured due to illness and injury, has enjoyed a stellar start to the campaign.
“She was excellent. She was probably our best player with the ball today – maybe could have gone through her a little bit more,” coach Jeff Hopkins said.
“The way that she works, people don’t realise how hard she works.
“She puts her foot in and she’s like a little pitbull in there. We really appreciate her and appreciate her right foot today as well.”
The goal came after Newcastle were unable to fully clear a Sophie Harding cross and Anna Sutter headed into the box, where Saveska pounced and coolly rifled home.
Victory skipper Kayla Morrison hit the post in the 63rd minute while substitute Nicki Flannery had a chance to extend the lead in the 84th but hit the post.
Hopkins was happy with Victory’s defensive efforts but lamented their work in possession.
“The quality of the players that we’ve got at this club need to be playing with the ball a lot better than that,” he said.
Jets coach Stephen Hoyle was frustrated not to break the deadlock.
“We limited them to not too many opportunities, and then I want to see the team that we are during the week in training with what we create and put together in the final third,” he said.
Earlier at McKellar Park, the Wanderers took advantage of poor defending from United in the opening minute.
Allyssa Ng-Saad latched onto a cross and had space to turn on the ball and tee up Milly Bennett, who fired home from close range.
Western Sydney doubled their lead when Bennett turned provider for Elexa Bahr to score in the 19th minute.
Michelle Heyman’s Canberra couldn’t find their way back into the game.
Central Coast (nine points) lead Victory (seven), Melbourne City – who didn’t play this weekend as they are in Uzbekistan for the Women’s Asian Champions League group stage – and Western Sydney (six).
Perth Glory and Wellington will round out Sunday’s action.
