Eight CommBank Matildas will compete in Round 2 Qualifiers in the UEFA Women's Champions League after Paris FC, FC Twente and Arsenal secured qualification to join Aussies at Manchester City and BK Häcken in the next round.
Read our review of all of the action below.
UEFA Women’s Champions League
Placement Matches
Winonah Heatley captained her side to a UEFA Women’s Champions league victory as FC Nordsjælland defeated Kĺ Klaksvik Kvinner 2-0 on Saturday. 17-year-old Carli Scheuer, and Simone Anderson were the goal-scorers.
Heatley started the match and played the full 90 minutes. Attention now returns to the league for the Danish side after their UWCL elimination.
Round 1 Qualification Finals
Two goals either side of half-time meant that Paris FC defeated Sparta Praha 2-0 to qualify for the next round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Clara Matéo got scoring underway before Kaja Korošec made sure of the result in the 85th minute.
Sarah Hunter made it two Champions League appearances for the season when she was substituted on for the last 10 minutes of regulation time.
FC Twente continued winning ways when they defeated Valur Reykjavik 5-0 to advance to the next round. Charlotte Hulst and Nikée van Dijk both scored braces, while Kayleigh van Dooren rounded out the goal scorers.
Daniela Galic came off the bench in the 78th minute.
Arsenal overcame last season’s Champions League qualifying jitters to defeat Rosenborg BK Kvinner 1-0 on Sunday morning (AEST). Frida Maanum was the goal-scorer, knocking one of the teams from her native Norway out of the competition. Foord's cross into the box was initially saved by the Rosenborg keeper, however, Maanum was there for the follow-up.
The finish from @FMaanum 🤩
🍿 Highlights are now available to watch, Gooners 👇— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 7, 2024
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord both started for the Gunners before being withdrawn in the second half. Steph Catley remained unavailable with a minor injury.
The Round 2 Qualifying draw will take place Monday, 9pm AEST.
United States
Portland Thorns were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Washington Spirit on the weekend. Hina Sugita gave them the lead just after the half-time break, before Trinity Rodman levelled. A late stoppage-time goal from Leicy Santos for the Spirit proved to be the winner and consigned the Thorns to their third loss in a row.
Mackenzie Arnold started in goals and played the full match for the Thorns.
USA legend Alex Morgan’s final game didn’t quite go as she planned, with the North Carolina Courage defeating the San Diego Wave 4-1 on Monday morning (AEST). Haley Hopkins scored first for the Courage before Kennedy Wesley equalised – although not before Alex Morgan had a penalty saved by Casey Murphy in the Courage’s goal.
The Courage were 3-1 up at halftime thanks to goals to Felicitas Raunch and Bianca St-Georges, and things didn’t get any better for the Wave, with goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan sent off in the 60th minute. A stoppage-time goal to Meredith Speck added an additional flourish to North Carolina’s victory.
Emily van Egmond started the game for the Wave, while Kaitlyn Torpey remains unavailable with a lower leg injury. Cortnee Vine was an unused substitute for the Courage.
Sweden
Kristianstads DFF came from behind to pick up a vital three points against Hammarby over the weekend. Cathinka Tandberg scored first for Hammarby before an own goal – forced by the presence of Remy Siemsen - and a Hlín Eiriksdóttir second-half winner gave them the win.
Siemsen and Clare Polkinghorne both played full games for Kristianstads.
BK Häcken comprehensively defeated AIK Fotboll 4-0 over the weekend. Anna Anvegård scored a brace while Paulina Nyström and Jóhanna Sørensen rounded out the scoresheet.
Jada Whyman saved a penalty in the first half for AIK but it wasn’t enough to hold off a rampant Häcken.
