Latest news with #Gielnik
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Victory to rally, go again after ALW heartbreak
Devastated by a heartbreaking grand final loss, Melbourne Victory will pick themselves up and attempt to keep their star-studded squad together for another crack at silverware. Jeff Hopkins' charges lost 5-4 to Central Coast on penalties in Sunday's grand final at AAMI Park, after scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time. Victory also fell just two points short of the premiership to Melbourne City, leaving this season empty-handed. "There's a lot of upset players out there," Hopkins said. "But I'm sure, knowing the character of this group, it won't be something to dishearten them. "It will be something that will annoy them and drive them on to do better next year." Hopkins plans on sticking around for next season and hopes most of his squad will join him, contracted skipper Kayla Morrison and star midfielder Alex Chidiac. Centre-back Claudia Bunge also has an option for another year. "We've been working hard to keep as many of these players here as we can," he said. "And we'll be doing doing the same over the next week or so to lock in as many as we can. "Each season you refresh a little bit but I don't think there's much refreshing that needs done in this squad." Victory will hope star striker Emily Gielnik, who scored 12 goals this season, stays on - but she is unsure yet where her future lies. "No matter what anyone says, I'm just ready to keep on going and where that is, I don't know yet," Gielnik said. "Everyone knows I have a soft spot for Jeff and I love this club. "I really wish I could give everyone an answer, but my gut feeling hasn't told me where I need to be next year yet. "So nothing's off the cards, but I definitely don't have an answer around that yet." The 33-year-old is determined to return to the Matildas fray. "I came to Melbourne Victory to hold some more silverware and win and hopefully get myself back in that green and gold," she said. "And I'll just go back to the drawing board and do it all again." Victory's players have wrapped their arms around young gun Alana Jancevski, who missed the first penalty of the shootout and was distraught post-match. "I had a good cuddle with her and I said 'you're going to get in this situation again and all you need to do is take another penalty and you'll forget about this one'," Gielnik said. "I told her I missed one at the World Cup against Norway, nothing hurts more than missing a penalty." Hopkins said: "I've got no problem with anyone that misses a penalty. "She was brave enough to stand up and take it and I know the whole team feel the same way."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bunge steers Victory to ALW semi first-leg win
Melbourne Victory have one foot in the A-League Women grand final after defender Claudia Bunge delivered a 3-1 win over Adelaide United in their away semi-final leg. The Victory will return home to Melbourne next weekend with a two-goal advantage after Bunge struck twice in the second half at Coopers Stadium on Sunday. Adelaide will have to beat Victory in Melbourne for the first time in nine years to reach the decider, which will be against the winner of Melbourne City and Central Coast. Victory star Emily Gielnik struck in the 38th minute before Adelaide's American attacker Erin Healy hit back. But Bunge headed home from corners in the 77th and 88th minutes to deliver Victory a terrific away win in front of 4372 fans at Coopers Stadium. Gielnik pulled up sore and came off in the 67th minute while Adelaide defender Tiarna Karambasis was replaced by Chelsie Dawber after a head knock in the 62nd minute. The game burst into life when Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon found Gielnik with a wonderful defence-splitting pass. Gielnik let rip with a wonderful left foot strike that clattered home. 🔥🚨 GOALKEEPER ASSIST IN THE SEMI-FINAL! WHAT A Victory keeper Courtney Newbon produces an extraordinary ball to set up Emily Gielnik for a beautifully taken #ADLvMVC live now on 10 Play & Paramount+. — Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) May 4, 2025 But Adelaide responded almost immediately. Fiona Worts won the ball in midfield and worked it out wide to Emily Hodgson, whose cross fell to Lucia Leon. Emily Condon forced a good save from Newbon but Victory's defence were unable to clear it quickly enough and an unmarked Healy nipped in to score. Victory were controversially given a free kick for handball in the 43rd minute when the ball had appeared to hit Healy in the head, not hand. But Reds goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins pulled out a world-class save to turn a ripping free kick from Alana Jancevski over the bar. Claudia. Freaking. Jenkins 👏Take a bow!#ADLvMVC — Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) May 4, 2025 Both teams traded chances but Victory's winner came after Jenkins made another impressive save to deny Sara D'Appolonia in the 76th minute. At the subsequent corner, Alana Murphy whipped in a flat delivery to the back post and Bunge managed to push off Dylan Holmes to make space before powering home a bullet header. HOW BIG COULD THAT GOAL BE?! ⚽️👀 @gomvfc take the lead again in the Bunge produces a classy header at a crucial moment in this #ADLvMVC live on 10 Play & Paramount+. — Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) May 4, 2025 Eleven minutes later, Bunge again got the better of Holmes to nod home an Alex Chidiac cross. Dawber forced a good save from Newbon in the 93rd minute but Adelaide couldn't hit back again.
Perth Now
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Bunge steers Victory to ALW semi first-leg win
Melbourne Victory have one foot in the A-League Women grand final after defender Claudia Bunge delivered a 3-1 win over Adelaide United in their away semi-final leg. The Victory will return home to Melbourne next weekend with a two-goal advantage after Bunge struck twice in the second half at Coopers Stadium on Sunday. Adelaide will have to beat Victory in Melbourne for the first time in nine years to reach the decider, which will be against the winner of Melbourne City and Central Coast. Victory star Emily Gielnik struck in the 38th minute before Adelaide's American attacker Erin Healy hit back. But Bunge headed home from corners in the 77th and 88th minutes to deliver Victory a terrific away win in front of 4372 fans at Coopers Stadium. Gielnik pulled up sore and came off in the 67th minute while Adelaide defender Tiarna Karambasis was replaced by Chelsie Dawber after a head knock in the 62nd minute. The game burst into life when Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon found Gielnik with a wonderful defence-splitting pass. Gielnik let rip with a wonderful left foot strike that clattered home. But Adelaide responded almost immediately. Fiona Worts won the ball in midfield and worked it out wide to Emily Hodgson, whose cross fell to Lucia Leon. Emily Condon forced a good save from Newbon but Victory's defence were unable to clear it quickly enough and an unmarked Healy nipped in to score. Victory were controversially given a free kick for handball in the 43rd minute when the ball had appeared to hit Healy in the head, not hand. But Reds goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins pulled out a world-class save to turn a ripping free kick from Alana Jancevski over the bar. Both teams traded chances but Victory's winner came after Jenkins made another impressive save to deny Sara D'Appolonia in the 76th minute. At the subsequent corner, Alana Murphy whipped in a flat delivery to the back post and Bunge managed to push off Dylan Holmes to make space before powering home a bullet header. Eleven minutes later, Bunge again got the better of Holmes to nod home an Alex Chidiac cross. Dawber forced a good save from Newbon in the 93rd minute but Adelaide couldn't hit back again.
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Matildas dreams burn hot as A-League Women finals start
Fringe Matildas pair Emily Gielnik and Chloe Berryhill are ready to attack the A-League Women finals, knowing full well that red-hot form can help put players back in the national team frame. Melbourne Victory striker Gielnik has silverware in her sights and hopes a Matildas berth can soon follow, after being overlooked for recent windows despite scoring 12 goals. "It's no secret ... I still truly believe I can be back there and that I belong there, and I'll keep proving that to myself week after week," Gielnik said. "Being a part of finals, it's another opportunity for coaches to see your potential and see how well you're playing." Western United skipper Berryhill (nee Logarzo) has been intermittently with the Matildas in recent years amid injuries. "National team's always in the back of your mind. But ... it's not at the forefront of mine," she said. "Mine's to (play) finals, mine's to play for Western, and whatever happens through there, and if it ends up being in the national team, that'll be great." Neither Gielnik nor Berryhill have their clubs locked in for next season, with both intending to make decisions after finals. But Gielnik won't be waiting to hear the opinion of the yet-to-be-appointed next Matildas coach, widely expected to be Lyon boss Joe Montemurro. "That's a dangerous game, because I think sometimes if you do too much of what another coach wants you to do, you'll play less like yourself, and there's just too much of that unnecessary expectation and pressure," she said. "I've done that in the past, been a people pleaser, and done what I thought coaches want me to do. and it's backfired for me. "I've got to go back to the drawing board, trust my gut, find the right place that's going to be perfect for me, and just hit the ground running with that." Premiers Melbourne City and second-placed Victory are through to the semi-finals and have the week off, while Adelaide host Western United and Central Coast host Canberra United on Sunday. Gielnik was rested for second-placed Victory's final game of the season, a dead rubber against Brisbane Roar. "My body just needed a little bit of a deload, but I'm feeling rejuvenated, fresh, ready to go," she said. If Western beat Adelaide at Coopers Stadium, they will have to beat City across two legs to make the grand final. "For us, getting straight into it is a positive," Berryhill said. "I think this is the year that we have the team, and we've been inconsistent all year. "And for us, it's just about coming right at the end of the season." Melbourne City steamrolled Perth 5-1 last week to claim the premiership and seal an unbeaten season. "It's always hard to have a week off when everyone else is playing, but we have a lot of confidence after that last game," defender Taylor Otto said. "At training, we're working on all the little things now and just trying to keep that confidence up and keep that energy up, which I think we'll be able to do."
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Victory grind past WSW to stay in ALW premiership race
Melbourne Victory remain in the hunt for the A-League Women premiership after beating Western Sydney 1-0 to draw within two points of leaders Melbourne City. Jeff Hopkins' Victory, now 11 games unbeaten, locked in a top-two berth ahead of Adelaide United with two games to go thanks to Wanderers defender Danika Matos' own goal in the 18th minute at Wanderers Football Park. With two games to go, City (49 points) lead Victory (47) and Adelaide (39). The game was a catch-up fixture after it was originally postponed due to excessive heat. Star striker Emily Gielnik glanced a header off the near post in the sixth minute and Nicki Flannery had a shot saved in the 14th. Gielnik had a fresh air swing at a cross in the 18th minute and the ball bounced off Matos' face and into her own goal for the opener. Own goals don't get much more unlucky than that 😭You have to feel for Danika Matos here. @gomvfc take an early #WSWvMVC live now on 10 Play & Paramount+. — Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) April 6, 2025 Gielnik flicked a Holly Furphy cross wide with a towering header in the 19th minute. Cushla Rue dragged a shot wide in the 22nd minute and shortly after, Wanderers goalkeeper Shamiran Khamis made an excellent save to deny Gielnik at the near post. Less than a minute later, Gielnik had a goal chalked off for offside. Gielnik dragged a shot wide in the 26th minute and was again denied by Khamis on the half-hour mark. Western Sydney grew into the game, recording 17 shots to Victory's 13, without reward. Bronte Trew thought she had equalised in the 74th minute but it too was cancelled out for offside. Star Victory midfielder Alex Chidiac suffered a right shoulder/collarbone injury late in the clash when she landed awkwardly after an Amy Chessari tackle, but played out the game. Wanderers striker Sophie Harding unsuccessfully appealed for a late penalty, believing she had been fouled by Ellie Wilson. The Victory play Central Coast away on Friday while the last-placed Wanderers travel to face Brisbane on Sunday.
