On international duty, Australia have earned their first point at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup with a one-all draw against Chile. Leyla Hussein started in the front two and was replaced in the seventy-ninth minute, while Sienna Calvanese was an unused substitute. Charlotte Bradshaw scored the second-half equaliser after Chile led at the break. The Junior Matildas now face Spain at two o’clock on Friday morning, Melbourne time, before their final group game against Mexico.

In the men’s game, Juan Mata will return to AAMI Park for Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby. Victory say last season’s Victory Medallist will address supporters before the match and complete a lap of the pitch. The derby against Melbourne City opens Victory’s home league campaign and kicks off at twenty to eight.

Sources:
Football Australia
Matildas
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory

Morning Line is an independent, AI-assisted briefing, reviewed before publication.

Juan Mata has paid tribute to Melbourne Victory on Instagram, writing that it is not goodbye but see you soon. Football360 reports that Mata, last season’s Johnny Warren Medallist, is now part of the club’s ownership group and is due in Australia in the coming weeks to start its new football committee.

On international duty, Sienna Calvanese and Leyla Hussein are in Australia’s squad for the country’s first match at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. The Junior Matildas kicked off against Chile at five o’clock this morning, Melbourne time, and the match is being shown live on Paramount Plus in Australia.

In the Women’s game, Alana Jančevski’s long-range free kick against Western Sydney is one of four nominees for the A-League Women’s opening-round goal of the week. It was the only goal in Victory’s season-opening win.

Sources:
Football360 (AAP)
Melbourne Victory
Football Australia / CommBank Matildas
Football Australia / CommBank Matildas
A-Leagues
Melbourne Victory

Morning Line is an independent, AI-assisted briefing, reviewed before publication.

Melbourne Victory have opened the A-League Men season with a two-one defeat away to Wellington Phoenix. Corban Piper headed the hosts in front in the fourteenth minute, before Charles Nduka equalised midway through the first half. Wellington had already struck the crossbar, but Victory then created the clearer chances. Nduka hit the post after breaking through, and Matthew Grimaldi was denied one-on-one after the interval. Riley Bidois punished those misses by scoring the winner a minute after coming on. Harry Sawyer was rested because of soreness after the FC Seoul match, while Jason Davidson captained Victory in his fiftieth A-League appearance for the club.

Giovanni Savarese called it Victory’s first defeat inside ninety minutes this campaign. He said signs of fatigue became clear during the third match in nine days, but insisted the schedule was not an excuse. Savarese felt Victory matched Wellington’s intensity and created enough opportunities to win. His concern was efficiency at both ends. He said the chances had to be taken, while two similar defensive moments were allowed to decide the match. The coach described it as a learning lesson rather than a wake-up call, especially with more congested weeks to come.

The response now has to come in the Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park at twenty to eight on Saturday night. City also arrive after an opening-round defeat, having lost three-one at Auckland. Quinn MacNicol equalised on his City debut, but Lachlan Bayliss completed a brace after half-time and Lachie Brook added the late third. City were missing five players through injury for that match, including new arrivals Matheus Rossetto and Emiliano Marcondes. The club has not yet issued an availability update for the derby.

In the Women’s game, next opponents Wellington Phoenix also lost their opener, two-one at home to Melbourne City. Makala Woods put Wellington ahead early in the second half after the Phoenix had controlled much of the contest. City levelled from the penalty spot, before Momo Hayashi won it with an eighty-seventh-minute free kick. Wellington coach Bev Priestman still felt her side had taken a step forward, but said it needed to become more ruthless. Victory face the Phoenix at Hnry Stadium at quarter past ten on Sunday morning, Melbourne time.

On international duty, Sienna Calvanese and Leyla Hussein are in Australia’s squad to face Chile in the Under-17 Women’s World Cup at five o’clock tomorrow morning, Melbourne time.

Sources:
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne City
Melbourne City
Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix
Football Australia

Morning Line is an independent, AI-assisted briefing, reviewed before publication.