THEY SAID IT: "It feels like more than four weeks I'll tell you that … it feels like an eternity." Wellington Phoenix boss Paul Temple can't wait to head back to New Zealand after four straight matches in Australia returned his side four single-goal losses.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sarina Bolden just can't stop scoring. Perhaps Newcastle's Philippines international is in line for player of the month honours too, given she netted for a fourth straight game against Sydney with a textbook header.
KEY STAT: Canberra are still yet to keep a clean sheet in season 2023-24, a run that now extends to 12 games. They've scored more goals than all bar one other side, but until they tighten up defensively they risk being gapped by the competition's elite.
BEAT THAT: Melbourne Victory star Emily Gielnik has scored plenty of goals in her lengthy career, but few could have been better than her long-distance, curling effort against Canberra on Saturday. Factoring in the goal came in the 93rd minute to decide a game in her team's favour, it's a goal of the season contender.
TALKING POINT: The Victory had two Matildas - Gielnik and Alex Chidiac - score their first goals of the season against Canberra. Given Gielnik is coming off the bench and Chidiac still looks well short of her best, does any side boast as much upside heading towards the back-end of the campaign?
UNDER PRESSURE: For a team entrenched in the competition's upper-echelon, it's been seriously tough sledding for the Perth Glory as of late. Alex Epakis' side have only won once in their past six outings and were comprehensively outplayed in their 0-0 draw against Brisbane.
WHAT'S NEXT: Traditional rivals Melbourne Victory and Sydney meet in a blockbuster with genuine finals implications. In-form Western Sydney would fancy their chances of picking up another win against Brisbane while Canberra will fly out to face Wellington. Top side Melbourne City will be favourites when they host Western United and Adelaide will try to break their losing streak against Perth, while Newcastle and Central Coast square off in a derby.
