The land down under has their domestic league carrying the womenโs soccer flag while the other major European leagues are on a break. The Liberty A-League is a great league to watch if you can get past the time difference. It might not be a bad idea to start watching the A-League to get used to the time difference for the World Cup this summer.
Plus, we bear witness to some young Matildas stars and NWSL stars across the league. Letโs look at the Top 5 Goals for this week from the Liberty A-League.
5. TJ Vlajnic – Western United FC
๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ @wufcofficial ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐! โฐ
TJ Vlajnic, take a bow! ๐
Her ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ header gives Western 3โฃ points and keeps their perfect record alive! ๐ช
Full-time wrap: https://t.co/LlPTvh7o8B#WeAreALeagues @LibFinancial pic.twitter.com/6mzUSfvUOm
— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 7, 2023
This was quite the header from TJ Vlajnic, who was able to get to this cross through a sea of bodies.
Vlajnic was able to head the ball back across the goal, but it seemed to hang in the air forever. The height was too much for the goalie to get a hand to it, and the ball found the back of the net with this amazing header.
Itโs rare to see headers from that spot on the pitch, but they must be acknowledged once you see them.ย
4. Paige Zois – Melbourne Victory
What a way to score your FIRST @LibFinancial A-League goal ๐๐ฑ
๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ฌ, ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ!
Catch all the action LIVE on @ParamountPlusAU ๐บ
Follow live: https://t.co/eLiANQvlVR
#MVCvPER #WeAreALeagues @LibFinancial pic.twitter.com/lbPrGW8OR8— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 6, 2023
Paige Zois was able to show off her technique and finesse with this strike for the Melbourne Victory. Picking up the ball on the left wing, Zois looked like she would line up a cross. But instead, she went for the goal and found it with great success. Zois might have benefitted from the sun being in the keeperโs eyes because she didnโt even reach for it.
Still, Zois struck it perfectly, and the ball curved and nestled into the top corner and a big one for the Melbourne Victory.
3. Olivia Price – Western Sydney Wanderers
Dreamland at Wanderland ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฅ @wswanderersfc extends their lead via ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง!!!
Olivia Price, take a bow ๐
.
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.Catch all the action LIVE on @ParamountPlusAU ๐บ
Follow live: https://t.co/KMbNYUwYu8
#WSWvMCY pic.twitter.com/7fBTW4hMAA— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 8, 2023
Western Sydney pulled off a huge upset over Melbourne City in the league, and Olivia Price helped seal the deal with this banger. The moment Price received the ball, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it.
One quick touch to get the ball out from her feet, and then she smacked it into the roof of the net; the keeper didnโt stand a chance. Western Sydney has to feel a whole lot better about themselves with this goal and result in the league.ย
2. Grace Maher – Canberra United
GRACE MAHERRRRRRR ๐๐๐๐
The @CanberraUnited star lets rip from range & fires home an outstanding strike to extend her side's lead!
Catch all the action LIVE on @ParamountPlusAU ๐บ
Follow live: https://t.co/82jL7sfEEQ
#ADLvCBR #WeAreALeagues @LibFinancial pic.twitter.com/aZyPHIHjtT— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 7, 2023
This is something special from Grace Maher; the audacity and confidence to attempt this is on another level.
The keeper isnโt even that far off her line, Maherโs margin for error is incredibly small, yet she took the shot anyway. First, she picked the defenderโs pocket and then took a couple of touches before going for goal. The keeper still had a chance at it but couldnโt get anything on it to keep it out.
This wasnโt even a chip shot but more of a driven, looping strike that dipped under the bar and beat the keeper. A jaw-dropping finish from Grace Maher to help secure a great win.
1. Sheridan Gallagher – Western Sydney Wanderers
We could have an ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ@wswanderersfc LEAD @MelbourneCity at the break thanks to INSANE Sheridan Gallagher finish!
Catch the second half LIVE on @ParamountPlusAU๐บ
First half wrap: https://t.co/KMbNYUwYu8
#WSWvMCY #WeAreALeagues @LibFinancial pic.twitter.com/LcWQYLHPPQ— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 8, 2023
Iโm not even sure where to start with this goal other than to say itโs one of the most absurd things Iโve seen in any sport, period.
The trajectory this ball takes in midair is something that needs to be studied to understand better how the ball ended up in the goal. It didnโt look like it took a deflection, but it mustโve curved at least 10 to 15 feet in the air before it came back down.
No one had any clue where the ball would end up, but it fell perfectly into the far corner, an unreal goal to take the top spot on this weekโs list of Top 5 Goals.
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