2024 A-Leagues All Stars Women game

2024 A-Leagues All Star Women game

The event took place at Marvel Stadium
Event	2023–24 A-League Women
A-Leagues All Stars Women Arsenal 0 1
Date	24 May 2024
Venue	Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Referee	Casey Reibelt
Attendance	42,120

The 2024 A-Leagues All Stars Women game was an exhibition soccer match that was played on 24 May 2024, featuring an all-star team of the A-League Women against Women's Super League club Arsenal at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Australia as part of Global Football Week Melbourne. It was the first edition of the A-Leagues All Stars Women game and the fourth of the A-Leagues All Stars Game.

Background

In March 2024, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced three fixtures that would include the A-Leagues All Stars Game at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne as part of Global Football Week Melbourne. ^[1] The inaugural A-Leagues All Stars Women team was played against Women's Super League club Arsenal on 24 May 2024 after the men's game (who played Premier League club Newcastle United). ^[2] It will be the first time the Arsenal women side has played in Australia. ^[3] The official kit partner was Kappa, ^[4] with the broadcast televised in Australia on 10 Bold and Paramount+. ^[5]

Squads

The A-League All Stars Women squad consisted of 19 players, including two goalkeepers, and was selected by coaching staff. ^[6] Alex Chidiac and Hannah Wilkinson were announced on 23 April 2024 as the first two players to be selected in the squad as voted by fans. ^{[4] [7]} On 26 April, Joe Montemurro was announced as head coach, ^[8] with Kat Smith and Emily Husband as assistant coaches, ^[9] and Melissa Maizels appointed as goalkeeping coach. ^[10] The squad was announced on 9 May. ^[11] Of the 19 players selected, five were part of the Australian squad in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, ^[12] and four from Sydney FC that won the Grand Final on 4 May. ^[13] Arsenal announced their 19-player squad on 20 May with Australian internationals Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord included. ^{[14] [15]}

Officials

The referee for the match was Casey Reibelt. Emma Kocbek and Maggie Price were named as assistant referees with Georgia Ghirardello as the fourth official. ^[16]

A-Leagues All Stars Women squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   AUS Lydia Williams (Melbourne Victory) 2 DF   AUS Danika Matos (Western Sydney Wanderers) 4 DF   AUS Grace Maher (Western United) 5 DF   NZL Michaela Foster (Wellington Phoenix) 6 DF   NZL Rebekah Stott (Melbourne City, captain) 7 FW   AUS Sophie Harding (Western Sydney Wanderers) 8 MF   AUS Elise Kellond-Knight (Melbourne Victory) 9 MF   AUS Rhianna Pollicina (Melbourne City) 10 MF   AUS Alex Chidiac (Melbourne Victory) 11 FW   AUS Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC)

No. Pos. Nation Player 13 MF   AUS Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar) 15 MF   AUS Mackenzie Hawkesby (Sydney FC) 16 FW   NZL Hannah Wilkinson (Melbourne City) 17 FW   AUS Kyah Simon (Central Coast Mariners) 18 DF   USA Kayla Morrison (Melbourne Victory) 20 FW   AUS Princess Ibini (Sydney FC) 22 DF   AUS Alana Cerne (Western United) 23 FW   AUS Michelle Heyman (Canberra United, vice-captain) 99 GK   AUS Jada Whyman (Sydney FC)

Arsenal squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF   USA Emily Fox 7 DF   AUS Steph Catley 10 MF   SCO Kim Little (captain) 12 MF   NOR Frida Maanum 15 DF   IRL Katie McCabe 19 FW   AUS Caitlin Foord 21 MF   NED Victoria Pelova 22 MF   DEN Kathrine Møller Kühl 23 FW   ENG Alessia Russo 24 FW   CAN Cloé Lacasse

No. Pos. Nation Player 29 DF   ENG Teyah Goldie 32 MF   AUS Kyra Cooney-Cross 40 GK   ENG Naomi Williams 53 FW   ENG Vivienne Lia 56 MF   ENG Freya Godfrey 60 MF   ENG Laila Harbert 61 FW   ENG Maddy Earl 62 DF   ENG Katie Reid 86 GK   FRA Sarah Bouhaddi

Criticism

After the announcement of Montemurro, Lisa De Vanna criticised the decision to select a coach not employed in the A-League Women, suggesting that it is an "insult to all the coaches who have put in the effort and remained loyal" in Australia. ^[17] Former Central Coast Mariners player Daniel McBreen supported this notion, stating that an A-League Women coach should have been "honoured" with the role. ^[18]

Match

Details

24 May 2024

20:05 AEST

A-Leagues All Stars Women	0–1	Arsenal
	Report	Russo 40'

Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Attendance: 42,120

Referee: Casey Reibelt

References

1. "A-Leagues All stars is BACK in 2024: Everything you need to know". A-League. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
2. Kidane, Benyam (19 March 2024). "Arsenal Women vs A-League All-Stars Women in Melbourne: Marvel Stadium to host friendly in May". Sporting News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
3. "Arsenal Women to play in Australia". Arsenal. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
4. "First FOUR A-League All Stars named as iconic Kappa playing kit unveiled". A-League. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. "Watch the A-League All Stars in action live and free on 10Play". 10Play. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
6. "A-Leagues All Stars fan voting open NOW: How it works". A-League. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
7. Kidane, Benyam (24 April 2024). "Nestory Irankunda headlines A-League All Stars as special edition Kappa kit unveiled". Sporting News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
8. Guelas, Joanna (26 April 2024). "Montemurro can make Matildas case with All Stars stint". The Women's Game. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
9. Hughes, Nicholas (26 April 2024). "Kat Smith helping create history with A-League All Stars Women". Western United . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
10. Guelas, Joanna (26 April 2024). "Montemurro can make Matildas case with All Stars stint". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
11. "FULL SQUAD: Introducing the first ever A-League All Stars Women team to take on Arsenal". A-Leagues . 9 May 2024.
12. Monteverde, Marco (9 May 2024). "A-League women's All-Stars squad to have healthy contingent of Matildas". news.com.au. NCA NewsWire. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
13. "Four Sky Blues Named In All Stars Squad". Sydney FC. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
14. Rugari, Vince (16 February 2024). "North London united: Matildas trio could join Ange's homecoming trip". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
15. "Arsenal Women's squad for Australia announced". Arsenal . 20 May 2024.
16. "Match Official Appointments Exhibition & A-League All-Stars 22-31 May 2024 | Football Australia". Football Australia. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
17. Valencich, Glenn (26 April 2024). "Matildas at centre of 'insulting' move as feud reignites". Seven News . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
18. Monteverde, Marco (26 April 2024). "'Slap across the face': Matildas caught up in A-League All-Stars controversy". Fox Sports. NCA NewsWire. Retrieved 28 April 2024.