Newly minted striker Caitlin Foord had only scored one hat-trick in her career until recently, but she has two in a matter of weeks, with her latest treble helping Sydney FC to return to winning ways with a hefty 5-1 win over Brisbane Roar.
Sydney FC had been on a rare three-match winless run but all that changed on Sunday at Seymour Shaw Park, as the Sky Blues steamrolled their opponents in the second half to inflict a club-record defeat on their old rivals.
Prolific: Caitlin Foord scores one of her three against the Roar at Seymour Shaw Park in Sydney's Miranda.Credit:AAP
Foord netted her maiden international hat-trick last month for the Matildas against Chile, having also scored twice on the opening day of the W-League season.
Converted to a No.9 by Sydney FC coach Ante Juric, she opened the scoring against the Roar on 15 minutes after profiting from a smart Savannah McCaskill pass.
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The Roar, however, soon replied in kind with Japanese international Yuki Nagasato completing an equally well-worked move 10 minutes later.
There was goalmouth action aplenty at both ends of the pitch, but the Sky Blues took the match by the scruff of the neck on the hour mark after going ahead through a rare Teresa Polias strike.
Foord netted twice more in the closing stages, and substitute Princess Ibini also made it onto the scoresheet to punctuate a confident Sky Blues' attacking display.
There was good news too for the competition's three-time reigning champions as Melbourne City also ended a three-match winless run with a 3-1 victory at Newcastle.
Midas touch: Foord beats goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold for another. Credit:AAP
International pair Yukari Kinga and Tameka Butt gave City a two-goal advantage at the break and a flat-looking Jets never looked like getting back into the contest in hot conditions.
Bottom-placed Western Sydney finally managed to get on the board on Friday thanks to Kylie Ledbrook's equaliser three minutes from full-time which earned a 2-2 draw against Canberra United.
The Wanderers twice came from behind after Ellie Carpenter opened the scoring, though her goal earned criticism in some quarters after goalkeeper Jada Whyman went down injured just before the strike.
Sam Kerr made it six goals from four outings with her double enough to earn Perth a 2-2 draw against Adelaide United in Thursday's round-six opener.
The W-League's marquee player scored twice in six minutes at the end of the first half, but the visiting Glory, who had Alyssa Mautz sent off for a second caution, couldn't hang on for victory as Veronica Latsko grabbed the equaliser with 11 minutes remaining.
AAP
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