Australia's Matildas have enjoyed a shining day in England's Women's Super League, as Mary Fowler led the way for champions Manchester City with a brilliant goal in their drubbing of Aston Villa.
Fowler had opened her campaign last week with a fine goal in City's victory over Birmingham but her arrowed left-footed strike in the 4-1 victory at Villa Park on Sunday (Monday AEST), after fine interplay with Lauren Hemp and Bunny Shaw, was even more deadly.
It helped the champions become the only side to start their WSL campaign with two successive wins.
Chelsea, who'd slipped up with a draw against Villa last week, rebounded emphatically with a 5-0 victory at Manchester United, featuring a rare goal for their adventurous Australian full-back Ellie Carpenter.
Carpenter, who scored three last season, had her menacing forays down the right flank eventually rewarded in the 65th minute when she fired home a rebound after her initial shot had been parried.
At Everton, new signing Holly McNamara may have to wait for her first WSL goal, but the new capture from Melbourne City did everything but get officially credited for the strike that sank Charlton 1-0.
With Everton labouring to get past their visitors, who'd been reduced to 10 players after Addicks defender Ashleigh Neville was shown a straight red card in the 58th minute, McNamara took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Attacking struggling defender Hawa Cissoko and surging into the box, she fired in a cross that took a wicked deflection off a distraught Leighanne Robe into her own net with 13 minutes left.Â
It was recorded as an own goal but was all down to the 23-year-old Sydneysider's attacking instincts.
To end Charlton's miserable day, Cissoko was shown a second yellow card at the death as they ended with nine on the field.
Arsenal's Kyra Cooney-Cross made an emotional first home start of the year in the WSL in front of 23,900 fans, continuing her comeback following the death of her mother Jess from an incurable cancer back in Australia in January.
The midfield star had told the BBC before the game: "I know mum would want me here playing and training, and I want to play for the fans as well, to say thank you to them.
"But it's mixed emotions. Game days are very emotional for me now. They mean a lot more. I would say I'm excited, but it's also going to be an emotional day.
"I want to play and I want to play for her as well and for the fans."
Cooney-Cross's return for the Gunners against Crystal Palace lasted for an hour in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
