Sydney FC face a Preliminary Final against Melbourne Victory next weekend after Hannah Keane’s solitary goal won the Semi Final for Western United.
The Sky Blues dominated with 26 shots to 8 but were unable to unlock the United defence.
Sydney FC 0 def. by Western United 1 (Keane 26’)
Moments That Mattered:
VINE CHANCE – 15’ – Vine sprints into the box and fires a shot across goal which the keeper parries into
KEANE GOAL – 26’ – Keane reacts quickest in the box to get to a cross from the left to flick the ball beyond Whyman.
LOWE CHANCE – 45’ – The Western United keeper gives the ball straight to Lowe who runs back at her but under pressure from a defender fires just wide.
TOBIN CHANCE – 75’ – Haley finds Badawiya out wide and her flashing cross is tipped away to Tobin at the far post but her left foot shot is cleared off the line.
HAWKESBY CHANCE – 88’ – Haley slots in Hawkesby inside the box but her shot is sliced wide.
What They Said: Ante Juric: “I’m disappointed in the result but performance was good and they did what I asked.
“They were relentless going forward and made a lot of chances, sometimes in football that’s life.
“It sounds stupid but in my head I was thinking I would like to lose just so we don’t have to have bye.
“If we had won, we’d be having two games in four weeks.
“So you’ve got to look at the brightside of things and for me we are playing next week, if we get through that we will have some momentum going into the Grand Final.”
Match Report: Sydney FC will head to a Preliminary Final next weekend against Melbourne Victory after a 1-0 defeat to Western United despite dominating the game.
Western United opened the scoring against the run of play when Johnson crossed in from the right and Keane got in first to flash the ball past Whyman.
But from then on it was all Sky Blues attacking with Vine, Lowe, Tobin and Hawkesby all going close.
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and a win over arch rivals Melbourne Victory will be necessary to send the Sky Blues to a sixth consecutive Grand Final.
Sydney FC: 1. Jada WHYMAN (GK), 3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 6. Sarah HUNTER, 8. Rachel LOWE, 11. Cortnee VINE (25. Rola BADAWIYA 67’), 12. Natalie TOBIN (C), 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 19. Charlize RULE, 20. Princess IBINI-ISEI, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS (9. Madison HALEY 53’).
Unused Subs: 30 Katie OFFER (GK), 16. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 21. Shay HOLLMAN.
Yellow Cards: Tobin 43’, Hawkesby 90’+9’.
Red Cards: None.
Western United: Western United: 21. Hillary BEAL (GK & C), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOUS, 9. Hannah KEANE, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Emma ROBERS, 15. Adriana TARANTO (4. Jaclyn SAWIKCI 67’), 16. Melissa TARANTO (13. Danielle STEER 67’), 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Sydney CUMMINGS, 22. Alana CERNE (14. Natasha DAKIC 90’+4’), 23. Angela BEARD (24. Julia SARDO 77’).
Unused Subs: 1. Alyssa DALLOSTE (GK).
Yellow Cards: Keane 41’, Taranto 64’.
Red Cards: None
Venue: Allianz Stadium.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
