Sydney FC have gone down to a 4-0 Big Blue defeat to Melbourne Victory at Leichhardt Oval, unable to capitalise on home advantage to clinch the Premiers Plate.
They will now need to wait for the result of Melbourne City’s clash against Perth Glory later this evening, knowing that if the Victorian side fail to win the Sky Blues will retain the Premiership for a fourth consecutive time.
Sydney FC 0 def by. Melbourne Victory 4 (Murphy 17’, Lowe (PEN) 38’, Gielnik 64’, Chidiac 90’+6′)
Moments That Mattered:
17’ MURPHY GOAL – Beattie Goad sends in a corner, and it finds the head of Kayla Morrison. Her shot rebounds off Caley Tallon-Henniker’s thigh and into Alana Murphy’s right boot as she slots the ball home to the left of Jada Whyman.
38’ LOWE PENALTY – Rachel Lowe doubles the lead from the spot after Jada Whyman kicked out at Alex Chidiac in the box, and Casey Lisa Reibelt pointed to the spot.
64’ GIELNIK GOAL – Jamilla Rankin receives the ball on the edge of the box and cuts it back to Emily Gielnik. She slots it into the back of the net.
What They Said: Ante Juric: “Very disappointing. We were fatigued but that shouldn’t be an excuse.
“We gave away those four goals which wasn’t good enough.
“The biggest disappointment was that we relied on our defensive structure all season, and I thought that it wasn’t there today.
“We’ll have a little bit of a rest and then we’ll get into the semis.”
Match Report: Sydney FC have failed to capture the Premiers Plate by their own endeavours going down 4-0 to Melbourne Victory at Leichhardt Oval.
They will need to hope Melbourne City fail to beat Perth Glory later this evening to secure their fourth successive Plate.
It was a frenetic start and both teams came flying out the gates in the opening ten minutes.
Victory was the first to draw blood when Alana Murphy scored in the bottom left corner after the ball ricocheted off the thigh of Caley Tallon-Heniker.
Towards the end of a frustrating half for the Sky Blues Jada Whyman struck out at Alex Chidiac, as the forward shoulder charged her, and it saw Casey Reibelt point to the spot.
Rachel Lowe then returned to haunt her former team when she fired the ball from the spot into the left side of the goal.
The Sky Blues started the second half swiftly, with substitute Connors getting down the left and crossing but but Vine couldn’t apply the finishing touch.
Despite Sydney’s relentless start to the half, Emily Gielnik extended the lead out to three after Jamilla Rankin laid the ball off to her.
With the Cove still making themselves heard, the Dark Blues’ began to slow the match down, intercepting the Sky Blues passes and keeping possession off the ball.
In the final play of the game, Alex Chidiac found herself one-on-one with Whyman, and slotted the ball past her.
Sydney FC have qualified for the semi-finals which start on the weekend of the 20th April with their opponent still to be determined but it will be against either the Victory, Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets or Western United.
Sydney FC: 1. Jada WHYMAN (GK), 2. Margaux CHAUVET, 4. Tori TUMETH, 11. Cortnee VINE, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 18. Taylor RAY (19. Zara KRUGER 66’), 20. Princess IBINI (13. Aideen KEANE 69’), 21. Shay HOLLMAN, 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER (9. Shea CONNORS 46’).
Unused Subs: 40. Jasmine BLACK (GK), 14. Abbey LEMON.
Yellow Cards: Whyman 36’
Red Cards: None
Melbourne Victory: 50. Courtney NEWBON (GK), 2. Jamilla RANKIN, 3. Tori HANSEN, 4. Sara D’APPOLONIA, 5. Jessika NASH, 6. Beattie GOAD, 8. Alana MURPHY (21. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT 75’), 9. Emily GIELNIK (16. Paige ZOIS 86′), 10. Alexander CHIDIAC, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 23. Rachel LOWE (19. Lia PRIVITELLI 63’).
Unused Subs: 66. Geo CANDY (GK), 15. Emma CHECKER.
Yellow Cards: Privitelli, 69’
Red Cards: None
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Attendance: 4387
