Sydney FC and Adelaide United have played out their second goalless draw this season following 90 minutes of back and forth action in hot conditions.
The Sky Blues maintain their home unbeaten run to four matches, and record another clean sheet, their fifth of the campaign so far with substitute Riley Tanner coming closest for the hosts after her effort struck the underside of the cross bar from a tight angle.
Sydney FC 0 drew w. 0 Adelaide United
Moments That Mattered
39′ | HINZ TOP CORNER GRAB – The American shot stopper jumps up to deny Paige Zois with a stunning save and holds onto the ball.
67′ | ADELAIDE DENIED GOAL WITH FOUL – Erin Healy pushes Willa Pearson in the area and slots the ball home, however the referee’s whistle denies the visitors following a foul.
75′ | MELEGH MAKES A TRIPLE SAVE – Halmarick, Tanner & Lemon denied by the Adelaide shot stopper in the space of 10 seconds.
80′ | TANNER STRIKES THE CROSSBAR – The American shoots from a tight angle and sees her effort strike the underside of the crossbar and bounce out.
90′ + 3′ | FENTON CLEARS A CORNER OFF THE LINE – Adelaide almost net the winner following a scramble from a corner but Kirsty Fenton on the line clears the ball away.
Match Report
Sydney FC and Adelaide United opened the week’s Ninja A-League action with a back and forth clash at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night but neither side could find the back of the net after 90 minutes in some testing heat.
In the early stages, Adelaide United were the side on top and should’ve gone ahead when Chelsie Dawber flashed an effort wide of the target from a cutback from Erin Healy.
At the other end, Sydney FC looked to score their first goal of 2026 however Matilda McNamara was on hand for the visitors to hook away a lob over the on-rushing Ilona Melegh in net.
Heather Hinz was the busier of the two keepers in the opening half and did well to race off her line and deny Emily Condon with a one on one save and then jumped up to her left to save a curling effort from Paige Zois from the edge of the box minutes later.
In the opening moments of the second half, most of the attempts came from set pieces and Matilda McNamara almost flicked a header into the bottom corner for the visitors however she didn’t get enough on it and it floated wide of the target.
As the changes came, it was the Sky Blues who finished the stronger with Skye Halmarick denied her first Sydney FC goal following a save from Ilona Melegh and the United shot stopper had to be quick to deny Tanner and then Lemon from follow up attempts.
With the fresh legs, Riley Tanner was causing havoc on the left side and almost opened the scoring as she struck from a tight angle and the ball ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar and bounced out.
Sydney FC swung corner after corner into the area in the dying minutes and the visitors were throwing anything they could in the way to clear the danger but they managed to do just enough to maintain a point in Sydney’s Inner West.
Adelaide would have the final chance of the game with both teams out on their feet in the heat and the outswinging corner was met by a collection of bodies on the six yard line and after legs swung at the ball, the danger was eventually cleared off the line by Kirsty Fenton and moments later the referee’s whistle blew to end the breathless conclusion to the match.
Sydney FC will now have a quick turnaround as they take on Newcastle Jets on Tuesday night back at Leichhardt Oval as they look to surge up the table into the second half of the season.
What They Said – Ante Juric
“I am not happy with getting just a point as I thought we deserved more, however I am very happy with the performance.
“Today we spoke about “We are Sydney FC” and we need to try and go out and win, not just hold onto stuff and that comes from belief mostly and today especially in the second half they did everything they could to try and win by pushing bodies forward and on another day those chances go in.
“After the International Break we noticed Riley struggled starting games and we thought her impact would be better as a sub and you saw that tonight as I thought she was outstanding and we need that from her every week.
“Ahead of Tuesday we will train Sunday and Monday quite light and see how we go and I’ll choose my squad from there.”
Sydney FC: 1. Heather HINZ (GK), 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 7. Amelia CASSAR, 8. Hana LOWRY, 9. Jodi ULKEKUL (13. Riley TANNER 72′), 14. Abbey LEMON, 16. Willa PEARSON, 19. Skye HALMARICK, 21. Sarah HUNTER (C), 32. Bianca GALIC
Unused Subs: 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (GK), 2. Madison AYSON, 17. Claire CORBETT, 18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER, 23. Rubi SULLIVAN.
Head Coach: Ante Juric
Yellow Cards: Fenton 63′, Juric 65′
Red Cards: None
Adelaide United: 30. Ilona MELEGH (GK), 2. Emily HIDGSON, 3. Matilda McNAMARA, 6. Melissa TARANTO (23. Fiona WORTS 63′), 8. Emily CONDON (5. Sarah MORGAN 90′), 9. Paige ZOIS, 10. Chelsie DAWBER (7. Emilia MAKRIS 90′), 13. Ella TONKIN (C), 15. Adriana TARANTO (11. Isabela HODGSON 78′), 17. Zoe TOLLAND, 22. Erin HEALY
Unused Subs: 21. Claudia JENKINS (GK), 4. Holly MURRAY.
Head Coach: Theo Tsiounis
Yellow Cards: Tonkin 45′,
Red Cards: None
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Lara Lee
Attendance: 1,857
