A stunning late 25 yard strike from Newcastle Jets substitute Charlotte Lancaster has stolen all three points from Sydney FC in a game the Sky Blues dominated for large parts.
A “different class” effort from Sydney FC winger Millie Cassar had put the Sky Blues in front before Melinda Ayres pegged them back and Lancaster with the devastating blow for a 2-1 win.
Sydney FC 1 (Cassar 18’) def. by Newcastle Jets 2 (Ayres 28’, Lancaster 90’+1’)
Moments That Mattered:
7’ | HALMARICK HEADER CLEARED OFF LINE – A floated left wing Sarah Hunter corner to the back post is headed goalward by Skye Halmarick but headed off the line by Davis.
18’ | CASSAR GOAL – Cassar dispossess Josie Allan, takes a touch and produces a long range 20-yard strike which floats over the stranded Jets keeper.
28’ | AYRES GOAL – A lofted ball from Allan into the Sky Blues box bounces and isn’t dealt with, eventually falling to Ayres to swivel and shoot in off the post.
35’ | HINZ SAVE – Ayres feeds in right winger Lauren Allan with a ball inside the full back but Hinz is out bravely to block the shot with her legs.
45’ | FANTASTIC HINZ SAVE – Prior drills in a right side cross, it’s excellently controlled by Johnson with one touch, to shoot with the next right in front of goal but Hinz’s reactions are sublime and she saves with her leg from point blank.
61’ | TWO SAVES IN A MINUTE – A ball through the middle puts Ayres in but her high shot is pushed away by Hinz, then a minute later Josie Allan finds herself in the penalty area to shoot but Hinz saves diving out with her body.
87’ | GALIC SHOT WIDE – The ball comes forward and falls to Galic who could release Lemon but decides to shoot and it goes just past the post.
90’+1’ | LANCASTER GOAL – Jets pick up the ball in their own half and find Lancaster just inside the Sydney FC half who powers forward and drills powerful shot just inside the post to break Sydney FC hearts.
Match Report: A stunning late goal from Newcastle Jets has devastated Sydney FC giving the visitors to Leichhardt Oval a 2-1 win after a dominant display by the Sky Blues.
Sydney FC began the stronger against their opponents who were on a similar number of points and one place ahead at the start of play.
Halmarick was the first to threaten with a header which was cleared off the line from a Sarah Hunter corner in the 6th minute before the Sky Blues finally took the lead in the 18th.
Amelia Cassar won the ball cutting out a Josie Allan pass as she came out of defence, and after a good first touch floated a perfectly flighted shot over the stranded opposition keeper.
Despite the Sky Blues dominance the Jets were level 10 minutes later when a bouncing ball wasn’t dealt with and two Sydney FC players collided, leaving the ball free for Ayres to turn and fire home off the post.
With renewed vigour the Jets almost went ahead on 35, when a long ball from goal fell to Ayres who slid in Lauren Allan, but Hinz bravely came out to get her legs to the goal-bound shot.
Hinz came to the rescue again on the stroke of half time as Johnson collected a right wing cross in front of goal, but her right foot shot is saved by the incredible reactions of the Sky Blues keeper’s left leg. 1-1 at the break.
Sydney FC start the second half on the front foot and Galic creates a chance with a great and dribble down the left, however it was Hinz again in the thick of the action on the hour mark.
The American keeper stuck a palm out to deny Ayres who went through the middle to shoot and then she comes out to save with her body as Allan got into a close range position to shoot.
In the final ten minutes Sydney FC had penalty claims denied after Tanner was felled on the edge of the area, and then Galic shot just wide with three to go.
Against the run of play Jets stole the ball and darted up field on the counter with Lancaster unleashing and unstoppable shot past the excellent Hinz to win the game for the Novocastrians.
What They Said: Ante Juric: “We are clearly disappointed. We never should have lost that, based on the way we played.
“But that’s football sometimes. You’ve got to knuckle down and keep going.
“Still, definitely disappointed—more so for the girls because they deserved more. It’s tough seeing their faces.
“To concede after holding on for 10 minutes, or a bit more than that, is frustrating.”
On Cassar’s goal: Ante Juric: “She made the interception and used her intelligence to know the shot was on.
“Milly was good last game and she was good again today. She’s finding her feet and getting stronger.
“The goal was different class—probably no one else on the park can do what she does. She’s got that X-factor.
“She needs belief, but she’s getting games and learning. The last two games she’s been outstanding, so I’m really happy for her to score her first goal for Sydney.”
Sydney FC | 1. Heather HINZ (GK), 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 7. Amelia CASSAR (17. Claire CORBETT 77’), 8. Hana LOWRY, 13. Riley TANNER (2. Madison AYSON 88’), 14. Abbey LEMON, 16. Willa PEARSON, 19. Skye HALMARICK (18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER 62’), 21. Sarah HUNTER (C), 32. Bianca GALIC
Unused Subs | 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (GK), 11. Laurie-Anne MOISE, 23. Rubi SULLIVAN.
Head Coach: Ante Juric
Yellow Cards: Pearson 73’,
Red Cards: None
Newcastle Jets | 24. Anna LEAT (GK), 2. Josie WILSON (44. Kelli BROWN 59’), 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR, 6. Cassidy DAVIS ©, 7. India BREIER, 9. Haley JOHNSON (30. Alexis COLLINS 59’), 10. Elizabeth COPUS-BROWN, 13. Lauren ALLAN, 14. Melina AYRES, 18. Sophie HOBAN, 26. Josie ALLAN (11. Charlotte LANCASTER 81’).
Unused Subs | 12. Georgia RITCHIE (GK), 8. Emma DUNDAS.
Head Coach | Stephen Hoyle
Yellow Cards | Breier 82’, Lancaster 84’, Cicco 86’.
Red Cards | N/A
Venue | Leichhardt Oval
Referee | Izzy Cooper
Attendance | 1,642
