Defending W League Champions Sydney FC continued the build up to their title defence with a hard fought 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets at Hills Sports Centre on Saturday.
Defending W League Champions Sydney FC continued the build up to their title defence with a hard fought 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets at Hills Sports Centre on Saturday.
Coach Alen Stajic had not been too confident after subjecting his team to a hard week of fitness training leading into the match. However, Sydney FC started brightly, snatching a 2-0 lead inside the first fifteen minutes.
The Sky Blues found themselves in front after just five minutes after Kyah Simon scored from a corner. Ten minutes later Matildas striker Leena Khamis pounced on a sloppy Jets back pass to double Sydney-s lead.
Sydney FC held their lead into half time with Danielle Brogan and Alanna Kennedy playing starring roles in defence for the champions.
After half time the Newcastle side changed the pattern of their attack, starting a strong fightback. Sydney-s players started to feel the effects of their week of physical exertion and the Jets were able to pull one back in the 75th minute when Tara Andrews scored after some classy lead up play.
The Jets dominated the closing fifteen minutes of play but Sydney FC held on strongly to come away victors.
Sydney FC-s premiership winning coach was happy with his side-s performance.
“I thought the girls may be a bit lead legged after all our fitness training in the past week but they produced a fine performance. We had a few players missing today, including Kylie Ledbrook, but the girls all stepped up to the mark,” said Stajic.
This coming Saturday, 9th October, Sydney FC will play Illawarra Stingrays in a rematch of their recent “friendly”. This match will also be played at Hills Sports Centre, kicking off at 11am.
The Sydney FC side plays their season opener against Brisbane Roar on November 6th in Brisbane. The Sky Blues first home game is at WIN Stadium Wollongong on 20th November against Adelaide United.
