It may not have been reflected in the final scoreline but Sydney FC’s women have delivered a dominant performance in Saturday’s Westfield W-League clash with the Newcastle Jets.
It may not have been reflected in the final scoreline but Sydney FC-s women have delivered a dominant performance in Saturday-s Westfield W-League clash with the Newcastle Jets, continuing their climb up the ladder with a 1-nil win at Energy Australia Stadium.
“It was tough conditions out there (but) all credit to the girls, they did well and battled hard all the way to the end,” said Sydney-s player of the match, Kyah Simon shortly after the full-time whistle.
Sky Blues- coach, Alen Stajcic was forced into a late change with in-form striker, Sarah Walsh withdrawing from the starting side just before kick-off due to a hamstring strain, but Sydney quickly covered for her absence with Leena Khamis starting the scoring in style in just the 5th minute of the game.
Captain Heather Garriock pushed forward from defence and combined on the left with Julie Rydahl. The Danish international delivered a pin-point cross to the near post which was well met by Khamis – the league-s reigning Golden Boot heading home to open her account for the season and getting Sydney off to the perfect start.
The Sky Blue women looked the more composed of the two teams but Newcastle-s desperation ensured it enjoyed plenty of possession as well during the early exchanges. A 17th minute turnover in the defensive third almost proved costly for the Jets, however, but Linda O-Neill-s angled drive drifted wide. A minute later Sydney spurned another good chance when Cathrin Paaske fired her first time effort harmlessly into the arms of keeper, Alison Logue.
The glut of possession continued for the visitors as they dominated the middle of the park with their passing game. A slip-up in that passing provided Newcastle with its best chance of the opening half in the 36th minute, but great last ditch defending denied Emma Stewart a clean shot on Nikola Deiter-s goal.
Despite the scare Sydney remained in control of the contest and in the 42nd minute would have doubled its advantage, but for the athletic efforts of Logue, who dove full-stretch to touch Kylie Ledbrook-s goal-bound volley away onto the upright.
Leading 1-nil at the break, the Sky Blues picked up where they left off in the second half and went within inches of extending their lead in the 53rd minute – Kyah Simon receiving the ball in space on the right and firing firmly into the side netting from the edge of the eighteen.
Deiter was forced to make her first real save of the game in the 64th minute when Newcastle looked to catch Sydney on the counter but Hayley Crawford-s chip from distance was easy fare for the alert custodian.
In the 83rd minute a well worked move between Paaske and substitute, Catherine Cannuli ended with a low shot from Cannuli that drew a stretching save from the Newcastle keeper, and Cannuli should have found the net in the first minute of injury time when the Logue fumbled the ball right at her feet on the edge of the six yard box. The Jets- custodian recovered quickly to smother the shot, however, and there was no further opportunities for either side – Sydney taking the points in dominant fashion, despite the closeness of the final score.
Next up for Sydney FC-s women is a meeting with defending Westfield W-League Champions, the Brisbane Roar who will make the trip to the Sydney Football Stadium next Sunday, October 25.
“We-re looking forward to every game. It should be a tough one like every other week but we-re willing to take it on,” said Kyah Simon.
The round-4 clash will be a curtain-raiser to the Hyundai A-League meeting between the two teams and will kick-off at the SFS at 2:15pm.
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Match Detail
Newcastle Jets 0
Sydney FC 1 (Khamis 5-)
Newcastle Jets: 1. Alison LOGUE (gk), 3. Pelay INGLES, 4. Loren MAHONEY (13. Caitlyn JARVIE 66-), 5. Stacey DAY (18. Leia SMITH 62-), 6. Amber NEILSON, 7. Gema SIMON, 9. Kate HENSMAN, 10. Hayley CRAWFORD (c), 11. Carlie IKONOMOU, 12. Emma STEWART (8. Bronte BATES 79-), 16. Kirstyn PEARCE.
Substitutes not used: 20. Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk).
Yellow Cards: 16. Kirstyn PEARCE 20-.
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: Nil.
Sydney FC: 1. Nikola DEITER (gk), 3. Danielle BROGAN, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Heather GARRIOCK (c), 8. Julie RYDAHL, 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 11. Cathrin PAASKE, 15. Kyah SIMON (12. Michelle CARNEY 85-), 16. Linda O-NEILL (13. Catherine CANNULI 71-), 19. Leena KHAMIS.
Substitutes not used: 20. Carla MONFORTE (gk), 9. Sarah WALSH.
Yellow Cards: Nil.
Red Cards: Nil.
Goals: Leena KHAMIS 5-.
Referee: Kirralee Gardener (at Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle).
