Sydney FC’s women will go back to the drawing board at training this week after being handed a heavy defeat in their top of the table Westfield W-League outing against the Queensland Roar.
Sydney FC-s women will go back to the drawing board at training this week after being handed a heavy defeat in their top of the table Westfield W-League outing against the Queensland Roar.
The clash between the competition-s top two teams was expected to be a close-fought contest but the ladder-leaders proved too strong on home turf, cruising to a comfortable 3-nil win.
A thunder storm delayed the start of the match and when the teams did take the field it was in torrential rain at Ballymore Stadium, but it didn-t impede the Roar who went instantly on the attack, launching four attempts on goal in the first ten minutes and controlling play across the pitch.
In Friday night-s Hyundai A-League clash between Sydney and Queensland the Roar claimed the lead on the 12 minute mark and there was a touch of synergy in Brisbane today, with Karla Rueter converting a fumble from FC goalkeeper, Rachel Cooper to put her side in front at the same stage of game.
Sydney-s defence seemed to be rattled by the Roar attack, but the Sky Blue women created some pressure of their own, with skipper, Heather Garriock looking to lift her side in her first start since overcoming a hip injury.
Usually the one doing the scoring, striker Leena Khamis tried to turn provide, putting a dangerous ball through to Garriock, but FC-s Captain couldn-t thread the needle on the near post.
Cooper was called back into the action when Queensland was awarded a free-kick just outside Sydney-s area, tipping a dangerous effort from Alice Ferguson out over the back line.
It was a short-lived victory for the FC Custodian, however, with Ferguson finding the target with a well taken header from the resulting corner, and giving the Roar a two goal cushion 29 minutes into the match.
Queensland was oozing confidence and Sydney was finding it hard to have any impact on the home side-s defence.
The visitor-s last chance of the half was one of their best, but Khamis was unsuccessful in her attempt to head the ball over young Roar keeper, Casey Dumont, following some clever lead-up work from Garriock.
The Sky Blues lifted after the break but the home side still had most of the momentum, and they delivered the final blow in the 62nd minute.
Lana Harch took the initiative after receiving the ball at her feet from a wayward Lisa Gilbert pass inside her own half.
Courtney Beutel then skinned the defence before rounding Cooper inside FC-s eighteen and calmly slotting the finish to remove any doubt about the result.
Knowing the three points were beyond their reach barring a miracle, the visitors pushed players forward late in the game, hoping for exactly that, and their best chance to pull one back came when Khamis harassed the Roar defence before laying the ball off to Ledbrook.
Her sizzling strike was too good for the keeper, but it couldn-t get past the out-stretched leg of Queensland Captain Kate McShea on the goal line and the Sky Blues knew it wasn-t their day.
Despite the defeat, Sydney will take plenty out of the high-quality encounter and will be hoping for a change of fortune when it returns to the action next Saturday evening in Canberra.
Match Detail
Queensland Roar 3 (Karla Rueter 12-, Alicia Ferguson 29-, Courtney Beutel 62-)
Sydney FC 0
Queensland Roar: 1. Casey Dumont (gk), 2. Kate McShea (c), 3. Karla Rueter, 4. Clare Polkinghorne (13. Tameka Butt 67-), 5. Brooke Spence, 7. Kim Carroll (Ellen Beautmont 19-), 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 9. Alicia Ferguson, 10. Lana Harch (11. Ruth Blackburn 77-), 16. Lauren Colthorpe, 18. Courtney Beutel.
Substitute not used: 20. Lara Boon (gk).
Yellow Cards: Courtney Beutel 16-, Lauren Colthorpe 42-.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: Karla Rueter 12-, Alicia Ferguson 29-, Courtney Beutel 62-.
Sydney FC: 1. Rachel Cooper (gk) 2. Samantha Spackman (15. Jessica Seaman 41-), 3. Danielle Brogan, 4. Alesha Clifford, 5. Lisa Gilbert 6. Servet Uzunlar, 7. Heather Garriock (c) (18. Nicola Bolger 76-),10. Kylie Ledbrook, 16. Linda O-Neill 17. Danielle Small (14. Maggie Elhusseini 91-) 19. Leena Khamis.
Substitute not used: 20. Nikola Dieter (gk).
Yellow Cards: Rachel Cooper 28-, Servet Uzunlar 59-.
Red Cards: nil.
Goals: nil.
Referee: Sara Hodson.
