Sydney FC have claimed all three points with a dramatic late winner from Princess Ibini in the 8th minute of injury time against Wellington Phoenix at Leichhardt Oval this afternoon.
The Sky Blues won 2-1 after midfielder Maddie Caspers, who turned 18 today, gave them the lead and Manaia Elliot equalised for the Nix, before Ibini’s winner.
Sydney FC 2 (Caspers 45+4’, Ibini 90+8’) def. Wellington Phoenix FC 1 (Elliot 75’)
Moments That Mattered:
4’ | BLACK SAVE – Manaia Elliott unleashes a right-footed effort into the bottom-right corner of the net from outside the box but it’s heroically saved by Jasmine Black.
39’ | LEMON CHANCE – A well worked pass from Lucy Johnson finds Abbey Lemon in the box where she rifles an effort from near the edge of the box just wide.
45+4’ | CASPERS GOAL – An expert cross from Tallon-Henniker is received by birthday girl Maddie Caspers who calmly steps around a challenge, before slotting it home with a neat right foot finish. What a way to celebrate 18 years on the planet!
68’ | BLACK TIPS ONTO THE BAR – A lofted shot is brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Black in the Sky Blues goal to preserve the lead.
75’ | ELLIOT GOAL – Manaia Elliot finds space in the box and threads it neatly into the back of the net from a tight angle.
85’ | JABER RED CARD – Tiana Jabers barges over Shea Connors off the ball with her shoulder making heavy contact with Connors. She receives her marching orders after receiving a second yellow card.
90+8’ | IBINI GOAL – Princess Ibini wins it at the death following a creative 1-2 with Abbey Lemon and beats the keeper at the far post to seal the three-points for Sydney FC.
Match Report:
Sydney FC have snatched a last ditch winner against Kiwi club Wellington Phoenix with substitute Princess Ibini slotting home a 98th minute winner to send the Sky Blues fans wild at Leichhardt Oval today.
Wellington started the better of the two sides with Manaia Elliot getting onto a ball just outside the box rifling her effort into the bottom-right corner, however goalkeeper Jasmine Black shows her skill by expertly diving onto the ball to keep the score level.
A hotly contested first half was hanging in the balance and then out of nothing a well-placed ball from Lucy Johnson to the feet of Abbey Lemon was put just shy of the net by the full back.
On the brink of half-time a perfectly weighted cross from Tallon-Henniker is delivered into the centre of the box as Maddie Caspers runs in and drills it into the back of the net.
She kisses the badge to celebrate a goal on her 18th birthday giving the Sky Blues the ascendancy at the break.
As the second half reached the half way stage young keeper Jasmine Black produced a great save to keep the Sky Blues in the lead, touching a lofted Phoenix shot onto the bar and the danger was cleared.
But the lead didn’t last long as Wellington levelled through a neatly struck ball by Elliot. She found space in the box and drove the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle after an error in midfield from Sydney FC.
With five minutes to play Tiana Jaber crashes into Sydney FC’s number 9 Shea Connors off the ball and the Lebanese right-back receives her marching orders for a second yellow card.
Then Sydney FC snatched the winner in the final moments as Princess Ibini found space out wide, playing a creative 1-2 with Lemon and curling it into the bottom-right corner of the net to seal victory for Sydney FC.
The result moves Sydney FC off the bottom as the Sky Blues make the most of their home advantage yet again.
What They Said: Maddie Caspers: “I’m so happy for the girls. It just made my night even better.
“It was quite hot, but it’s nice to know that everyone’s behind you and the drinks breaks really helped, so I think we worked hard as a team.
“The fans are just amazing and I love talking to them and seeing them after the game and we couldn’t have won without them.”
What They Said: Abbey Lemon: “It feels great. I think it was a long time coming.
“We’ve been so close for so long and I’m just happy we could do it today in front of a home crowd.
“It feels amazing. I mean they come week in, week out, whether we win lose or draw and I really wanted to get the three points again today for all of the fans that keep coming back and supporting us.
Sydney FC (Home) | Formation: 4-2-3-1: 13. Jasmine BLACK, 4. Tori TUMETH, 6. Shay HOLLMAN, 12. Natalie TOBIN (C), 14. Abbey LEMON, 15 Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 21. Lucy JOHNSON (7. Millie FARROW 81’), 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS, 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER (9. Shea CONNORS 70’), 26. Madeline CASPERS (20. Princess IBINI 81’)
Unused Subs: 3. Faye BRYSON, 28. Bethany Mason-Jones
Head Coach: Ante JURIC
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Wellington Phoenix FC (Away) | Formation: 4-4-2: 39. Carolina VILAO, 3. Tiana JABER, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON (19. Olivia INGHAM 87’), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (7. Grace JALE 64’), 11. Manaia ELLIOT (14. Mebae TANAKA 83’), 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE ( 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN 64’), 16. Annalie LONGO (C), 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL
Unused Subs: 13. Brook NEARY
Head Coach: Paul TEMPLE
Yellow Cards: Lucy JABER 56’
Red Cards: Lucy JABER 85’
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Mikayla Ryan
Attendance: 1,570
