On a windy Sunday afternoon in Victoria, Melbourne City hosted Sydney FC in a typical back and forth clash between the two competition heavyweights.
Despite some brilliant chances from both sides, it would be the second half strike from Chinaza Uchendu that proved the difference between the two.
Sydney FC would create a few chances however City shot stopper Malena Mieres was up to the task as she made a couple of strong saves to deny the visitors.
Melbourne City 1 (Uchendu 52′) def. 0 Sydney FC
Moments That Matter
12′ | CITY FLASH A HEADER WIDE – From a corner, Melbourne City find a player at the back post however it goes wide of the far post.
16′ | MCNAMARA STRIKES THE CROSSBAR – City’s star player lets fly from range and with the wind behind her, it cannons off the underside of the crossbar and out.
39′ | STUNNING HINZ SAVE – Heather Hinz produces an amazing save to deny Keane from point blank range.
45′ + 4′ | LOWRY DENIED WITH BRILLIANT SAVE – Hana Lowry tries her luck and with the ball heading into the top corner, Mieres pulls off a stunning save tipping it over the top.
52′ | UCHENDU OPENS THE SCORING – Melbourne City latch onto a flick on and poke the ball past Hinz as the ball kisses the post and goes in.
60′ | TANNER’S OLYMPICO PUSHED AWAY – Panamanian International Riley Tanner almost sees her corner float all the way in but Mieres throws up a hand and denies her
Match Report
On a windy Sunday afternoon at ctrl:cyber Pitch, Melbourne City and Sydney FC locked horns in what is always an entertaining clash and this one was no different.
City would be up to their usual tricks and dominating much of the possession with Ante Juric’s Sydney FC up to the task.
Skye Halmarick was on starting debut and was doing brilliant up top, holding up the ball and allowing her team-mates to surge forward in support and she was unlucky not to see one of her chances head into the net in the opening stages.
Melbourne City would have the first real chance of the afternoon as they flashed a header wide of the far post from a corner and moments later, Holly McNamara struck the cross bar.
City’s number nine took the ball and drove forward, firing an effort towards goal that got taken by the strong wind and struck the underside of the crossbar, bouncing down and out, much to the relief of Heather Hinz in net.
Former Melbourne City player Tori Tumeth has never scored for Sydney FC and she almost opened her account when she picked up the ball and glided forward, however her effort skipped across the surface and bounced just wide of the far post.
Heather Hinz was starting just her second game of the season after struggling with a shoulder injury this season but she was sharp and denied Aideen Keane an almost certain goal with a brilliant save from point blank range.
Absorbing so much pressure in the latter part of the opening 45, the Sky Blues almost went into the sheds ahead with a long range stunner from Hana Lowry. The midfielder let fly with a rocket off her left side and with the ball heading into the top corner, City’s keeper Malena Mieres threw up a hand and pushed the ball over the top in spectacular fashion.
In the second half play resumed with much of the same pattern as the Sky Blues sat deep and looked to hit the hosts on the counter attack however the hosts would find the go-ahead goal through Chinaza Uchendu. Holly McNamara met a long ball with her head and flicked it onto the City striker who out muscled Willa Pearson and poked the ball past the onrushing Hinz, and onto the post and in.
Sydney FC looked to respond and they almost did as Riley Tanner was introduced and after a scramble inside the area, the ball fell to captain Sarah Hunter on the edge of the box and she flashed a shot goalward that was pushed away by Mieres for a corner.
From the resulting set piece the substitute Riley Tanner almost netted an olympico using the wind to her advantage but once again the City shot stopper threw up a hand and pushed the ball away from danger.
Skye Halmarick almost netted on her starting debut as she broke the offside trap and found space at the corner of the box but Mieres was in the right spot at the right time and held comfortably.
Holly McNamara has never scored against Sydney FC and she almost did as the ball bounced up on the volley on the edge of the box and with Heather Hinz beaten, she was denied by the up-right and her wait for that goal went on.
15 year old Claire Corbett came on for her first professional appearance and had some nice touches in and around the area as the Sky Blues created a few half chances off the boot of Hunter, Luchtmeijer & Tanner but saw their efforts blocked by City defenders.
Sarah Hunter would have the last chance of the afternoon as she took a free kick down the throat of the keeper but once again, the City shot stopper threw up a hand and pushed it over the top and the light blue side were able to hold on for all three points.
Sydney FC will now host Adelaide United on Friday night as they begin a busy January.
What They Said: Ante Juric
“This was a very very good performance and the players deserved more for their efforts, however, we still need to create more chances going forward. With that said, City’s goal keeper made two world class saves keeping us scoreless today.
“After last week’s poor result, we showed in today’s performance that we have what it takes to keep getting better and to be there at the pointy end of the season.
“On another positive, Skye (17) did a good job on her starting debut, Willa (15) was world class again, Claire (15) was fantastic on her debut when she came on and Millie (17) is gaining confidence after every game.
“This young team will grow into a very strong team in the not too distant future.”
Melbourne City: 24. Malena MIERES (GK), 3. Danielle TURNER, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia MCKENNA, 7. Danielle BUTRUS (22. Bryleeh HENRY 67′), 8. Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 9. Holly McNAMARA, 13. Rebekah STOTT (C), 15. Chinaza UCHENDU (6. Karly ROESTBAKKEN 85′), 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 21. Aideen KEANE.
Unused Subs: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 2. Ellie WILSON, 11. Deven JACKSON, 1, 17. Kaya JUGOVIC.
Head Coach: Michael Matricciani
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Sydney FC: 1. Heather HINZ, 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 7. Amelia CASSAR (13. Riley TANNER 53′), 8. Hana LOWRY (32. Bianca GALIC HT), 9. Jodi ULKEKUL, 14. Abbey LEMON, 16. Willa PEARSON, 19. Skye HALMARICK (18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER 72′), 21. Sarah HUNTER, 26. Maddie CASPERS (17. Claire CORBETT 72′).
Unused Subs: 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (GK), 2. Madison AYSON.
Head Coach: Ante Juric
Yellow Cards: Lemon 56′, Galic 80′, Juric 82′, Tumeth 86′
Red Cards: None
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
Venue: ctrl:cyber Pitch
Attendance: 972
