A do or die match at Marconi Stadium saw Sydney FC breeze bast cross-city rivals Western Sydney Wanderers FC on their home turf with a 2-0 win and goals from Mackenzie Hawkesby and Indiana Dos Santos.
The critical victory keeps Sydney FC’s slim hopes for finals football alive putting them within three points of the top six with two games to play.
Sydney FC 2 (Hawkesby (pen.) 47’, Dos Santos 64’) def. Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0
Moments That Mattered:
33’ | DOS SANTOS SHOT – Sydney FC’s talented young midfielder unleashes a shot from distance. The ball flies just over the crossbar.
39’ | KHAMIS SAVE – A long-ranged effort from Tallon-Henniker from outside the box flies on-target before being caught comfortably by the Aussie keeper.
47’ | HAWKESBY GOAL – A calm penalty taken my Mackensie Hawkesby finds the net after a handball by Amy Harrison right at the death of the first half.
63’ | IBINI SHOT – Princess Ibini finds herself in the box as she unleashes an effort just over the bar.
64’ | DOS SANTOS GOAL – Indiana Dos Santos becomes the youngest goalscorer in Sydney Derby history after a poor pass from Ena Harada is taken advantage of by Millie Farrow. The English striker passes it off for the wide open Dos Santos to strike it cleanly into the back of the net.
What They Said: Indiana Dos Santos: “I can’t explain the feeling. I’m just so proud of the girls and it was so fun to be out there tonight.
“It’s the never say die attitude, we just keep working and whatever comes our way, comes our way.”
Indiana Dos Santos speaks to the cameras after the game having scored a goal and become the youngest ever Sydney Derby goalscorer aged 17 years old.
Match Report:
A 10th win in 11 against Western Sydney Wanderers to extend Sydney FC’s three game unbeaten run, as our girls got the job done at Marconi Stadium with a convincing 2-0 win away from home.
It was a hotly contested first half between the cross-city rivals with Sydney FC raining down with long-ranged efforts.
The first came from talented young gun Indiana Dos Santos who cleanly struck the ball from outside the box, however it flew over the crossbar.
As the half continued, Caley Tallon-Henniker rifled her effort from outside the box on target but Wanderers keeper Sham Khamis was able to catch.
With the half in injury time, a routine corner turned into a penalty shout after the ball came off the boot of Maddie Caspers and up onto the hand of Amy Harrison.
Here are the match highlights as Sydney defeat Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 away from home thanks to goals from Hawkesby and Dos Santos.
It was an unfortunate error from the Wanderers defender and Captain which allowed Mackenzie Hawkesby to calmly step up and slot home, giving Sydney FC the lead at half time.
Sydney FC came up with the first opportunity of the second half when Princess Ibini was found at the edge of the box just after the hour mark.
Unexpectedly she shoots from range attempting to bend it into the top corner but the ball hits the roof of the net, narrowly missing the chance to extend Sydney FC’s advantage.
It wasn’t long before the lead was increased, however after a short pass from Wanderers’ keeper Khamis to Ena Harada is intercepted as she tried to make a pass.
Sydney FC pounce and the ball finds its way to substitute Millie Farrow who takes it to the goal line and passes inside to the open Indiana Dos Santos.
The teenager finishes sublimely and makes history by becoming the youngest goal scorer in Sydney Derby history at 17 years 174 days to secure the 2-0 win.
Wanderers tried their best to get back into the game but the Sky Blues defence held firm to record an 11th consecutive clean sheet against their cross city rivals.
The result moves the Sky Blues up to 9th place for now.
Sydney FC (Away) | Formation: 4-3-3: 13. Jasmine BLACK, 4. Tori TUMETH, 6. Shay HOLLMAN, 12. Natalie TOBIN, 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 21. Lucy JOHNSON (58’ 7. Millie FARROW), 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS, 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER (77’ 9. Shea CONNORS), 26. Madeline CASPERS (46’ 20. Princess IBINI)
Unused Subs: 3. Faye BRYSON, 28. Bethany MASON-JONES
Head Coach: Ante JURIC
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Western Sydney Wanderers FC (Home) | Formation: 4-3-3: 20. Shamiran KHAMIS, 4. Madison MCCOMASKY, 6. AMY CHESSARI, 7. Amy HARRISON, 8. Olivia PRICE, 10. Sienna SAVESKA (62’ 9. Sophie HARDING), 11. Danika MATOS, 14. Ella BUCHANAN (84’ 5. Amelia BENNETT), 15. Cushla RUE, 25. Holly CASPERS (46’ 12. Bronte TREW), 37. Ena HARADA (70’ 19. Talia YOUNIS)
Unused Subs: 31. Keely SEGAVCIC
Head Coach: Geoff ABRAHAMS
Yellow Cards: McComasky 82’, Younis 82’.
Red Cards: None
Venue: Marconi Stadium
Referee: Page MALAU-ADULI
Attendance: 1,409
