A dramatic 95th minute injury-time winner from Amy Harrison has helped Sydney FC snatch a 2-1 win over Adelaide United at the Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Friday night.
A dramatic 95th minute injury-time winner from Amy Harrison has helped Sydney FC snatch a 2-1 win over Adelaide United at the Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Friday night.
The Lady Reds appeared destined to hold on for a share of the spoils before Harrison stole the winner from close range after a goal-mouth scramble deep into stoppage time.
Sydney had opened the scoring in the 24th minute through Jodie Taylor and could have been further ahead at the break if not for some fine goalkeeping from Lady Reds shot stopper Melissa Barbieri.
United skipper Kristy Moore drew the sides level after the break but the home side were finally breached seconds before the final whistle of their Round 10 encounter.
The Lady Reds had the first chance of the match when the Sky Blues were dispossessed in the middle of the park but Louise Mason was unable to force Sydney keeper Casey Dumont into a save.
The visitors then took command of the match and enjoyed a host of chances with Caitlin Foord shooting wide before Taylor spurned a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.
The striker dribbled three Adelaide defenders inside the area and had Barbieri beaten, but her effort was cleared off the line by Lisa-Marie Woods.
Renee Rollason was next to go close with her free kick, before Taylor got on the end of a low cross from Samantha Kerr to open the scoring – her shot taking a deflection on the way and looping over Barbieri.
On the half hour the hosts had their best chance with livewire Mason providing a perfect cross for Moore but her header was ill-directed and didn’t trouble Dumont.
Barbieri was called into action again five minutes later, denying a Leena Khamis effort destined for the top corner, with a brilliant one-handed save at full stretch.
The Lady Reds returned from the break much improved after being out-classed for most of the first half.
Moore latched onto a delightful through ball seven minutes after the restart and coolly slotted her shot past the onrushing Dumont to bring her side level.
Sydney sprang into action and went in search of a winner only to be denied by Barbieri time-and-time again.
The former Matildas captain kept out a close-range shot from Nicola Bolger after the midfielder had danced through the Lady Reds defence, before another stunning save to tip Harrison’s curling shot past the upright.
United had one final chance in the 88th minute when substitute Emily Condon dribbled two defenders and teed up Tiarn Powell, but the striker fired wide from just inside the area.
The visitors eventually found a way past Barbieri who made an impressive double save after a scramble in the area, only for the rebound to fall for Harrison to slam home the winner in the fifth minute of injury time.
Adelaide United 1 (Moore ’52)
Sydney FC 2 (Taylor ’24, Harrison ’95)
Played at Adelaide Shores Football Centre
