Sydney FC have lost 2-1 to Western United in a close game which saw three goals in the first half decide the tie at Leichhardt Oval.
However two second half penalty decisions will prove to be the talking points.
Sydney FC 1 (Hawkesby 14’) def. by Western United 2 (Logarzo 6’, Johnson 43’)
Moments That Mattered
6’ | LOGARZO GOAL – Johnson finds Logarzo unmarked in the centre of the box and her low shot beats Mason-Jones.
14’ | HAWKESBY GOAL – A ball nudged forward is flicked on by Caspers to Hawkesby who drills one under the body of Chloe Lincoln, who should have done better.
36’ | THOMPSON HEADER – Thompson’s header from a right wing Dos Santos corner skims the bar.
39’ | MASON-JONES TIPS ONTO BAR – Taranto aims a chipped shot towards goal from 30 yards which Mason-Jones tips onto the cross bar while back-peddling, and Tobin blocks the follow up.
43’ | JOHNSON GOAL – Kahli Johnson takes the ball of the feet of Logarzo and drills one low into the bottom corner.
70’ | MASON-JONES PENALTY SAVE – Johnson goes down in the box under a challenge from Thompson but Mason-Jones dives brilliantly to her left and stops the resultant Logarzo spot kick.
85’ | PENALTY CLAIM WAVED AWAY – Luchtmeijer goes down in the box under a tangle of legs with Mihocic but the penalty is not given and Hawkesby is booked for her protestation.
Match Report: Sydney FChave been defeated by the odd goal in three in a tight game against Western United.
Ante Juric’s players will consider themselves unlucky not to be awarded a late penalty.
The Sky Blues were on the back foot early when Logarzo latched onto a pass from Kahli Johnson to drill the ball under debutant keeper Beth Mason-Jones in the 6th minute.
Sydney FC were back level soon after as Hawkesby reacted quickest to a flick from Caspers, and struck the ball hard beyond Lincoln in the Western United goal.
Sydney FC almost took the lead 10 minutes before halftime when Thompson’s header from Dos Santos’ corner clipped the top of the crossbar, but it was the visitors who went into the break on top.
Logarzo returned the favour for Johnson winning the ball on the edge of the box and the former Sky Blue Johnson lashed a shot into the bottom corner.
Farrow came on for the home side at half time and almost pulled one level when she got to a through ball ahead of the keeper, but put it wide. She later went off injured with a knee injury.
Western had the chance to put the result beyond doubt when Johnson was felled in the box by Thompson and the referee pointed to the spot.
However keeper Mason-Jones made the penalty save on debut, diving to her left to deny Logarzo from the spot.
Sydney FC had their own penalty appeal turned down 10 minutes from time when Luchtmeijer was tripped up in the box, and the game petered out into a defeat for the Sky Blues.
What They Said: Ante Juric:- “It’s disappointing because we had to win this one.
“It will be extremely tough to have any chance to make the Finals. The effort is there, just the final product isn’t and giving too soft goals away.
“I’m happy with them never giving up, but unfortunately we couldn’t get a result.”
ON THE PENALTY CALLS – “There’s wasn’t and ours was, it was clear as day.
“Jordan won the ball two metres before the opponent and ours Amber the girl didn’t touch the ball and she’s taken Amber from the back, so very clear for us, but unfortunately we don’t have VAR or the referees are just not standard, it’s disappointing.
“That’s not the reason we lost, but it makes a big difference and momentum would have shifted that 2-2-, so disappointing.”
Sydney FC: 28. Bethany MASON-JONES (GK), 4. Tori TUMETH, 6. Shay HOLLMAN, 12. Nat TOBIN (C), 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 20. Princess IBINI, 21. Lucy JOHNSON (7. Millie FARROW 46’) (18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER 58’), 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS (24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER 85’), 26. Maddie CASPERS (3. Faye BRYSON 72’).
Unused Subs: 12. Jasime BLACK.
Yellow Cards: Johnson 24’, Thompson 69’, Hawkesby 80’,
Red Cards: None.
Western United: 36. Chloe LINCOLN (gk), 4. Claudia MIHOCIC, 5. Aimee MEDWIN (7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO 60’), 6. Chloe LOGARZO © (20. Keiwa HIEDA 87’), 8. Sasha GROVE, 9. Sara EGGESVIK, 10. Kahli JOHNSON (13. Avaani PRAKASH 90’+5’), 15. Adriana TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER (22. Alana CERNE 60’), 24. Julia SARDO, 28. Isabel DEHAKIZ.
Subs: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (GK).
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
Attendance: 1,572
