Sydney FC sit top of the Liberty A-League but a second consecutive Premiers Plate is no longer in their hands after the Sky Blues missed a number of second half chances.
City scored two goals in a dominant first half through Pollicina and Torpey before Sydney FC came back and almost snatched a point through Ibini’s penalty and other close run efforts.
Sydney FC 1 (Ibini 78’) def. by Melbourne City FC 2 (Pollicina 14’, Torpey 45’+1’)
Moments That Mattered:
POLLICINA GOAL – 14’ – Pollicina finds room inside the box to control and turn and fire home low past Whyman.
WHYMAN SAVE – 15’ – McNamara gets clear and drills a shot straight at Whyman who catches the ball.
TORPEY GOAL – 45’+1’ – Vlanic plays a through ball to Torpey behind the defence and she finishes first time.
HAWKESBY SHOT SAVED – 49’ – A Hawkesby shot from the edge of the box is heading goalwards but it’s pushed over the bar by Barbieri.
RULE HITS THE BAR – 51’ – A corner from the left is headed towards goal by Rule but it clips the bar and a scramble ensues in the box which City clear.
VINE SHOT SAVED – 52’ – Siemsen feeds Vine who takes a touch and shoots but Barbieri gets a finger tip to push it wide.
WHYMAN SAVE – 57’ – McKenna receives the ball inside the box and hits a first time shot which Whyman catches.
RULE CHANCE – 64’ – Hawkesby puts a free kick into the path of Rule in a great position in front of goal but she can only put the ball over the bar.
SIEMSEN CHANCE – 68’ – Ibini floats the ball across to Siemsen who hits it first time over the bar.
IBINI GOAL – 78’ – Ibini scores from the spot after Siemsen is brought down in the box.
Match Report
Sydney FC’s Premiers Plate title hopes have taken a dive after a 2-1 defeat away to Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
In the Sky Blues third away game in seven days, Melbourne City started the better scoring two goals through Pollicina and Torpey in the first half.
However Sydney FC were dominant in the second half creating a number of excellent chances which City kept out.
Ibini scored from the penalty spot and despite late pressure, Sydney FC were unable to convert the dominance and must now win their last two games and rely on other results.
What They Said: Princess Ibini: “We didn’t play very well in the first half but we were definitely better in the second half but just missed a few chances in the end.
“This is our third game away in a row and we are going to Tasmania next week as well but we know what we need to do and we just need to keep pushing.”
Sydney FC: 1. Jada WHYMAN, 3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 5. Ally GREEN (4. Jessika NASH 49’), 8. Rachel LOWE (6. Sarah HUNTER 59’), 10 Remy SIEMSEN, 11. Cortnee VINE, 12. Natalie TOBIN, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 18. Taylor RAY, 19. Charlie RULE, 20. Princess IBINI.
Unused Subs: 30. Katie OFFER (GK), 2. Mary STANIC-FLOODY, 16. Kahli JOHNSON
Yellow Cards: Tobin 18’, Ibini 36’, Juric 88’,
Red Cards: None.
Melbourne City FC: 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 5. Tori TUMETH, 6. Leticia MCKENNA (20. Caitlin KARIC 59’), 7. Winona HEATLEY, 8. Kaitlyn TORPEY, 9. Holly MCNAMARA (2. Marisa VAN DER MEER 76’), 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Meisha WESTLAND (3. Darcey MALONE 76’), 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC (4. Chelsea BLISSETT 76’).
Subs: 1. Sally JAMES (GK).
Yellow Cards: Tumeth 56’, Karic 90’.
Red Cards: None.
Venue: AAMI Park
Referee: Casey Reibeit.
