Sydney FC are through to the Westfield W-League 2014 semi-finals after drawing with the Newcastle Jets in torrential rain at Lambert Park.
Sydney FC 2 (Harrison 22’, Simon 80’) drew with Newcastle Jets 2 (Dobson 50’, Andrews 80’).
Sydney fought out a tense two all draw with the Newcastle Jets at a sodden Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.
Goals to Amy Harrison and Kyah Simon cancelled out Dobson and Andrews strikes to ensure the teams shared the points. The result sees the Sky Blues through to the semi-finals of the Westfield W-League for the sixth consecutive time with the Sky Blues position on the ladder unable to be overtaken in the final round of the Westfield W-League 2014 season.
Harrison opened the scoring early for the Sky Blues, the club’s 200th Westfield W-League goal making Sydney FC the first team to achieve that, before Dobson levelled the scores midway through the second half after Van Egmond’s missed penalty.
Tara Andrews put the Jets ahead with 20 minutes to play after a weather delay saw the players forced off the field before Kyah Simon won and converted a penalty to level the scores in an end to end match with the home fans in raptures of applause at the end of the game as they cheered the Sky Blues into the finals series.
What They Said
Dan Barrett: “I’m a bit greyer after that game. The weather played a part in the second half of that game unfortunately. I was quite comfortable until the heavens opened up.
“We worked hard all week to make sure we were playing our brand of football and we came out firing. Unfortunately the rain came and the way we wanted to approach the game could no longer be approached that way with the ball holding up but I loved the girls’ performance.
“It was gritty, there were times where we were on the ropes a little bit simply because we couldn’t play, the pitch was unplayable I thought. The will and the grit to dig in and make it through to the finals shone through and it was fantastic.
“It’s a tough competition this year and to be in the top four you have to be a good team. We looked good today and I want to take that into next week but it’s a whole new ball game. You’re one game away from the finals and two games away from being Champions.”
Goals
22’ HARRISON GOAL – The Jets failed to clear a Sydney FC corner properly with the ball falling to Harrison. The 18 year old took the ball on her chest before firing in an unstoppable volley into the top corner from the edge of the area. This goal was Sydney FC’s 200th Westfield W-League strike, making Sydney FC the first club to achieve that statistic.
50’ DOBSON GOAL – The ball is floated across field to Dobson who controls the ball on the left hand side of the box. She turns her marker before firing in at the near post past Casey Dumont in goal.
70 ‘ ANDREWS GOAL – A cross is lofted into the box from a deep position on the field and Tara Andrews is able to leap tallest to nod the ball into the net to put the Jets ahead.
80’ SIMON PENALTY – Kyah Simon calmly converts the spot kick she won as she slots the ball in the bottom right hand corner from 12 yards.
Other Key Moments
13’ CRAWFORD HEADER – Crawford blasts a header over the cross bar from close range after she’s found unmarked in the Sydney FC area.
15’ SPENCER VOLLEY – A loose ball falls to Spencer and the American attempts a volley from distance that Southwell does well to hold onto in goal.
21’ DUMONT SAVE – Yeoman-Dale breaks into the box but Dumont is quick off her line to dive at the strikers feet and smother the danger.
47’ PENALTY TO THE JETS – Tara Andrews is brought down by Dumont as the Sky Blues goalkeeper contested a loose ball. The referee points to the spot but Van Egmond misses the kick as she blazes her effort over the bar.
57’ RAIN DELAY – With the rain streaming down at Lambert Park and the lightning thundering overhead the referee pulls the teams off the field for a brief interval before play was resumed.
80’ PENALTY TO SYDNEY FC – Kyah Simon picks up the ball on the right flank. The Matilda charges into the box as she tries to jink past two defenders and is brought down. She converts the resultant spot kick.
81’ DUMONT SAVE – Casey Dumont produces a fantastic stop to keep the sides level as she dives backwards to tip over a goal bound chip by Huster.
Team News
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Ground: Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Kirralee Andruschak
Head Coach Daniel Barrett made two changes to the side that travelled to Wollongong last week as Natalie Tobin and Chloe Logarzo earned starting roles in place of Trudy Camilleri and Alesha Clifford. Kyah Simon remained on the bench after her cameo against Perth Glory while Casey Dumont continued her return from injury with another start between the posts.
Sydney FC: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 2. Teresa POLIAS (c), 5. Jasmyne SPENCER, 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Nicola BOLGER (53’ Kyah SIMON), 8. Amy HARRISON (60’ Trudy CAMILLERI), 10. Renee ROLLASON, 11. Natalie TOBIN, 12. Chloe LOGARZO (77’ Alesha CLIFFORD), 15. Teigen ALLEN, 16. Samantha JOHNSON.
Subs Not Used: 21. Sian MCLAREN (gk).
