Sydney FC will take a 1-0 first leg lead back to Leichhardt Oval for the second leg against Central Coast Mariners next Saturday afternoon (3pm kick off).
Mackenzie Hawkesby notched the only goal of an entertaining contest which had chances a plenty at both ends.
Sydney FC 1 (Hawkesby 54’) def. Central Coast Mariners 0
Moments That Mattered
2’ – DOS SANTOS CHANCE – Vine runs at Wardlow, beats her and cuts the ball back to Dos Santos who hits a first time shot shy of the post.
7’ – VINE CHANCE – Thompson lifts the ball to the far side of the penalty box where Vine does brilliantly to control over the head of Wardlow and then with her second touch attempt to lob the keeper. It goes just over.
25’ – VINE BIG CHANCE – Ibini clears the ball to Vine who beats two Mariners defenders with her speed to be one on one with Dumont but the keeper gets an arm to the shot to turn it behind.
28’ – WHYMAN PUSHES OVER – Wurigumula fires a left foot shot from the edge of the box goalwards but Whyman tips over acrobatically.
33’ – CHAUVET CLEARS OFF THE LINE – A cross is missed by Whyman who clashes with McLean and goes down. The ball ricochets off Simon towards goal but Chauvet gets a leg to it to hook it off the line.
37’ – GREAT SAVE WHYMAN – Badawiya is played into the left channel but Whyman is out quickly and spreads herself to block the shot with her left arm.
48’ – CONNORS SHOT SAVED – Connors battles her centre half and goes clear but her shot is well saved by Dumont.
53’ – CONNORS SHOT BLOCKED – The Sky Blues get in behind the Mariners back line with Tumeth crossing to Connors who’s airborne shot is blocked and goes over.
54’ – HAWKESBY GOAL – Kyah Simon gives the ball away to Indiana Dos Santos and the youngster shows a calm head to slot Hawkesby in beyond the back line and she slides the ball home.
73’ – WURIGUMULA OFF THE BAR – The Chinese international receives a bobbling ball inside the box. She throws her right foot at it and it comes down off the underside of the bar. Whyman saves a follow up shot.
What They Said: Ante Juric: “We are happy but the job’s clearly not done, today was a tough battle.
“I was pleased with the grit we showed, we didn’t play beautiful football but against Central Coast you never do, so I’m super proud.
“We missed a few good chances and that was disappointing but we are working on that however it’s a positive we are creating them.
ON HER DISLOCATED SHOULDER:- “Princess has been landing on her shoulder the last couple of years and sometimes it pops out so it was just precautionary. It’s not usually a long term thing, it’s usually just an in and out and it’s a bit sore but let’s see.”
Match Report: Sydney FC have won the first leg of their Liberty A-League semi-final against Central Coast Mariners 1-0 thanks to a Mackenzie Hawkesby second half goal.
Hawkesby slotted the ball underneath Mariners keeper Casey Dumont from an Indiana Dos Santos threaded ball.
Both the Mariners and the Sky Blues created numerous chances in an end to end game with Jada Whyman forced to pull of a number of fine saves in the Sydney FC goal.
It sets up next week’s second leg at Leichhardt Oval for a thrilling climax for a place in the Grand Final.
Sydney FC: 1. Jada WHYMAN (GK), 2. Margaux CHAUVET, 3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 4. Tori TUMETH, 11. Cortnee VINE, 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 20. Princess IBINI (9. Shea CONNORS 46’), 21. Shay HOLLMAN, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS (24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER 89’).
Unused Subs: 30. Jasmine BLACK (GK), 6. Lucy JOHNSON, 18. Taylor RAY.
Yellow Cards: Chauvet 64’, Juric 81’,
Red Cards: None
Central Coast Mariners: 92. Casey DUMONT (GK), 3. Ashley IRWIN, 4. Paige HAYWARD (24. Shadeene EVANS 89’), 5. Annabel MARTIN, 6. Isabel GOMEZ, 8. Bianca GALIC, 9. WURIGUMULA, 10. Rola BADAWIYA (22. Peta TRIMIS 60’), 12. Jazmin WARDLOW, 17. Kyah SIMON, 19. Tiarna KARAMBASIS.
Unused Subs: 1. Sarah LANGMAN (GK), 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 14. Sophie NENADOVIC.
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Venue: Industree Group Stadium
Referee: Isabella Mossin
Attendance: 4,104
