Sydney FC comfortably defeated Brisbane Roar 4-0 in an exciting display of attacking quality, taking their win streak to a total of three games heading into their bye week.
The Sky Blues were a force to be reckoned with in the final third with new recruit Madison Haley scoring two important goals in the first half to put the home side in pole position.
The scores would double in added time with Sarah Hunter confidently heading home a cross to make it 3-0, and the familiar sight of Remy Siemsen finding the back of the net would send the home fans into jubilation and Sydney FC home with 3 points.
Sydney FC 4 (Haley 33’, 43’, Hunter 90+1’, Siemsen 90+3’) def Brisbane Roar 0
Moments That Mattered:
HALEY HITS WOODWORK- 8’- A corner from Mackenzie Hawkesby falls right into the path of Madison Haley, who hits a side footed volley which cannons back off the woodwork before being cleared.
HALEY BREAKS DEADLOCK – 34’- Princess Ibini’s darting run down the right flank splits open the Roar defence and the following cutback finds the on-running Madison Haley who finishes calmly down low to the keepers right.
HALEY DOUBLES THE ADVANTAGE – 44’- Charlie Rule’s run from defence into midfield gives her the opportunity to slide the ball through the Brisbane centre halves and into the path of Haley again who out-muscles Jamilla Rankin and dinks the ball over Hancuff and in off the post,
HAWKESBY CLOSE TO MAKING IT THREE – 66’- A cross from Cortnee Vine finds Mackenzie Hawkesby just outside the 6-yard box however her effort produces a wonderful reflex save from Hancuff and on two follow up attempts, Hawkesby is unable to turn the ball into the net.
HUNTER CAPS OFF BRILLIANT DISPLAY-90+1’- A ball into the box is met by Sarah Hunter, who bullets a shot into the top left corner and gives the home side confirmation of their win.
SIEMSEN MAKES IT FOUR-90+3’- The ball falls to full back Charlie Rule on the edge of the area whose drilled shot is deflected into the path of Remy Siemsen. She puts the ball in the back of the net with a true poachers finish into the bottom corner.
What They Said: Ante Juric:
“I wasn’t happy with the girls at half time, I told them that, we just didn’t play well in my opinion.
“Yeah Madi (Haley) is good, she’s got X-factor… she changed the game for us when it was quite tight.
“Everyone is fighting against us like it’s their last game, and we need to take that fighting from the other team and deal with it and thus far we have done so.
Match Report:
Both sides started the game determined to make a breakthrough, with a fast paced and exciting game being showcased straight away under the afternoon sun at Allianz stadium
Sydney were quick to calm the game down however and as the minutes ticked on, it became apparent that they were looking well drilled and dangerous as the chances started flooding in.
Madison Haley was the home side’s most prominent attacking threat in the first half, and she was close to opening the scoring seven minutes in as a corner found her around the penalty spot and her volley was only beaten by the post.
Haley would continue to hold the ball up high up the field, allowing Sydney FC to play much of the first half in Brisbane’s defensive third, ultimately leading to the Dallas-born number nine getting her moment of glory in the 33rd minute as Ibini expertly picked her out inside the box. Haley would provide a finish to match the cutback as she side footed the ball home past Hensley Hancuff’s right, into the bottom corner of the net.
Haley doubled the advantage when Charlie Rule’s run from defence into midfield gave her the opportunity to slide the ball through the Brisbane centre halves and into the path of Haley. The American out-muscled Jamilla Rankin and dinked the ball over Hancuff and in off the post.
Brisbane Roar started the second half determined to find a way back into the game however their waves of attack were met with a strong showing at the back from De La Harpe and Mclean. Sydney FC continued to press and win the ball high.
The home side continued their domination with a series of attacks from crosses and set pieces, however they were not able to fashion a chance out of these opportunities and the score remained in Sydney’s favour at 2-0.
Brisbane continued their push to try and find a way back into the game, however a strong Sydney FC defence and a chance hitting the woodwork, prevented the visitors from getting anything out of the match
Late drama would unfold as Sarah Hunter would add a third through a shot powerfully placed into the top corner and Remy Siemsen would latch on to the end of a deflected Charlie Rule cross to make it 4-0, removing any doubt in Sydney FC minds of the result.
Sydney FC played with class and finished in style at Allianz Stadium, with a decisive three points putting them in a great spot going into a Christmas Eve derby against the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Sydney FC: 1.Jada WHYMAN (GK),3. Charlotte MCLEAN, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 6. Sarah HUNTER, 9. Madison HALEY (10. Remy SIEMSEN- 77’), 11. Cortnee VINE, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY (2. Mary STANIC-FLOODY- 77’) , 16. Deborah-Anne de la HARPE, 19. Charlize RULE, 20. Princess IBINI-ISEI (14. Abbey LEMON- 85’), 21. Shay HOLLMAN.
Unused Subs: 30. Katie OFFER (GK), 4. Anna GREEN,
Yellow Cards: M. Hawkesby 25’.
Red Cards: None
Brisbane Roar: 51. Hensley HANCUFF (GK), 3. Jessie RASSCHAERT (2. Annabel HAFFENDEN- 74’) ,5. Jamilla RANKIN, 7. Ayesha NORRIE, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 11. Sharn FREIER (78. Margot ROBINNE- 56’), 12. Shea CONNORS, 13. Tamar LEVIN, 16. Zara KRUGER, 19. Hollie PALMER, 23. Kajsa LIND.
Unused Subs: 1. Isabella SHUTTLEWORTH (GK), 6. Holly McQUEEN, 31. Alleeah DAVERN.
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley.
