A hat-trick to Kyah Simon has kept Sydney FC in the fight for a semi-final berth with a 4-0 win over the Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon.
A hat-trick to Kyah Simon has kept Sydney FC in the fight for a semi-final berth with a strong 4-0 win over the Newcastle Jets in their Westfield W-League clash at Wanderers Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Sydney grabbed the initiative from the outset scoring two goals in three minutes via Simon and Alanna Kennedy to lead 2-0 after just 14 minutes.
The home side fought back but couldn’t convert their chances as the Sky Blues took a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Sydney regained control of the contest when Simon netted a long-range effort just after the break and the Sydney captain completed her hat-trick just two minutes from the end of the contest to seal a well-deserved victory.
The win lifts Sydney into fourth place on the W-League ladder on 17 points while the Jets remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
The match started in warm conditions with Sydney running with a strong breeze at their backs and they took full advantage to launch a number of promising attacking raids from the opening whistle.
They profited from their pressure in the 11th minute when Simon slotted home from 15 metres after a goal-mouth scramble following a dangerous cross into the box by Teresa Polias.
Sydney got their second goal just three minutes later from a curling Polias corner when Kennedy was left unmarked in the box and she slotted home to make it 2-0 after 14 minutes.
With the momentum in their favour, Sydney tried to push home their advantage and could have added to their tally if not for some brave scrambling defence from the Jets and some acrobatic saves from Newcastle goalkeeper Eliza Campbell who did well to save a dipping free-kick from Renee Rallson in the 23rd minute and a Polias free-kick moments later.
The home side clawed their way back into the contest and finished the first half the better with good chances to Tori Huster and Tara Andrews snuffed out by a well-organised Sydney defence as the visitors took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Sydney extinguished any chance of a fightback from the Jets just three minutes after the resumption when Simon scored her second goal when she launched a long-range effort from 35 metres out that held up in the wind and just lobbed over the desperate reach of Campbell in goal.
From that point on the play belonged to Sydney as they pushed for a fourth goal and they engineered some impressive chances with the skipper working hard in the midfield and Emma Kete making incisive runs down the right flank but the Jets defence grimly defended their line.
Newcastle were forced to attack on the counter with substitute Tiffany Boshers having an attempt saved by Shamiran Khamis.
Sydney eventually got the goal they deserved when Kete broke into space on the right wing before sending a dangerous cross to the back post where Simon volleyed home for her hat-trick as she led her side to an impressive victory.
Newcastle Jets 0
Sydney FC 4 (Kyah Simon 11, 47, 88, Alanna Kennedy 14)
at Wanderers Oval, Newcastle.
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Newcastle Jets
1. Eliza Campbell (GK), 2. Hannah Brewer, 3 Hayley Crawford (capt), 4. Gemma Pearce, 5 Tori Huster ( 21. Grace MacIntyre 62min) 7. Gema Simon, 8. Madeline Searl (12. Tiffany Boshers 58min) .9. Tara Andrews 10. Emily van Egmond, 15. Alisha Foote (19. Jasmin Courtenay 58min),16. Stacey Day.
Substitute 20 Alannah Rosewood (GK)
Sydney FC
2. Teresa Polias, 3. Elizabeth Ralston, 4. Samantha Kerr (7. Nicola Bolger 80min) , 9. Caitlin Foord, 10, Renee Rallason, 13. Larissa Crummer (11. Annalie Longo 38min), 14. Alanna Kennedy, 17. Kyah Simon (capt), 19. Emma Kete, 20. Shamiran Khamis (GK), 22. Lillie Billson (12. Chloe Logarzo 65min).
Unused substitutes 1. Sian McLaren
