Sydney FC are back on the Westfield W-League winners list after a commanding 2-0 victory over Perth Glory at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Saturday.
Sydney FC are back on the Westfield W-League winners list after a commanding 2-0 victory over Perth Glory at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Saturday.
The teams played out a scoreless first half, but after the break Sydney broke the game open with goals from Leena Khamis and Kyah Simon.
Following a bye last week, and eager to make amends for their surprise loss to Newcastle in their last outing, Sydney showed their class in the final 45 minutes where they dominated possession.
Perth began to look dangerous 15-minutes in as Alexandra Singer made continual progress down the right flank, making a pair of probing crosses but she lacked numbers in support.
Moments later Perth’s Shannon May had the first opportunity of the match, sending her effort from 15 metres high and left.
From this point Sydney sprung to life with Kylie Ledbrook forcing Glory goalie Tine Cederkvist into a one-handed save with an attempt from the far left.
Ledbrook and Simon began to see more ball up front, Simon trying an unsuccessful flick at Cederkvist on her first journey deep into the area.
Samantha Kerr paved the way for Perth’s next surge, the speedy striker carved her way up the middle to find Singer on the right, who crossed to Kate Gill for a high header.
Perth survived a late flurry by Sydney in the first half, denying a surge by Ledbrook, before watching Teigen Allen rifle one over the crossbar.
Kerr made a last ditch effort with a blistering run from her own half, challenging three defenders before eventually firing wide from 20m.
Sydney had pair of chances in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, before Khamis broke the deadlock.
After Lydia Vandenbergh put Khamis into space at the top of the area, the tenacious striker headed far right, eluding the lone defender and beating Cederkvist in the air.
Simon almost added another the next minute, but a spectacular diving stop by Glory captain Tanya Oxtoby smothered the point-blank chance.
Kerr once again made an individual dash in the 70th minute, however her bullet was aimed squarely at Dimi Poulos in goal, who quickly promoted the ball to help trigger Simon’s goal on the resulting play.
As the action unfolded downfield Teigen Allen caught the Glory defence off guard down the right flank and linked with Simon for a tidy 5m strike.
Sydney kept Perth at bay in the final 20 minutes, while Catherine Cannuli and Allen continually peppered the goal area.
Sydney FC: 2 (Khamis 55, Simon 71)
Perth Glory: 0 (0)
