It’s the stuff of dreams: Caitlin Foord grabbed her second Westfield W-League brace in consecutive weeks, bringing her goal tally to nine goals and putting Sydney FC within two points of ladder leaders Melbourne Victory.
It’s the stuff of dreams: Caitlin Foord grabbed her second Westfield W-League brace in consecutive weeks, bringing her goal tally to nine goals and putting Sydney FC within two points of ladder leaders Melbourne Victory.
Only recently had we sounded out players who were capable of challenging Sam Kerr’s incredible goal-scoring record, and it seems Foord heard us loud and clear with two strikes in Sydney FC’s 3-1 win over Brisbane Roar.
Of particular note was Foord’s second goal on 75 minutes. Having latched onto a sublime through ball from Westfield Matildas teammate Lisa De Vanna, Foord brought the ball down with a deft touch and steamed in on goal.
With a head cooler than a cucumber, she calmly slotted the ball through Mackenzie Arnold’s legs and into the back of the net.
On a personal level, Foord’s ninth goal of the season means she is well and truly in the mix for the Golden Boot race. With only two games remaining, and Sydney FC playing some red-hot football, Foord all of a sudden looks like a real chance of challenging Kerr.
In a broader sense however, Foord’s goal sealed the win on Saturday in an epic six-pointer, allowing the Sky Blues to leapfrog Brisbane Roar and now sit one point behind Melbourne Victory at the summit.
Foord’s renaissance typifies the growth of Sydney FC in the 2018/19 season under Head Coach Ante Juric. The side have played some scintillating, attacking football, which in the past few weeks has been far too much for their opponents.
The side have scored 26 goals in 10 games, averaging more than two and half goals per game, and have a goal difference of 11 — six more than the next best, Melbourne Victory.
What’s more, Juric appears to have found the balance between his host of Westfield Matildas and imported players, and integrating young players such as Angelique Hristodoulou and the now-injured Taylor Ray.
With Sydney FC taking on Melbourne Victory in Round 13 of the Westfield W-League this Sunday (kick off 4pm AEDT), it’s all to play for as we reach the final bend of what’s been an incredible season.
