Sydney FC continued their unbeaten start to the Westfield W-League season with a well earned victory in the Sydney Derby against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Marconi Stadium.
Summary
Sydney FC 2 (Spencer 13’, Harrison 58’) d Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Sydney FC continued their unbeaten start to the Westfield W-League season with a well earned victory in the Sydney Derby against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Marconi Stadium.
A third goal in as many games to American Jasmyne Spencer coupled with an Amy Harrison strike, only her second ever Westfield W-League goal, condemned the Wanderers to defeat and preserved Sydney FC’s 100% record over their cross town rivals in front of 3084 fans at the western Sydney venue.
Sydney FC will now head into Monday’s round four fixture against Melbourne Victory at Lambert Park full of confidence in what will be departing Head Coach Alen Stajcic’s final game in charge and a replay of last season’s semi-final.
What They Said
Alen Stajcic: “Today was a really tough day but I though we put together seven or eight really good patches of football and that showed we can be a quality team. I’m certainly proud of the effort and pleased to keep a clean sheet, Casey Dumont was phenomenal again.
“It’s brilliant to continue our record against the Wanderers and it was a great advertisement for the game. Both sides really ran until they dropped, I’m proud of our girls and I thought the second goal today was world class with the combination of players and the interchange of passing. I think we can definitely a chance of the title this year.”
Daniel Barrett: “It felt like I hadn’t left, it was very enjoyable and very great to be back. We had a lot of patches where we asserted our dominance and performed really well. I think we can do even better, this week we’ll go away work hard and put in an even better performance next week.”
Renee Rollason: “It’s very pleasing with such a short season to win your first three matches, it’s helped us prepare for the middle and back end of the season and I’m hopeful we will make the semis.
“With Teigen out we had to shuffle things around but those girls amended well and we just dug deep. We knew we would have a lot of possession so we just had to keep the ball and then see things open up and eventually they did and we slotted two goals.
“It’s always special to beat the Wanderers and to be able to win was a great feeling.”
Goals
13’ SPENCER GOAL – A loose ball in midfield falls to Teresa Polias who attempts a shot from distance that has Khamis backpedalling in goal. The Wanderers keeper gathers the ball but, off balance, throws the ball away from goal as she falls into the net with Spencer on hand to slot from point blank range.
58’ HARRISON GOAL – Some neat interplay on the edge of the area between Harrison and Nicola Bolger saw the later released into space inside the area. Bolger ran at the keeper before cutting the ball back to Harrison who calmly slotted into the net right in front of goal.
Other Key Moments
4’ GOAL RULED OUT – Sydney FC break through Jasmyne Spencer and the American feeds through Amy Harrison in the area. Harrison calmly places the ball past Khamis in goal however the strike is ruled out for offside.
10’ CLIFFORD INTERVENTION – Western Sydney bare down on the Sky Blues goal and go through seemingly one on one with Casey Dumont however Alesha Clifford comes from nowhere to produce an inch perfect tackle to clear the danger.
20’ SPENCER CHANCE – Amy Harrison combines to good effect with Jasmyne Spencer playing the striker in on goal from an acute angle however the American can only lash her effort over the cross bar.
36’ LOGARZO CHANCE – Neat interplay between Harrison and Logarzo sees the later release into the area but she blazes her shot over the bar when well placed to score.
47’ WANDERERS CHANCE – After breaking down the right Helen Petinos found time and space on the edge of the Sydney FC area however she blasted her shot well wide of the goal.
58’ HARISON CHANCE – A loose ball forces Sham Khamis to rush out her area to clear however she miscues her kick and the ball falls to Harrison who attempts a deft chip from outside the area that sails just over and lands on the roof of the net.
76’ DUMONT SAVE – Dumont is forced to dive low at the feet of the Wanderers striker after she broke the Sky Blues defence, keeping a clean sheet for her team.
80’ RED CARD – A crude lunge from O’Neill on Logarzo leaves the referee with no other option than to brandish a second yellow card which sees the Wanderers reduced to 10.
90’ LATE CHANCE FOR SYDNEY – With tired legs on the field Amy Harrison bursts into the Western Sydney Wanderers box but from a tight angle she sees her shot deflected wide in what proved to be the final play of the match.
Team News
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Ground: Marconi Stadium
Referee: Kiralee Andruschak
Head Coach Alen Stajcic stuck with the same starting 11 that earned him victory against the Brisbane Roar in round two with the only exception seeing the suspended Teigen Allen replaced with Alesha Clifford. Ellyse Perry returned to the bench after her injury layoff as new Head Coach Daniel Barrett joined departing Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic on the touchline for his first game back at the Sky Blues.
Sydney FC: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 2. Teresa POLIAS (c), 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Jasmyne SPENCER (72’ Ellyse PERRY), 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Nicola BOLGER (88’ Olivia PRICE), 8. Amy HARRISON, 10. Renee ROLLASON, 11. Natalie TOBIN, 12. Chloe LOGARZO (82’ Trudy CAMILLERI), 16. Samantha JOHNSON.
Subs Not Used: 20. Alyssa HARRIS (gk).
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