Sydney FC produced a strong performance to overcome Western Sydney 3-2 in their Round 12 clash at Campbelltown Stadium.
Needing a win to retain any hope of making the W-League finals, Sydney FC have produced a strong performance to overcome Western Sydney 3-2 in their Round 12 clash at Campbelltown Stadium.
Sydney opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Alanna Kennedy found space on the right wing and her low cross was met at the near post by Caitlin Foord.
On 23 minutes Alesha Clifford went close to levelling the scores but her well-hit shot drew a fine save from Shamiran Khamis in the Sydney goal.
On the half-hour mark, the Wanderers had their equaliser. With the Sydney FC defence giving Louise Fors room to move, she made them pay from range, her stunning 25-yard shot curling into the bottom corner past the outstretched hand of Khamis.
Five minutes before the break Sydney FC regained the lead, and once again it came from a cross. This time Ellyse Perry’s delivery from the right wing was met with a great headed finish by Samantha Kerr.
Perry had a chance to extend Sydney’s lead in first-half injury-time, but her strong header was denied by a wonderful save from Thora Helgadottir in the Wanderers’ goal and the visitors went in at half-time leading by just the solitary goal.
The second half saw the game open up, with both sides having more space and time in midfield. However, for large sections of the half, neither side were able to transform this increased space into meaningful attempts on goal.
With 17 minutes remaining, the match was all square once again. Louise Fors was brought down in the area and a penalty was awarded. She picked herself up and took the spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner for her second goal.
Then, with six minutes to go, Sydney took the lead for the third time. A great through-ball in traffic from Samantha Kerr left Nicola Bolger one-on-one with the keeper. Bolger was then able to finish neatly with her first touch of the game having only come on a minute prior.
Despite a tense final few minutes, Sydney were able to hold on to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
Sydney FC 3 (Caitlin Foord 9, Samantha Kerr 39, Nicola Bolger 83)
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Louise Fors 30, 74 (pen))
Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Thora Helgadottir, 2. Samantha Spackman (6. Racheal Soutar 45), 3. Alexandra Huynh, 4. Alesha Clifford, 8. Vanessa Hart, 9. Sarah Walsh, 10. Servet Uzunlar, 11. Louise Fors, 13. Catherine Cannuli (14. Trudy Camilleri 83), 15. Teigen Allen, 16. Linda O’Neill (12. Jessica Seaman 77)
Sydney FC: 20. Shamiran Khamis, 2. Teresa Polias, 3. Elizabeth Ralston, 4. Samantha Kerr, 9. Caitlin Foord, 10. Renee Rollason, 11. Annalie Longo, 14. Alanna Kennedy (7. Nicola Bolger 83), 16. Ellyse Perry (12. Chloe Logarzo 90), 17. Kyah Simon, 19. Emma Kete (13. Larissa Crummer 66)
