Ben Gilby provides a detailed report on the major semi-final between Perth RedStar and Perth SC and all the action from the elimination tie between Fremantle City and Hyundai NTC as the Top Four Cup gets underway in Western Australia, plus photography from both matches provided by Rob Lizzi and Denyse McCulloch (11/9/23).
Above: Perth RedStar celebrate in their success over Perth SC. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Perth RedStar 5-1 Perth SC
Ruthless Perth RedStar produced a scintillating second half-performance to put Perth SC to the sword and advance directly to the Top Four Cup Final yesterday.
Whilst Perth RedStar were able to select from a virtually full-strength squad, The Azzurri boss Peter Rakic, whose side has been hit hard by injuries all season long, had to be a bit more creative.
With three players (Abbey Meakins, Alyssa van Heurck, and Jaime Duncanson) who would otherwise be regular starters having to be listed for the bench plus Poppie Hooks and Ruby Marshall away on duty with the State U18 Schoolgirls squad, it was far from ideal preparations for such a big game. Judy Connolly, who has played in such a range of positions this season, found herself in defence – but as always, the youngster put in a display of commitment and no little flair.
RedStar started calmly, looking to spread the play. If truth be told, the opening 15 minutes was a real arm-wrestle with Olivia Wood dangerous for the hosts. There were two early opportunities for her – one where she was caught offside, and the other which ended with a shot fired wide of the right hand upright.
Then, with 18 minutes of the clock, RedStar hit the front thanks to a hugely impressive team move. Sophia Neal threaded a pass through the centre for Leota on the edge of the box to find Wood out on the right. Her ball came in low towards Chiori Ikeda at the back post to slot home.
The lead would last 10 minutes before an outrageous piece of skill from Faye Phillips got Perth SC level. Played in by Matilda Bohm, Phillips turned her marker with aplomb and advanced up the field. She then played in Gemma Craine outside her who drove into the box and held off the attempted challenges of both Andreia Teixeira and Quyen Doan to score.
RedStar almost hit back when Leota hit a volley from close range that Rebecca Bennett repelled magnificently in the Perth SC goal.
As the half reached its conclusion, Craine’s influence on proceedings grew for the visitors. She was flourishing in a more free role. It would remain 1-1 at the break.
However, a red-hot start from RedStar after the break set the tone for a dominant second-half display from Carlos Vega Mena’s side, and within seven minutes they were back in front.
Substitute Jay Coleman found Leota on the right and a high ball was played in for Ikeda to meet it first time on her midriff to score hers and RedStar’s second.
The lead was further increased 11 minutes later as a free-kick on the half-way line resulted in a bout of head tennis which ended with Coleman hitting a stunning volley from around 30 yards that flew into the net.
RedStar were ruthless and added a further two more goals. First, with just over 15 minutes remaining when Reina Kagami played a low through ball into the stride of Sarah Carroll, and the Perth Glory star advanced to slot comfortably past Bennett for 4-1. Four minutes into stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes, Doan fed Kagami who in turn found Abbey Woolley who beat Connolly to complete the scoring.
Perth RedStar advance straight to next Saturday’s Top Four Cup Final at the new State Football Centre. Perth SC must now gather themselves to face the winners of the elimination semi between Hyundai NTC and Fremantle City on Wednesday.
Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Diederichsen, Doan, Teixeira, K.Carroll, Dunn, Wood, S.Carroll, Kagami, Ikeda, Leota, Neal. Substitutes: Coleman, Woolley, Finnegan, Bellanga, Ritchie, Goud.
Scorers: Ikeda 18′, 52′. Coleman 63′, S.Carroll 72′, Woolley 90+4.
PERTH SC: Bennett, Connolly, Cook, Bohm, Henderson, Phillips, Godding, Papalia, Lincoln, Craine, Flannery. Substitutes: Meakins, van Heurck, Duncanson, Ottobrino, Caceres, Tulp, Jarvis.
Scorer: Craine 28′.
Fremantle City 1-3 Hyundai NTC
Ben Anderton’s NTC side produced a great performance to end Fremantle City’s season at Hilton Park.
It was a battle of two sides missing their Perth Glory players Fremantle were without Tash Rigby, Abbey Green, and Sarah Cain, with the NTC missing their starlets who have moved to the Glory – Tanika Lala, Georgia Cassidy, and Grace Johnston
The talented teenagers hit the front with 32 minutes played when Maja Archibald’s corner from the left was played back for Mischa Anderson to sweep home a stunning long-range shot from an acute angle.
Yet, just five minutes later, Freo levelled as Lilly Bailey dropped a high ball through which allowed Jamie-Lee Gale to pounce and turn the ball home.
Into the final 17 minutes, the NTC stepped it up and re-took the lead with a piece of sensational skill from Emily Garnett, who is really catching the eye as she comes into the squad in the final weeks of the campaign. Garnett turned her marker, then cut inside once more before unleashing a stunning shot that curled into the net.
Three minutes later the game was settled when Archibald motored down the left and played Garnett in at the back post. Her shot was parried by Dayle Schroeder in the Fremantle goal but fell perfectly for Louise Tana to direct the ball home into the left-hand corner.
In a repeat of last year’s Top Four Cup, Hyundai NTC now face Perth SC on Wednesday night for the right to take on Perth RedStar in Saturday’s Final.
Teams: FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Leek, Adams, Spatafore, Osborne, Waltman, Kiama, Boorman, Hawkins, Gale, Trueman. Substitutes: Siah, Tyne, Anderson, McCulloch, Nolan, Jukic.
Scorer: Gale 37′.
HYUNDAI NTC: Bailey, Johnson, Anderson, Collins, Longmore, Healy, Marwick, Archibald, Tana, Houlis, Britton. Substitutes: Powell, Collinson, Ingrey, Devitt, Garnett, Clayton.
Scorers: Anderson 32′, Garnett 73′, Tana 76′.
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