Sydney FC 2-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
By Kieran Yap 14/10/23
Above: Kirsty Fenton celebrates her impressive goal to open the scoring for Sydney FC. Photo: Sydney FC Twitter.
Over 11,000 fans came to Allianz Stadium for Sydney FC’s season opener against Western Sydney Wanderers. Goals to Kirsty Fenton and Fiona Worts secured a 2-0 win for the defending premiers, but after a slow start, Western Sydney showed some signs of promise in an improved second half.
It was a new look Sydney FC for 2023/24. The midfield stars Sarah Hunter and Mackenzie Hawkesby have departed for France and England respectively, and Fiona Worts started in attack for her first appearance at her new club.
Western Sydney’s biggest change from last season was in the dugout. Kat Smith was surprisingly replaced by former Canberra United coach Robbie Hooker. Goalkeeper Kaylie Collins started after her transfer from Orlando Pride.
Sydney FC started in control of possession and dominated the scoring chances. Cortnee Vine electrified the enthusiastic crowd with every touch, and threatened whenever she was on the ball.
The opening goal ended up arriving from a surprising source. Fullback Kirsty Fenton fired home a volley from the edge of the penalty box. Collins was able to get a hand to the strike, but the power behind it was too much for the American custodian to stop.
Young midfidler Zara Kruger impressed early, and was unlucky to not have a goal to her name after her shot skidded wide of the post. Shay Hollman was everywhere in midfield.
Sydney’s front three were mobile and creative. Worts, Vine, and Princess Ibini switched positions and dropped deep to test the Wanderers defence. Ibini’s perfectly weighted pass set up Worts for a delightful, clipped finish over Collins to double the lead.
Sydney’s win was tempered by a potentially bad injury to Nat Tobin. The captain went down after a collision in defence, and the home side seemed slightly rattled by the sight of their skipper being stretchered off.
The second half saw the introduction of Mel Caceras for the Wanderers and the number 10 had an instant impact. Suddenly they had a creative outlet who could dribble past defenders and link the midfield with Sophie Harding in attack.
Caceras came closest to scoring but could not beat Jada Whyman in goal, although the prospect of her starting in combination with the injured Millie Clegg is something for Wanderers fans to look forward to.
Sydney’s title defence started off in strong fashion. It was a comfortable win in the end, and had Sienna Saveska or Cortnee Vine’s chances been taken, they could easily have had more. With Shea Connors to come into this side, they are looking dangerous, but with Nat Tobin out, they will need a reshuffle in defence.
Western Sydney recovered well after a start that seemed ominous.
As an occasion, this was fantastic, the 11,471 fans set a new record for an attendance at a domestic women’s football match and most would have left delighted at what they had seen.
In conjunction with the previous match between Central Coast and Newcastle, the all time attendance record for a round was already broken just two games into the weekend.
Lineups:
SYDNEY FC: Whyman, Tumeth (Saveska 80’), Mclean, Tobin (Lemon 53), Fenton, Kruger, Hollman (Ray 80’), Johnson, Ibini, Worts (Keane 66′), Vine.
Scorers: Fenton 11’ Worts 36’
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: Collins, Matos, Bruce, McComasky, Apostolakis (Price 90’), Chessari, Harrison (Ferris 83’), Breier (Caceras 45’), Gordon, Rue (Morris 83’), Harding.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Attendance: 11,471.
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