Newcastle Jets 0-1 Sydney FC
By Kieran Yap 10/12/23
Above: Cortnee Vine (fore ground) and Kirsty Fenton for Sydney FC. Photo: Sydney FC.
Cortnee Vine’s 84th minute winner was enough to defeat a stubborn and persistent Newcastle Jets side at the No. 2 Sports Ground. It was the World Cup hero’s first of the season but only came after several good Sydney FC chances were denied by the woodwork or Izzy Nino in the Jets goal.
The pre-game discussion was one of out’s and in’s. Newcastle playmaker Libby Copus-Brown was missing with an injury that could see her miss a month. On the other side, Vine returned from injury for her first appearance since Round Two, and 16-year-old Maddie Caspers was put straight into the starting lineup for the visitors.
The Junior Matildas attacker slotted into the starting XI in place of Indiana Dos Santos who was missing from the squad after returning from international duty in China with the Australian Under 20 side.
The game itself could be best described as attacking and combative. In front of a record home crowd, The Jets were eager to attack. Emily van Egmond and Sarina Bolden both looked to unlock the Sydney FC defence through the pace of Lara Gooch and Lauren Allan out wide. For the most part, Kirsty Fenton and Tori Tumeth were equal to the task of stopping the pair of fleet-footed wingers.
Neither team was willing to surrender easy possession in the first half, with midfielders as likely to be found sliding into tackles as often as defenders. The best chance came when Fiona Worts turned the ball in for Sydney FC, but the goal was denied after Caspers was judged to have fouled Nino.
The game steadily opened up, Aideen Keane’s shot flew beyond Newcastle’s far post, and Caspers created a great chance with a clever turn and low cross just after half time. The ball could not find the back of the net for Sydney FC and when Worts was denied by Nino and a desperate effort from Tash Prior, it looked like it just was not going to happen for Ante Juric’s side.
Sydney’s depth on the bench eventually decided the result. With Newcastle tiring and having already withdrawn van Egmond, Juric brought on Vine and Shea Connors. The pair are two of the league’s quickest forwards and almost immediately increased the pressure on the Jets defence.
Connors threatened to score three times in quick succession. First, she ran behind the backline and propped to create some space. The class of the move was matched by Nino’s goalkeeping abilities and the Newcastle keeper held onto the ball at the second attempt.
Sydney’s American striker then tried from longer range on her opposite foot. Nino was beaten, but the ball crashed away off the crossbar. A shot from a tight angle on the right side of the box was easily held onto but Newcastle looked pinned back.
When the goal came, it was born of effort and misfortune. Connors charged down Nino as the goalkeeper attempted to clear. The ball spun high in the air but did not get much distance, Princess Ibini was able to steal possession and whip an effort across the face of goal where Vine was on hand to tap home the unmissable chance.
Sophie Hoban almost scored a late equaliser after the ball fell to her in the box, but the effort flashed across goal and did not trouble Jada Whyman. In the end, Newcastle’s luck had run out and Sydney FC’s persistence paid off.
The win sees Sydney climb to sixth on the table, but once against Newcastle were no easy beats, and showed enough to offer hope to their fans even after van Egmond was subbed off.
Teams: NEWCASTLE JETS (3-4-3): Nino (GK),Cicco, Prior, Wilson, Hoban, Davis, van Egmond, Dundas, Allan, Bolden, Gooch. Substitutes: Simon, Barbieri, Baumann, Karipidis, Rochaix.
SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman (GK), Chauvet, Fenton, Mclean, Tumeth, Hollman, Kruger, Ibini, Caspers, Worts, Keane. Substitutes: Connors, Vine, Ray, Thompson, Franco.
Scorer: Vine 84’
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 3,842
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