Sydney FC 1-0 Wellington Phoenix
by Callum Logie (29/12/23)
Above: Sydney FC match winner Jynaya Dos Santos (facing camera, eyes closed) celebrates with her sister Indiana today. Photo: Liberty A-Leagues.
Sydney FC, featuring returning star Mackenzie Hawkesby, earned an important three points with this win over Wellington Phoenix thanks to teenager Jynaya Dos Santos’ first-ever A-League Women goal in just her second appearance.
Each team made a few changes from their previous fixtures, with Michaela Foster returning to her common defensive position and Macey Fraser dropping back into a midfield position for the visitors. Sydney brought in Mackenzie Hawkesby to start in the midfield, just hours after the announcement of her return from Brighton and Hove Albion in the WSL. Also for the hosts, Shea Connors and Fiona Worts both missed out due to injury. Jordan Thompson got her first start at centreback and Aideen Keane got the start up front.
It was a back-and-forth first few moments of the game with Wellington holding the majority of the possession and passing the ball comfortably. However, the counterattacking lead by Princess Ibini and Cortnee Vine kept Sydney FC in the game on the offensive end of the field.
Hawkesby struck an effort over the bar from just inside the box at the 15-minute mark, firmly announcing her return to the A-League with positive play and energetic bursts forward. This was soon followed by a very similar attack leading to a wide-deflected effort from the fullback Kirsty Fenton.
Foster cleared a Keane effort off the goal line at the 20-minute mark, a noted defensive supplement to the returning young goalkeeper, Brianna Edwards. This was again set up by a wandering Fenton who cut it back to Keane who was unlucky not to open the scoring.
The first half also saw an audacious effort from Ibini narrowly missing as she spotted Edwards off her line. Keane and teenager Zara Kruger also had shots on goal that missed the target which meant that the first half finished scoreless.
Michaela Foster had two key deflections on the defensive end, with Edwards also improving as the half moved along in terms of positioning. The Phoenix defence was resolute in a Sydney-dominated first half, but a couple of shots on goal from Macey Fraser meant that the Phoenix finished the half with more shots on target than Sydney FC.
As soon as the second half began, Wellington had another quality chance as a quick burst forward from Isabel Cox almost set in Kate Taylor in the middle who had instigated the move after a quality tackle in midfield. Cox’s pressing and hold-up play was a welcome boon to the Phoenix who controlled the first portion of the second half.
After the hour mark, Sydney peppered the goal, or rather the defenders in front of the goal with shot after shot from Keane, Vine, and Hawkesby. Resolute defence from Mackenzie Barry and Rebecca Lake blocked a number of goal-bound shots, protecting the 20-year-old keeper playing behind them.
At the 76th minute, fed in by a beautiful cross-field pass by Taylor Ray, Vine rounded Edwards for a chance at an open goal. However, the rushing Phoenix keeper and the ever-present Foster were able to prevent the Matildas star from scoring, the attacker instead finding the side netting.
The very next moment, however, substitutes Ray and 18-year-old Jynaya Dos Santos combined to open the scoring in the 78th minute. A beautifully weighted delivery from the right wing to the edge of the six-yard box allowed Dos Santos to finish with a headed effort into the left side of the goal. In just her second appearance in the league, Dos Santos was able to open her account at a crucial moment.
Around the 80-minute mark, Isabel Cox almost equalised with a well-driven effort to the bottom right corner. Whyman was hyper-aware at the moment of the strike and was able to direct the effort away to preserve her clean sheet.
At the 89th minute, on the six-yard line, Mariana Speckmaier headed over the bar after a terrific delivery by Cox. This was Wellington’s best chance to salvage a point away from home but were unable to get the finish.
Cox had a snapshot at the edge of the box go over the bar during injury time. Fraser also had a shot from outside the box which was saved by Whyman, marking the last of the Phoenix’s attacks in their close defeat.
Wellington were slightly unnerved by the physical style Sydney implemented in this one, particularly down the right side of the defence with Ibini and Fenton playing very physically, looking to target the attack in on Hailey Davidson. Davidson eventually was subbed due to injury concerns and Wellington played a more physical style in the second half.
The Phoenix’s attacking potency comes from the fluid approach they usually take to their football which they later did manage to reintroduce in the second half, albeit without many chances to show for it. While their midfield were very strong with Taylor, Fraser, and Annalie Longo all working very hard, they were partly let down by an attack that was unable to take advantage of attacking moves and take shots on goal.
On the other hand, it was a clear point of emphasis for Sydney to have a more attacking approach in this fixture. Hawkesby, Keane, and Vine were relentless in their pursuit of a goal and the work rate of Ibini and Hollman was something to behold throughout the 90 minutes.
Whyman was excellent in goal and helped by a solid left side of the defence with Fenton and Charlotte Mclean showing their defensive prowess. The main difference maker however was the extremely impressive Ray who came on in the second half to create chance after chance, one eventually being converted by Dos Santos.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-1-4-1): Whyman, Tumeth, J. Thompson, McLean, Fenton, Hollman, Kruger, Vine, Hawkesby, Ibini, Keane. Substitutes: Franco, Chauvet, I. Dos Santos, J. Dos Santos, Ray.
Scorers: J. Dos Santos 78’.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-3-3): Edwards, Davidson, Barry, Lake, M. Foster, Longo, Taylor, Fraser, Breslin, Main, Speckmeier. Substitutes: Danieli-Feinberg, Whinham, Cox, McMeeken, Elliot.
Referee: Bec Mackie.
Attendance: TBC.
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