By Kieran Yap 30/12/23
Above: The Wanderers celebrate Amy Harrison’s opening goal against Melbourne Victory. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 Melbourne Victory
Goals from Amy Harrison and Alexia Apostolakis gave the Western Sydney Wanderers a 2-0 win against Melbourne Victory in an impressive and dominant performance.
The Wanderers results may have been inconsistent, but their performances have been consistently competitive this season. At times only bad luck, inexperience or excellent opposition defending has denied them results, but against the visiting Victory it was a fair complete display from Robbie Hooker’s team.
Much of the pre-match talk surrounded Victory. Alex Chidiac’s return to the club filled social media feed and the Julie Dolan medallist was named on the bench by Jeff Hopkins. Lia Privitelli started for the first time this season and Emma Checker was back in the first XI.
To add to the drama, backup goalkeeper and fan favourite Miranda Templeman was withdrawn before the match started. She appeared to be injured in the warmup and hopes will be with her that it is not serious, but she was unable to walk off unaided.
For the home side, things remained comparatively unchanged, but they were able to call on Melissa Caceres from the bench in a squad that is starting to look deeper as their young brigade gain experience by the week.
Victory started the brightest of the two sides. Kurea Okino was able to find space repeatedly behind the Wanderers defence but was unable to trouble Kaylie Collins in goal and was lacking support when cutting the ball back.
Lia Privitelli had the best chance for the visitors when she ran onto an Okino pass, but Collins was off her line quickly to snuff out the opportunity.
Just past the half hour mark, Victory coach Jeff Hopkins made the first change of the afternoon. Okino was withdrawn for Sara D’appolonia. It was not obvious if it was due to injury but the change left the visitors without a recognized centre forward on the pitch for the rest of the game.
The Wanderers struck almost immediately after. An Apostolakis corner kick was met at the back post by Amy Harrison. The Western Sydney skipper buried the goal from close range.
Victory tried to push for an equaliser, Alana Murphy moved the ball forward with her usually efficiency but Victory’s clear-cut chances dried up. D’appolonia’s pressing was energetic, but any advantage gained in that department was cancelled out by the Wanderers having less to worry about without Okino’s presence and movement.
As the game went on, The Wanderers confidence and control increased. Apostolakis struck in the 51st minute to double the lead with a well taken finish after a Holly Caspers played in the Young Matilda.
Caspers was becoming a constant threat to the visitors. Her mobility, pressing and dribbling was causing problems, and she was unlucky not to score one of her own when her left footed effort bounces off the far post with Lydia Williams beaten.
With the situation becoming desperate for the visitors, Chidiac was introduced to the contest. It provided an immediate boost to the morale of watching supporters but came at the cost of Murphy being withdrawn.
Murphy is still only 18, and is being managed carefully by Victory as she grows into her first full season as a regular starter, but had also been Victory’s most dominant midfielder in this game. It would mean another shift in tactics for Hopkin’s side.
Chidiac’s return appearance was encouraging. She was able to link up well with Rachel Lowe and find her usual pockets of space. The addition will no doubt strengthen Victory this season, but she was unable to make much of an impact in the last half hour of this game. The Wanderers remained in control of the pitch for the rest of the afternoon and any chances that Victory did create were snuffed out by a commanding Collins.
Both teams have challenging games next week. Victory will need to be at their best to avoid dropping points against Western United. The Wanderers will travelling to Perth, and a result there might see them surge into finals favouritism.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (3-4-1-2) Collins, McComansky, Harrison, Bruce, Matos, Price, Apostolakis, Rue, Caspers, Morris, Harding. Substitutes: Ferris, Caceres, Younis, Abdul-Massih, Segavcic.
Scorers: Harrison 38’ Apostolakis 51’
MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Williams (GK), Nash, Checker, Morrison, Rankin, Murphy, Kellond-Knight, Privitelli, Lowe, Weinert, Okino. Substitutes: D’Appolonia, Chidiac, Briedis, Zois, Hansen.
Referee: Isabella Libri
Attendance: 696.
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