Sydney FC 1-1 Canberra United
By Kieran Yap (3/1/24)
Above: Sydney FC and Canberra United players await a set piece. Photo: Canberra United.
Sydney FC and Canberra United ended Wednesday night with an entertaining and unpredictable 1-1 draw. Both sides had chances to win the game, and both managers were forced to be creative in the hard-fought result in which momentum changed as much as the personnel.
Sydney FC came into this match with an injury depleted attack. Fiona Worts and Shea Connors are out for an unspecified time with knee and foot injuries respectively. An hour before kick off, it was announced that Cortnee Vine would also miss this game through injury.
Aideen Keane retained her place in the lineup and rewarded Ante Juric’s faith with an early goal. Mackenzie Hawkesby broke free in midfield and slipped a perfect pass into the path of Keane that was matched by the first-time finish.
The lead would not last long. Canberra struck back through Michelle Heyman who finished off a slick move by hammering home Nikki Flannery’s early cross. Heyman saw the opportunity early and her surging run left the defenders with no chance. The first half ended 1-1 in what felt like a fair reflection of the match. Despite some good chances created by Sydney FC, Chloe Lincoln was rarely troubled through a combination of good positioning and wasteful finishing.
Canberra United had done well to draw level. Sydney FC began the match as the more aggressive side. They were physical when the ball was in dispute and attacked directly when in possession. Canberra’s Emma Ilijoski was subbed off early through injury and the visitors did well to readjust without a like for like replacement.
The second half was no less dramatic. With each side desperate for a win, the coaches tinkered in attack. Teagan Collister was introduced for Sydney FC and star defender Kirsty Fenton was thrown forward. Collister is a direct, fast winger and Fenton is strong in the air, the combination of the pair caused Canberra some problems without troubling the scoreboard. Curiously, last weeks hero Jynaya Dos Santos remained on the bench.
A Fenton shot on the turn was tipped away by Lincoln , while at the other end, Heyman was inches wide of giving Canberra the lead.
The most intriguing battle of the game featured on Canberra’s left flank. Princess Ibini was faced with the tireless Sasha Grove. The Canberra fullback was diligent in defending and willing to get forward at every opportunity. Ibini had few chances to impact the game in attack and found herself having the track back to keep tabs on the relentless Grove.
Deven Jackson thought she had earned a penalty for Canberra United when she tricked past two defenders and had a visible amount of her shirt pulled. It was inconclusive whether it was inside the box or not, but the referee did not award a foul in any case.
Sydney FC were not without their own disappointment. Once introduced, Dos Dantos looked to have made headlines again, but her goal was disallowed for a goal line foul that was called without hesitation.
Charlotte Mclean almost snatched a late winner, but her long range effort was tipped away by Lincoln who finished the game in strong form.
The draw keeps Canberra United at the bottom of the table, and is also Sydney FC’s third in their last four matches. They have a chance to get back on the winners list in just four days time when they face Central Coast Mariners, but their squad is stretched thin and their schedule is unrelenting for the next month.
Canberra United face a tricky visit to Newcastle. The Jets are creeping up the table and playing some entertaining attacking football. Neither side has a particularly strong defensive record this season so the prospects of Michelle Heyman scoring for the 100th time look reasonably high.
The result tonight was not ideal for either side, but the performances were impressive and the Leichhardt Oval crowd were treated to one of the most entertaining games of this season.
Teams:
SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman (GK), Tumeth, Mclean, Thompson, Fenton, Hawkesby, Hollman, Kruger, Lemon, Keane, Ibini. Substitutes: Collister, J Dos Santos, Ray, I Dos Santos, Franco.
Scorers: Keane 22’
CANBERRA UNITED (4-2-3-1): Lincoln, Grove, Clough, Clark, Jackson, Stanic-Floody, Ilijoski, Flannery, Heyman, Milivojevic, Christopherson. Substitutes: Rojas, Nathan, Whittall, Bertolissio, Majstorovic.
Scorers: Heyman 32’
Referee: Mikayla Ryan
Attendance: TBC
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