Melbourne Victory 1-1 Sydney FC
By Emma Burke 26/1/24
Above: Emma Checker (right) clears from Indiana Dos Santos. Photo: Melbourne Victory.
The only difference to be found at the Big Blue derby was the shades of the colour worn by Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC as the two sides each left AAMI park with a point apiece after a 1-1 draw.
Sydney FC broke the deadlock early through 16-year-old star Maddie Caspers. She ghosted through Victory’s defensive line to take a left-footed shot that was fired into the bottom left corner.
Victory’s response came in the form of a penalty call with American International Mackenzie winning the call when she was collected in the box by Sydney FC keeper Jada Whyman.
Rachel Lowe took to the spot and converted with ease, her shot sent low and in the opposite direction to the one Whyman dove in.
Sydney enjoyed a strong attacking spell in the second half, but were denied by some incredible saves from Victory keeper Courtney Newbon.
Newbon made a one-handed save to prevent Sydney from taking the lead after Mackenzie Hawkesbury took a long shot on goal from outside the box.
The corner that resulted in it then had Newbon making a close range save on a header from Abbey Lemon.
The final chance of the game fell to Sydney when in the final minute of extra time, Zara Kruger sent in a header that rebounded off the goalpost.
Sydney FC and Melbourne both remain in their previous positions on the table, 2nd and 6th respectively, and will look to find a win in Round 15 when Sydney FC host Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory travel to face Brisbane Roar.
Melbourne Victory (4-2-3-1): Newbon, Checker, Hansen, Morrison, Rankin, Murphy, Kellond-Knight, D’Appolonia, Chidiac, Weinert, Lowe Substitutes: Candy, Zois, Curtis, Gielnik, Okino
Scorers: Lowe 21’ (Pen)
Sydney FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Fenton, Thompson, McLean, Tumeth, Hawkesby, Hollman, Caspers, I. Dos Santos, Ibini, Vine Substitutes: Franco, J. Dos Santos, Ray, Kruger, Lemon
Scorers: Caspers 7’
Referee: Isabella Blaess
Attendance: TBC
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