Sydney FC 3-1 Perth Glory
By Callum Logie (03/02/24).
Above: Shay Hollman on the ball for Sydney FC Photo: Sydney FC
Leichhardt Oval in Sydney hosted Sydney FC’s Saturday night clash with fellow contender Perth Glory.
Sydney FC came into the game off a 1-1 away draw with Melbourne Victory. The Perth Glory on the other hand came off a surprise 2-1 loss to Adelaide United away from home.
Sydney FC seem to have settled on a consistent XI with their current personnel. The youthful midfield of Shay Hollman and Madeleine Caspers being complimented by a talented mentor in Mackenzie Hawkesby. The front three of Cortnee Vine, Princess Ibini and Indiana Dos Santos will look to create and convert plenty of chances against a talented Perth squad.
Perth made a couple of changes themselves to bounce back. They modified their starting formation to a 4-4-2 with Millie Farrow being joined by Quinley Quezada. Sadie Lawrence also replaced Claudia Mihocic at the back, looking to firm up the Glory defence.
The first major chance of the game came 13 minutes in for Sydney, with Vine releasing Hawkesby down the right side of the box. Hawkesby cut back to Ibini who drove a low effort just wide of the goal. Sadie Lawrence marked Ibini tightly which led to the shot off target.
At 15 minutes, Vine made a run down the right wing after a long ball from Jada Mathyssen Whyman. Despite a determined effort from Elizabeth Anton, Vine was able to send a very threatening cross that beat everyone in the box, including Morgan Aquino. Indi Dos Santos was just short of making the connection to convert and Perth remained even.
Aquino continued to be put under pressure as a roaming Tori Tumeth was sent through by Ibini drove a low effort that was directed wide by the keeper. The resulting corner from Hawkesby almost went in but Aquino and her defence were able to scramble the ball away before ultimately collecting off a tame Jordan Thompson header.
In the 21st minute, Sydney’s attacking players combined again as Indi Dos Santos played to Ibini who held the ball up to set up a long range effort by Hawkesby. The midfielder’s shot was comfortably over the bar but the passing play by Sydney was continuing to apply pressure.
The pressure eventually did pay off for Sydney as Vine received the ball with space on the right wing. She played the ball clinically across to Madeleine Caspers who showed terrific composure to take a touch and then open the scoring with a driven effort into the bottom corner. Another goal for the 16 year-old who’s been having a terrific season.
In the 27th minute, Indiana Dos Santos was clumsily taken down in the box by Hana Lowry which won Sydney FC a penalty. Princess Ibini stepped up to take the penalty and a driven effort to the middle of the goal was tipped over the bar by Morgan Aquino to keep the deficit at only one for the Glory.
A handball at the edge of the Perth Glory box by Hollman presented the first proper opportunity for Perth. Hana Lowry looped in the free kick which she claimed but took a dramatic deflection to equalise for the Perth Glory. The deflection did in fact come off Quezada which meant that it was the forward’s goal rather than credited to Lowry who did take a great free kick.
The last portion of the first half saw Sydney continue to try and create chances with a few free kicks from Hawkesby and an attempted rainbow flick from Indiana Dos Santos. Ultimately, Sydney were unable to restore their lead before half-time but went into the break with more momentum.
Perth had one more half chance in the first half as Isobel Dalton struck a very long range effort on target but held comfortably by Whyman as it did not have enough power to trouble the keeper.
Early in the second half, some short passing play between Dos Santos and Hawkesby allowed Dos Santos a good look at goal. Her curled effort was competently saved by Aquino as it did not have enough power but Sydney FC picked up where they left off in the first half.
Sydney kept the pressure on, Dos Santos often as a catalyst. A shot from Dos Santos was deflected to the edge of the box which Vine struck with a venomous half volley. Unfortunately for Vine, the shot was wide of the goal but the closest Sydney had gotten in the second half.
Much like the first half, the Sydney FC pressure did not relent, and the moment Ibini found some space on the ball, she played a terrific through ball to Vine who ran on into the box and struck a low driven effort into the bottom left corner which restored Sydney’s lead.
Dos Santos almost added another after a breakaway from Vine. Vine played across to Ibini who lobbed the ball over to Dos Santos, but the defensive coverage from Perth captain Natasha Rigby denied Dos Santos a spot on the score sheet. Ibini struck a snapshot soon after from near the penalty box which was saved well by Aquino.
Mackenzie Hawkesby had an opportunity in the 70th minute after being played through by Ibini. Aquino proved equal to the effort and another which was just a minute later by Ibini which was curled toward the right side of the goal but unable to get past Aquino who had a great game in goal.
Vine put the icing on the cake for the Sky Blues after a sensational through ball by Indiana Dos Santos. Vine got onto the ball just outside the box, rounded Morgan Aquino and slotted the ball home for her brace.
In stoppage time, Perth did have a chance to pull one back. Substitute Georgia Cassidy struck a volley after a corner was not cleared by Sydney FC. The strike was deflected off Jordan Thompson but Whyman was positioned well enough to just make the save.
The possession battle in this game was striking in the sense that while both teams enjoy playing a possession based style, Sydney were able to keep hold of possession a lot more effectively than the Glory.
The fact that Perth were able to score despite having hardly any chances shows just how dangerous the team can be and why they find themselves still in a strong position on the table. The Glory are a very determined side and are never really out of any game, possession or not.
The Sydney FC front three were excellent throughout this game. Dos Santos and Vine created chance after chance and Ibini’s hold-up play was excellent. Sydney created a staggering amount of chances and overwhelmed a Glory side which looked very close to them on paper.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Tumeth, J.Thompson, McLean, Fenton, Hollman, Caspers, Hawkesby,Vine, Ibini, I. Dos Santos. Substitutes: Franco, Lemon, Kruger, J. Dos Santos, Ray.
Scorers: Caspers 24’, Vine 59′, 85′.
Perth Glory (4-4-2): Aquino, Rigby, Lawrence, Cowart, Anton, Jale, Dalton, Lowry, Sakalis, Farrow, Quezada Substitutes: James, Foletta, Green, Cain, Cassidy
Scorers: Quezada 33′.
Referee: Isabella Libri
Attendance: TBC
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