Barbieri the hero as City and Sydney draw

Melbourne City 0-0 Sydney FC

By Emma Burke 10/2/24

Above: Melissa Barbieri saves the day with a penalty stop for City. Photo: A League

After a delayed kick-off, due to Sydney FC accidentally travelling to the wrong venue, and a multitude of icy-poles were handed out by Melbourne City staff to beat the heat, Melbourne City and Sydney FC split the three points in a nil all draw at City Football Academy Field.

The first half saw Sydney have multiple chances on goal that they were unable to convert, including a particularly impressive shot from Captain Princess Ibini that hit the post and rattled the goals.

City were determined to continue to play in possession and work their way out through their backline up the pitch, a process they found difficult for most of the game due to missing key players in their defence like Rebekah Stott, who is away on International Duty with New Zealand, and Julia Grosso who is still returning from injury.

Sydney were awarded a penalty early in the second half, after a handball in the box by Taylor Otto, which would be taken by Princess Ibini.

Ibini’s shot was driven low, but was saved with ease by City Keeper and former Matilda’s Captain Melissa Barbieri, playing in only her second game of the season, after City sold their usual starting keeper Canadian Lysianne Proulx to Bay FC, a new expansion side in the NWSL.

The visitors continued to take shot after shot but clearly had either left their scoring boots at home, or at the first venue they went to, as they could not find a way to the back of the net.

With the points split, City remain safe at the top of the ladder, while Sydney take a step up into second (pending the rest of the round’s results). 

Round 17 of the Liberty A-League Women will send Sydney to Canberra to face Canberra United, while City plays host to Adelaide United.

Melbourne City (4-3-3): Barbieri, T. Mckenna, Otto, Roestbakken, Thomas-Chinnama, Hughes, Davidson, L. McKenna, Galic, Pollicina, Ekic Substitutions: L. Varley, S. Varley, McMahon, Meyers, Henry

Sydney FC FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Fenton, Thompson, McLean, Tumeth, Caspers, Hollman, Hawkesby, I. Dos Santos, Ibini, Vine Substitutions: Franco, J. Dos Santos, Ray, Kruger, Lemon

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Attendance: TBC