Western Sydney Wanderers 0-2 Sydney FC
by Emma Burke (2/3/24)
Above: Caley Tallon-Henniker celebrates her debut goal which sealed Sydney FC’s derby day win. Photo: Sydney FC.
Sydney FC have come away victorious in the Derby against Western Sydney Wanderers, winning 2-0 at a confusing contest at CommBank Stadium.
The opening half was characterised by missed opportunities, between shots sent wide or over the bar and brilliant goalkeeping from both teams’ keepers, neither side was able to break the deadlock.
The second half initially saw much of the same until half-time Sydney FC substitute Caley Tallon-Henniker was taken down in the box by Western Sydney defender Madison McComasky, with referee Casey Reibelt pointing immediately to the spot to award a penalty.
McKenzie Hawkesbury stepped up to the spot and delivered a decisive spot kick to the bottom right corner, beating Wanderers’ keeper Sham Khamis, who had pointed in that direction when on her line, but ultimately chose to dive the other way.
The goal marks Hawkesby’s second for Sydney FC since her return from her overseas stint with English WSL club Brighton and Hove Albion.
Five minutes later saw one of the most interesting red card issues in the A-League Women in quite some time.
Wanderers’ defender, American international Vicky Bruce made a late challenge on Sydney FC superstar Cortnee Vine from behind that saw Vine hit the deck. Despite Bruce having her captain Amy Harrison ahead of her as the last defender, Bruce was shown a red card. Somehow, despite already having been ejected from the game, Bruce was then also shown a yellow card.
With the Wanderers down to 10 players, all they could do was batten down the hatches and hope to see the rest of the game out without any further concessions. Of course, Sydney FC had other ideas about this and decided to score at almost the last moment possible.
Cortnee Vine played a clever through ball, switching sides, to find the feet of Tallon-Henniker, who had been left all alone on the left-hand side.
From there, all Tallon-Henniker had to do, on her debut game in the league mind you, was take the ball along a few paces and fire away a gorgeous shot that was lifted into the far corner.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-4-2): Khamis, McComasky, Harrison, Bruce, Matos, Rue, Chessari, Price, Caceres, Caspers, Harding. Substitutes: Buchanan, Younis, Abdul-Massih, Collins, Keir
SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Mathyssen-Whyman, Fenton, Thompson, Mclean, Tument, Hawkesby, Chauvet, Ray, Lemon, Ibini-Isei, Vine Substitutes: Johnson, Connors, Saveska, Tallon-Henniker, Black
Scorers: Hawkesby 67’ (pen), Tallon-Henniker 90+3’.
Referee: Casey Reibelt.
Attendance: TBC.
Follow Impetus ’71 on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball and @impetus71 TikTok: @Impetus71 Facebook: @Impetus71
Instagram: @Impetus_71 Threads: @Impetus_71
impetusfootball.org 