Sydney FC 3–1 Western United (09/03/24)
By Ben Carey
Above: Cortnee Vine celebrates her goal with her Sydney FC teammates. Photo: Sydney FC.
A huge crowd filled out Leichardt Oval on Saturday evening towatch the top of the table clash between Sydney FC and Western United, one of the most highly anticipated matches of the second half of the season. The locals were delighted to see their side defeat the visitors thanks to an excellent performance from Matildas star, Cortnee Vine.
Surprisingly, Western United dominated possession for the first part of the match, however Sydney FC were much more clinical when they had the ball. In the 15th minute, a great through ball from Vine set up Princess Ibini, who forced a parry from the keeper, but Abbey Lemon was positioned perfectly for the follow up and struck the ball beautifully to give the home side the lead.
Sydney closed out the first half without too much trouble. As soon as the second half started, the clock was set to Vine Time until the match ended. A great through ball from Ibini set Vine up in a footrace against a solitary Western defender, which Vine was always going to win. She outfoxed her defender and found a superb angle past the keeper to give Sydney the insurance goal.
After going down two goals, Western United found a new resolve, and they seemed determined to claw their way back into the match. Just before the 80th minute, Grace Maher took an exquisite long range free kick, which found the head of Catherine Zimmerman in the box, who launched it over Jada Whyman in goals. Zimmermanโs header was excellent and the fact that sheโd only been substituted on six minutes before is even more impressive.
Western had managed to wrestle their way back into the match. They were pushing forward a lot more, hoping to create more dangerous opportunities and possible snatch a point from the fixture. But pressing as intensely as they also made their defence vulnerable, especially to the likes of pacy, young Matildas stars. In the third minute of stoppage time, an incredible long ball from Kirsty Fenton in the centre of the pitch found Vine, who read the bounce perfectly and then lobbed the keeper to seal the match for Sydney.
Both sides have well and truly cemented their place in the top six and a spot in the end of season finals series. But with only a few matches left to play, the win today provides Sydney withvaluable momentum in the late season race for the Premiership. Technically there are still and handful of sides that could win it. Itโs going to be an exciting finish to the regular season!
Sydney FC will take on Wellington Phoenix away from home next Sunday. Meanwhile, Western United will host Newcastle Jets, shortly after.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4–3-3): Whyman, Tumeth, Mclean, Thompson, Fenton, Ray, Chauvet, Hawkesby, Lemon, Ibini, Vine. Substitutes: Black, Connors, Johnson, Malone, Tallon-Henniker.
Scorers: Lemon 15โ, Vine 70โ, 90+3โ.
WESTERN UNITED (4-2-3-1): Larsen, Papadopoulos, Cerne, Maher, Medwin, A. Taranto, Robers, Sawicki, M. Taranto, Hieda, Keane. Substitutes: DallโOste, Zimmerman, Prakash, Sardo, Vlajniฤ.
Scorers: Zimmerman 77โ.
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
Attendance: 3,442
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