Sydney FC 0-4 Melbourne Victory
By Callum Logie (31/03/24).
Above: Alana Murphy and Cortnee Vine battle for possession in Sydney. Photo: Sydney FC
Easter Sunday at Leichardt Oval in Sydney saw one of the most important matches of the season take place with the premier’s plate and finals appearances on the line for each side.
Sydney came into the game after a surprise 1-0 loss to Canberra United which would’ve sealed them the fourth straight premier’s plate. Melbourne Victory also came off the controversial 3-2 Victory to the Newcastle Jets which put their finals live in the balance, needing at least a draw in this one to seal finals competition
Sydney FC welcomed back Shay Hollman to the lineup with Abbey Lemon dropping to the bench. Caley Tallon-Henniker retained her spot on the wing with Indiana Dos Santos unavailable. Beattie Goad returned for Melbourne Victory with Lia Privitelli returning to the bench. Jessika Nash also got the start at right-back in place of Emma Checker and Alana Murphy replaced Paige Zois in midfield.
As expected, the game started with both teams rather tense, neither team able to piece a meaningful move together through the first five minutes. As five minutes ticked over, the first shot on target was taken by the active Mackenzie Hawkesby, who struck a tame rolling effort from outside the box into the arms of Courtney Newbon.
The Victory’s first meaningful chance came from a similar long range effort from Sara D’Appolonia which was competently dealt with by Jada Mathyssen-Whyman. The 24 year-old shined in their defeat against Newcastle and looked determined to avenge the loss for her side.
A play initiated by Murphy and D’Appolonia in midfield allowed Emily Gielnik some space in the box which she used to play the ball across toward Goad. Tori Tumeth and Whyman were ultimately able to diffuse the situation.
The counter-attack resulted in a challenging half-volley for Cortnee Vine which she directed wide. Vine was making frequent runs behind the defence, looking to create space and opportunities while running at or around Jamilla Rankin. Newbon proved equal to a run a moment later, rushing off her line to prevent a Vine strike.
Melbourne Victory opened the scoring in the 17th minute. A well played corner by Goad was looped in to captain Kayla Ann Morrison who drove a header to the far post. The teenager Tallon-Henniker was able to deflect the ball off the line but only as far as Alana Murphy who was able to convert and put Melbourne in a great spot for finals.
The game remained back and forth with a particularly high work rate in the midfield as Taylor Ray, Hawkesby, and Hollman battled it out with Alex Chidiac, D’Appolonia and Murphy with many exchanges of possession.
In the 27th minute, a missed header from Margaux Chauvet released Gielnik on goal. Her shot to the near-post was well struck but a well-positioned Whyman was able to hold onto the ball.
An interesting pattern to observe in the first-half was the alternative approaches taken by both teams going forward. Sydney FC played their build-up very narrowly up the middle, seldom spreading the ball wider than the width of the penalty box. There were points when Ray and Hawkesby were almost standing next to each other in the midfield.
On the other side however, while having less possession, the Victory looked to use the full width of the pitch. This was usually in an effort to find the catalyst of Gielnik but Goad also proved a handful on the left side, meaning that the difference in build-up play was rather striking.
At 37 minutes, a strange incident after a tame cross from the Victory led to Whyman overreacting to some contact from Chidiac after collecting the ball. Whyman swung her foot at Chidiac which resulted in a yellow card for the keeper and a penalty awarded to Melbourne Victory. Rachel Lowe converted clinically from the penalty spot with a well directed effort to the right of Whyman.
Just before half-time, Ray played the ball in to Tallon-Henniker. The inverted winger moved the ball onto her preferred right side and struck a curled effort at goal which went straight to Newbon who was having a strong game in goal.
Sydney started the second-half with great energy, Shea Connors was subbed in for Tallon-Henniker and was immediately involved in two very promising entries into the box, one of which was half a meter away from being converted by Cortnee Vine.
The game opened up in the second half as Sydney abandoned their narrow approach with the introduction of Connors. Connors and Princess Ibini were both trying to create down the left side to allow for Vine to roam on the right. Ibini created a great chance in the 52nd minute after beating Nash on the dribble and drifting the ball across to Vine who volleyed off target.
Neither team was able to put the final pass through to create chances through the first 15 minutes of the second-half. Nash and Tori Hansen combined well to contain the pressure Sydney were creating down that left flank.
Sydney continued to try and create chances with their superior possession. Just after the hour mark, Cortnee Vine cut in onto her left foot but was unable to test Newbon with her shot after using her pace to get by Rankin.
A change in the 63rd minute immediately paid dividends for the Melbourne Victory. They brought Privitelli in for Lowe which meant that Gielnik moved to centre forward. Goad played the ball through to a running Rankin who played a great cross from the byline to Gielnik who converted expertly at the near post.
Sydney were trying to get back into the game any way they could, using their substitutions to introduce Zara Kruger and Aideen Keane before the 70-minute mark in order to try and create something with the younger players. The Victory midfield and defence still proved solid, not giving away any major chances for a significant period of play.
In stoppage time, Melbourne put the icing on the cake as Charlotte Mclean forfeited possession at the back and Sara D’Appolonia was able to play in Chidiac who converted her first goal of the season to make the final score 4-0.
Melbourne held onto their lead in what was a very impressive and comprehensive win against the potential premiers. Not only did they clinch a finals position, but also set themselves into third position thanks to their goal difference. Victory will take this momentum into the finals and may have good odds of winning.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Tumeth, Thompson, McLean, Chauvet, Hollman, Ray, Hawkesby,Vine, Ibini, Tallon-Henniker. Substitutes: Black, Lemon, Kruger, Connors, Keane.
Perth Glory (4-3-3): Newbon, Nash, Hansen, Morrison, Rankin, Chidiac, Murphy, D’Appolonia, Gielnik, Lowe, Goad Substitutes: Candy, Checker, Kellond-Knight, Zois, Privitelli
Scorers: Murphy 17′, Lowe 38′, Gielnik 64′, Chidiac 96′.
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Attendance: 4576
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