Ben Gilby and Ava-Marianne Elliott provide a full review from this weekend’s action along with photography from One Touch Sport Photography (17/6/24).
Above: Reina Kagami (red shirt) looks to break through for Perth RedStar at UWA-Nedlands yesterday. Photo: One Touch Sport Photography.
Game of the week
Click here to read Ben Gilby’s detailed report of Balcatta Etna v Perth SC that was published yesterday along with Rob Lizzi’s photo gallery: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/06/16/balcatta-boost-title-hopes-with-win-over-azzurri/
In-depth review
Hyundai NTC 0-2 Fremantle City
by Ava-Marianne Elliott
Above: Abbey Green, seen here in action for Fremantle City earlier in the season, combined with two goal Tanika Lala for an early chance at Hyundai NTC yesterday. Photo: Cat Bryant.
Fremantle City gained a vital win in the battle for a top-four spot running out winners in an entertaining fixture full of fight from both sides at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Right off the bat, both sides set out on a strong foot, eager to earn the three points at stake.
The first six minutes of play entailed a relatively even split of possession, with the NTC initially just appearing the stronger side. By the seventh minute, their threat had already been established as Dayle Schroeder was forced to make several comfortable saves.
In the tenth minute, a solid chance appeared for the visitors when Abbey Green made an excellent pass over the NTC backline, falling directly to the feet of Tanika Lala. Despite the excellent execution, Lala’s shot just wasn’t enough to open the scoring. The teenage side were quick to hit back on the counter but were similarly unsuccessful in their attempt to get on top.
A spell of good chances for the home team followed, with several shots at goal that just didn’t hit the mark. In the 13th minute, Theodora Mouithys was particularly unfortunate when her strike from distance had just too much height, heading over the crossbar.
Freo had a dominant string of play that began in the 18th minute from Schroeder. After the ball was forced out for a corner, they had a further chance to make a dent in the scoreline, but Lala’s header was kept out of the net. After fighting to keep their possession, the NTC regained control, but Fremantle were still fighting with intensity to try and grasp the lead.
Every time Ben Anderton’s side looked like finding a breakthrough, Fremantle managed to nullify the threat. They were working nearly seamlessly, with passing sequences across the field holding their possession and any mistakes mostly being recovered in an instant.
One of the biggest chances in the half arose in the 39th minute when an over-hit pass fell to Lala in yards of space. With the NTC backline mostly further upfield, Nelli Johnson went toe-to-toe with former team-mate Lala and tackled the threat alone, her phenomenal work rate being enough to force the ball out of play.
Another defensive display was executed shortly following in the 41st minute when Sophie Rennie put in a tackle that pushed the ball out of Lala’s grasp. Mia Britton made a run down the right wing on the counter, sending the ball to Mouithys who was pressured to cut the attack short by Catherine Adams.
Freo continued to pounce on mistakes, and Clara Hoarau’s intensity forced the NTC into losing possession. The resulting pass fell to Lala who made an excellent run into the box, however, her shot held just too much power, flying over the bar.
Fremantle’s relentless efforts to source a first-half goal didn’t end there, and Maya Spatafore’s shot from range nearly hit the back of the net. The ball following fell to Erin Siah, who’s cross was sent out of play by Rennie in a brilliant block to keep her side afloat.
Despite ending goalless, the half was no short of dramatics, and both sides took the break to regroup. Within the first few minutes on the clock for the second 45, Fremantle broke out as the stronger side.
In the 48th minute, their first set-piece opportunity arose when the NTC conceded a free-kick, just outside the 18-yard box to the left of goal. Anna Powell’s delivery missed the target, but Freo jumped on the opportunity to pressure the hosts into a further mistake after a goal kick.
Powell pressed Chloe Gaspar into giving up possession, taking control in a dangerous area, and contributing to the first goal of the game. Although her initial cross was just kept out of the net, Lala finally got her goal and tapped the rebound in at the far post to hit the mark against her former team.
In the following ten minutes, Fremantle continuously displayed their strengths and dominated play, having several chances to double their lead, but couldn’t do so.
During minute 58, the NTC had to pay close attention after a well-executed free-kick nearly crossed the line by a thin margin. Despite their efforts, a second goal for the visitors was almost inevitable.
It was 2-0 just before the hour mark when Lala converted from close range after stellar work from Hoarau to dismantle the home side’s possession in a vital area. Megan Phillips was just unable to make the save.
Lala, after her excellent performance so far, had a solid chance to get her hat trick in the 78th minute, but the shot was sent directly into Phillips’ gloves.
The NTC gained the chance to pull one back with eight minutes of normal time remaining when Freo conceded a free kick outside of the box, but Johnson’s delivery flew over the bar and the visitors held their stable lead.
With the last few minutes flowing, the teenage hosts seemingly amped up their energy and it appeared they would put an end to Freo’s clean sheet when Jessica Johnson was put through on goal. Schroeder met the threat effectively, going to ground for an excellent save and leaving the visitors frustrated.
During stoppage time, Violet Longmore had several attempts in the dying seconds to try and pull her side back into the game, but the final whistle signalled the end of a competitive fixture between the two sides.
Teams: HYUNDAI NTC: Phillips, Longmore, C. Gaspar, Rennie, Britton, N. Johnson, Collins, O’Halloran, Leong, J. Johnson, Mouthiys. Substitutes: Clayton, E. Gaspar, Tana, Healy, Brooks.
FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Adams, Leek, Osborne, Spatafore, Kiama, Hoarau, Boyle, Green, Lala, Powell. Substitutes: Poad, Siah, Lyons, Tanner, Mayoe, Meaden, Boots.
Scorers: Lala 48′, 62′.
Round wrap
by Ben Gilby
Subiaco 2-2 Murdoch University Melville
Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) came from behind twice to secure a point at Rosalie Park against Subiaco yesterday – a game that lifts them off the bottom of the ladder on goal difference.
Subi hit the font with seven minutes on the clock as Carla Biegun worked hard to dispossess Tiana Botha on the edge of her own box and then release Marianna Tabain. The former W-League player played a ball ahead for Cass Harvey to run onto. She had acres of space on the left of centre and chip a glorious curled finish over Manon Gebauer.
The visitors levelled with three minutes of the half remaining. Isabella Baldwin picked up the ball and fed Emma Ylias. She, in turn, played a pass out to Ellis Glanfield on the left flank to turn a cross in that missed everyone, however, the return ball in was met by an unmarked Ylias who lifted a glorious first-time shot into the net.
The second half opened with an early goal – once more for the hosts as Gebauer’s low place kick went straight to Harvey, centrally on the edge of the area. Her shot cannoned back down from the bar for Stella Zampogna to nod home from close range.
MUM FC secured their crucial point with a dramatic equaliser two minutes from time. Luana Ascenzo-Cabello lifted a pass through from just inside the Subi half which resulted in a defender losing her footing under severe pressure from Taylor Reid. The ball then rolled through for Monique Baiamonte to take past goalkeeper Monique Todd and direct into the net despite the best efforts of Keziah Burgis to keep it out.
UWA-Nedlands 1-4 Perth RedStar
Above: UWA-Nedlands (green) look to find a way through at home to Perth RedStar yesterday. Photo: One Touch Sport Photography.
Carlos Vega Mena’s champions got back to winning ways with success at the UWA Sports Park yesterday.
RedStar hit the front with 19 minutes played as Abbey Woolley’s throw on the right, parallel to the edge of the box found Renee Leota whose instant control allowed her to spin away from her marker and lift a shot that deflected off Mackenzie Rastatter and up over Morgan Springer into the net.
They doubled their advantage five minutes before the break in a sweeping move started by goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco who played the ball out to Sarah Carroll. Possession moved ahead into the midfield for Momoko Sakairi to feed Reina Kagami. The low pass supplied by the Japanese star allowed Leota to run on, draw Springer and cooly finish from the left-hand edge of the box.
Above: UWA-Nedlands (green) looking to clear their lines at home to Perth RedStar yesterday. Photo: One Touch Sport Photography.
However, to their credit, UWA-Nedlands hit back as the clock was ticking towards stoppage time at the end of the half. An excellent run by Emily Dinsdale down the right saw her beat Carroll and cut a perfectly weighed pass back to Andrea Preiato centrally positioned on the edge of the box to direct a first-time side-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
There remained just a single goal in it until 17 minutes from time when Caitlin Doeglas was released by a low pass into space. The former Perth Glory star needs no second invitation in this position and advanced to turn Rastatter, then held off Amy Hartley to cut in and enter the box to send a finish into the far corner of the net.
RedStar completed the win with nine minutes left. Bronwyn Studman played in a high ball from the left flank to the back post for Olivia Wood to hit a shot which was repelled by Springer back into Wood’s path. This time the youngster fed Manami Arai who laid off to Jayna Ridley positioned centrally behind her to crash home a shot from around 12 yards.
This victory, coupled with Perth SC’s defeat at Balcatta Etna restores RedStar’s five-point lead at the top of the table. Despite their great show of character and spirit, UWA-Nedlands fall to the bottom of the ladder on goal difference after Murdoch University Melville’s late equaliser at Subiaco.
LADDER:
Table From: Squadi
ROUND 11 FIXTURES (all Sunday): Balcatta Etna v Hyundai NTC, Fremantle City v Subiaco, Perth RedStar v Murdoch University Melville, Perth SC v UWA-Nedlands.
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