Ben Gilby reviews both of Sunday’s showdowns, with photography from Rob Lizzi at Perth RedStar v Perth SC (16/9/24).
Above: From left to right – Grace Johnston, Sam Mathers, and Ella Lincoln sprint forward to acclaim Charli Wainwright for hitting the winning penalty yesterday at RedStar Arena. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Perth RedStar 0-0 Perth SC
After extra time, Perth SC won 3-2 on penalties.
The Azzurri are in the Top Four Cup Final after coming through a dramatic penalty shoot-out at RedStar Arena which saw Stacey Cavill make four superb saves.
Despite going down to defeat, RedStar deserve huge credit after having to play with 10 for so long after defender Abbey Woolley was sent off after being shown two yellow cards after 40 minutes. The two sides could not be separated after two hours of football, and the fourteen penalties produced only five goals with Perth SC claiming their place in the Final at their fourth attempt in the shoot-out.
Both head coaches made a single change to their starting lineups from last weekend’s State Cup Final where these sides faced off. Carlos Vega Mena brought in Renee Leota in place of Jayna Ridley for RedStar, with the Perth SC’s Danielle Brogan selecting Georgia Cassidy in midfield in place of Tijan McKenna.
The Azzurri had the lions share of possession, but they were also working exceptionally hard off the ball with Charli Wainwright playing a key role in neutralising RedStar midfielder Reina Kagami. Olivia Wood’s danger was also largely held at arm’s length for most of the 90 minutes.
In terms of the early attacking threat, Sam Mathers was gaining plenty of space on the left to make runs and look to connect. With a quarter of an hour played, Perth had their first half chance of the encounter as Ella Lincoln won a corner on the left. Daisy McAllister lifted a cross in which was headed wide by Baxter Thew.
Just after the half-hour mark, Lincoln was felled between Andreia Teixeira and Abbey Woolley to the left of centre, with the former looking to be the one who made the contact, and a yellow card was shown. The free kick from McCartney, 25 yards out flew wide of the right-hand post.
Five minutes from the break, McAllister was brought down by Woolley on the left, and the RedStar defender was shown a yellow card, and then to her teammates’ audible shock, a red – they clearly believed the first yellow had been shown to Teixeira – but the referee stated otherwise, and Woolley was off.
Perth had the first chance of the second half when Lincoln held off her defender and threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to McAllister who laid a square pass behind the RedStar defence for Mathers, but her eventual shot was held by Dal Busco.
The home side need to be applauded for their excellent defence throughout the remainder of the game. They never looked like they were a player down. Vega Mena’s side worked their socks off and had the experience of Dal Busco to frustrate Perth when they were able to break through.
With six minutes to go, RedStar gained their only spell of concerted offensive pressure of the half. Wood was fouled on the left, just outside the box. Carroll curled a free-kick in that Thew headed off the line at the cost of the first of three successive corners taken by Caitlin Doeglas. The first came in for Quyen Doan to see her header deflected out for a repeat flag kick ahead forcing another that ended with Kagami’s effort cleared off the line. It remained goalless at the end of 90 minutes.
It was the Azzurri who returned to the ascendancy in the opening period of extra time. Mathers found Lincoln on the left who fired a powerful effort that Dal Busco pushed out for a corner. From this, the visitors earned a throw that Mathers directed to McAllister who chipped the ball over Momoko Sakairi. RedStar failed to get a firm clearance, and the ball fell awkwardly for McKenna on the edge of the box, which caused her shot to just clear the bar.
With four minutes of extra time remaining, Johnston was fouled by Sakairi on the right, parallel with the penalty spot. McCartney stepped up to deliver the set piece towards Lincoln, but the NPLW WA’s top scorer saw her low shot cleared. Dal Busco would also deny Lincoln in the closing stages after being found by Johnston.
In the dying embers, RedStar earned two half chances themselves – first for Wood whose effort went wide of the right-hand post, and then Doeglas, but Cavill gathered well.
So, the place in the Top Four Cup Final would be decided by penalties. If the two hours we had just watched weren’t dramatic enough, it was nothing compared with what would follow.
Sarah Carroll stepped up to take the first kick for the hosts – but was forced to wait for a long time to take it due to a combination of Cavill adjusting her gloves, and the top right-hand corner of the net needing repairing. To her credit, she fired home. Ella Lincoln strode forward for the Azzurri’s opener, but Dal Busco saved to the left of centre.
Cometh the hour, cometh Stacey Cavill. Whilst RedStar were frustrated by what they felt were her delaying tactics, she launched into a series of stunning saves – starting with denying Anderson’s effort to the right. McCartney levelled the scores at 1-1 dispatching her penalty high into the roof of the net. Next up for RedStar was Teixeira who sent her effort over the bar. Grace Johnston responded by coolly hitting a low effort into the left-hand corner.
Cavill made it advantage Perth when she saved Wood’s shot to the left. It meant that Mathers could put her side into the final by scoring – but agonisingly the penalty went over the top. Doeglas was next up and calmly hit her effort down the centre to bring the scores back to 2-2. McKenna now had the chance to claim the win – but the Young Matilda saw her shot go wide of the left-hand post.
Into sudden death, and RedStar’s experienced Emily Dunn strode forward, but Cavill saved down the middle. Perth were one kick away from the Final again – but the drama was still not over as Thew hit her penalty over the top.
Kagami placed the ball in a bid to put the advantage in the home side’s favour – but yet again, Cavill saved at the right-hand post. Wainwright placed the ball to confidently strike home the winning penalty. The young midfielder had given the Azzurri their first-ever win over Perth RedStar in the Top Four Cup.
This was another huge achievement by Danielle Brogan’s team. They had to show so many qualities to earn the victory – game management, confidence, organisation, belief, and no little skill. Perth SC have earned a full week of preparation for a Top Four Cup Final for the first time.
More of Rob Lizzi’s photos from RedStar Arena yesterday
Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Doan, Teixeira, Woolley, Anderson, Carroll, Kagami, Sakairi, Leota, Wood, Doeglas. Substitutes: Ritchie, Dunn, Continibali, Odonohoe, Ridley, Bellanca, Arai.
Penalties: Carroll (scored), Anderson (missed), Teixeira (missed), Wood (missed), Doeglas (scored), Dunn (missed), Kagami (missed).
PERTH SC: Cavill, Bohm, Thew, Nossent, McCartney, Wainwright, McAllister, Cassidy, Marshall, Mathers, Lincoln. Substitutes: Harvey, McKenna, Johnston, Hannan, Ottobrino, Di Mattina, Atkinson (GK).
Penalties: Lincoln (missed), McCartney (scored), Johnston (scored), Mathers (missed), McKenna (missed), Thew (missed), Wainwright (scored).
Balcatta Etna 1-1 Fremantle City
After Extra-Time, Balcatta Etna win 3-1 on penalties.
Balcatta Etna overcame the sending off of star striker Lucy Jerram, and being pegged back within three minutes of taking the lead to run out winners after a penalty shoot out with Fremantle City.
Jerram was sent from the field after being given two yellow cards, but Pete Rakic’s side were able to overcome this set back to advance to within one match of their first ever Top Four Cup Final.
After a goalless first half, Balcatta hit the front with 72 minutes played. Liz Anton’s throw-in just inside her own half found Jamie-Lee Gale up the touchline. Her original low cross in was cut out by Annabelle Leek, only as far as Izzy Foletta to play a low shot in which was parried by Dayle Schroeder in the Freo goal into the path of the onrushing Liana Cook to fire home at the back post.
However, the home side’s lead would last for just three minutes. Abbey Green played a perfectly weighted pass from inside her own half out to Erin Siah on the left-hand touchline to square a low ball in for former Balcatta player Mia Yeo to send a shot between Rebecca Bennett’s legs and in.
And so to penalties. First up was Freo’s star defender Leek who saw her effort fly over the bar. It was a heartbreaking miss for a player who was absolutely outstanding once more throughout the encounter. Liz Anton, newly signed by Canberra United took advantage with the New Zealand international blasting her kick straight down the middle and into the net.
Alex Poad got Fremantle on the board as her low shot to the left beat Bennett. Faye Phillips responded by blasting her penalty – Schroeder got a hand to it, but there was more than enough power to ensure it went in for the hosts to lead 2-1.
Janice Kiama stepped up for the visitors, but her effort was smothered by Bennett, diving to the right. Abbey Meakins ensured that Balcatta profited yet again as she dispatched her kick with aplomb to ensure the home side continued their 100% record from the spot.
Catherine Adams placed the ball for Freo’s fourth kick, knowing she had to score to keep her team’s hopes alive. After a short run-up, Bennett dived to the right once more to save, and Balcatta had won.
Pete Rakic’s side now go on to face Perth RedStar in midweek for the right to take on Perth SC in the Top Four Cup Final at the Sam Kerr Football Centre next weekend.
Teams: BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, van Heurck, Davis, Anton, D’Opera, Meakins, Phillips, Foletta, Cook, Jerram, Prinsloo. Substitutes: Bricklebank, Jarvis, Gale, Cornall.
Scorer: Cook 72′.
Penalties: Anton (scored), Phillips (scored), Meakins (scored)
FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Poad, Leek, Adams, Osborne, Kiama, Mayoe, Meaden, Green, Siah, Yeo. Substitutes: Antunes, Harries, Stiles, Lala, Kronberg.
Scorer: Yeo 75′.
Penalties: Leek (missed), Poad (scored), Kiama (missed), Adams (missed).
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