Sydney FC 1-1 Melbourne City
By Joe Rosedon (5/1/25).
Above: Rebekah Stott (left) tracks Princess Ibini. Photo: Melbourne City
League Leaders Melbourne City earned a draw against a spirited Sydney FC today at the Harbour City side returned to Leichhardt Oval.
A wonder strike from the home side’s Lucy Johnson was cancelled out in the second half by Leticia McKenna’s equaliser which extended City’s lead at the top to four points.
Melbourne City missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring in what was the first real chance of the game. City’s top goal scorer Mariana Speckmaier almost turned provider, whipping in a delicious cross for Bryleeh Henry from the left. Henry reached the ball before Tahlia Franco but poked the ball just wide of the post.
Yet Sydney prospect Indiana Dos Santos had other ideas. Johnson was able to play the ball into the left had channel to locate Shea Connors. The Sydney forward took a touch and looked for options. The option she picked was Dos Santos who, from the edge of the box, hammered the ball against the cross bar.
What was to follow for Sydney was truly spectacular and will rank highly as one of the goals of the season. In the 29thminute, Connors rolled the ball into the path of Johnson. With space opening in front of her, Johnson had one target in mind. With the inside of her foot, she launched an audacious first-time effort into the top right corner, giving goalkeeper Malena Mieres no chance of denial. Sydney were deserving of their lead.
It could have been more for the hosts in the closing stages of the first half. The crossbar again proved to be Dos Santos’ worst enemy. After isolating Alexia Apostolakis in the penalty area, Dos Santos cut inside took aim, and cannoned another attempt off of the bar.
It would have been expected by Sydney that City would start the second half all guns blazing and indeed they did. Speckamier forced Franco into a tremendous save following excellent close control from half-time substitute Lourdes Bosch to create the opportunity for the visitors. Speckmaier flashed her attempt across the goal and looked likely to nestle in the bottom left if Franco had not intervened.
After getting in such a promising position, Sydney were the architects of their own downfall. A miscued clearance from Franco was pounced upon by Holly McNamara who squared it to McKenna for the simplest of finishes to draw the table toppers level.
The game subsequently became a cagier affair following Melbourne City’s equaliser with chances for a winning goal becoming few and far between. Caley Tallon-Henniker’s deflected shot in the dying stages could have gone anywhere but just flew past the post and both teams had to settle for a point.
Kris Goman’s exclusive set of images from the game for Impetus are now on our Instagram page @ImpetusFootball
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3) Franco, Bryson, Tunmeth, Tobin, Thompson, Chauvet, Johnson, Caspers, Connors, Ibini, Dos Santos. Substitutes: Edwards, Lemon, Hawkesby, Luchtmeijer, Tallon-Henniker.
Scorer: Johnson 29’.
MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-2) Mieres, Otto, Apostolakis, Stott, Roestbakken, McKenna, Pollicina, Hughes, Henry, Speckmaier, Davidson. Substitutes: Barbieri, Vlajnic, McMahon, Bosch, McNamara.
Scorer: McKenna 62’.
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson.
Attendance: 2,340.
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