Sydney FC 2-0 Canberra United
by Emma Burke (15/1/25)
Above: Leichhardt Oval was hit by a storm that indefinitely halted play. Photo: Canberra United
Sydney FC’s game against Canberra United was cancelled after a torrential storm tore through Leichhardt Oval early in the second half, with the hosts leading the game 2-0.
Sydney came out pressing high and hard on Canberra United, giving the visitors no time to try and move forward after brushing off attacks on their goal.
A header from Tori Tumeth came inches away from the back of the net, but a rising Sally James did enough with an outstretched hand to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Sydney broke the deadlock just before 20 minutes had elapsed, when their Captain Nat Tobin took matters into her own hands, bypassing the midfield to break the lines with a pass forward for Princess Ibini.
Ibini’s run was expertly timed, beating her defender and luring James off her line, giving her the chance to beat the keeper at the far post, scoring for only the second time this season.
The home team’s second goal came from Lucy Johnson, her third goal in as many games, beating her defender in the box and firing on goal before Sally James had any idea of what was happening.
Johnson’s second goal was the first time Sydney FC have managed to score more than once in their last 15 games, going all the way back to Round 21 of last season where they beat Adelaide 3-0.
Canberra had their best goal-scoring opportunity just before the end of the first half when Mary Stanic-Floody stood over a free kick and delivered it into the crossbar. The ball bounced down and was then somehow shunted out by Sydney’s desperate defence.
Not long after the second half began, referee Isabella Mossin suspended play due to lightning in the area, soon a storm rolled in and spectators were told to seek shelter inside the grandstand at Leichhardt Oval.
It was later announced that the game would not be finished, leaving the result possibly in limbo. If the game is not rescheduled, Sydney will be awarded all three points. A decision is expected on Thursday.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Edwards, Tumeth, Thompson, Tobin, Bryson, Johnson, Chauvet, Caspers, Dos Santos, Ibini, Tallon-Henniker. Substitutes: Franco, Connors, Lemon, Hawkesby, Luchtmeijer.
Scorers: Ibini 18’, Johnson 38’.
CANBERRA UNITED (4-3-3): James, Bertolissio, Anton, McKenzie, Robers, Malone, Gordon, Taylor-Young, Christopherson, Heyman, Stanic-Floody. Substitutes: Markovski, Murray, J dos Santos, Nathan, Majstorovic.
Referee: Isabella Mossin.
Attendance: TBC.
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