Sydney FC 2-1 Melbourne Victory
by Emma Burke (28/3/26)
Above: Riley Tanner (centre) celebrates with team mates after scoring today against Melbourne Victory. Photo: via the A-Leagues.
A double from Riley Tanner secured Sydney FC a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue, throwing a spanner in the works of the visiting team’s finals hopes.
This fixture saw the return of a Sydney FC legend to the starting line up with Charlotte McLean making her first appearance for the side since departing for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2024.
Holly Furphy took advantage of a lapse in concentration at the top of the box by Sydney’s defence early on, and slipped the ball through to Rachel Lowe who made no mistake in finishing at the top left corner.
A poor pass by Victory’s Kayla Morrison to her centre back partner Claudia Bunge was then intercepted by Tanner minutes later, who was left one-on-one with keeper Courtney Newbon.
Tanner drove the ball into the left side of the goal to score her first of the game, and fourth of the season for the Sky Blues.
Victory had a number of chances to retake the lead, with Rhianna Pollicina and Ella O’Grady both having good looks on goal that were either stopped by Sydney’s keeper Heather Hinz or skirted just wide.
It was the home side who would secure the lead soon after the second half began, when Tanner was again well positioned and aware of the defence ahead of her.
Morrison made a second mistake again leading to a goal, this time under hitting a pass to her keeper, again inviting Tanner into the play to poach the ball.
Tanner had more than enough time to trap the ball and shoot, again to the left side, putting Sydney up 2-1.
Sydney had the opportunity to further punish Victory, but a flurry of close ranged shots from Jodi Ulkekul were denied by Newbon, Morrison, and the post.
Despite maintaining the lion’s share of possession in the second half, Victory were unable to find an equaliser, securing Sydney just their fourth win of the season.
The three points now keep Sydney off the bottom of the table, and mean Victory’s finals appearance depends on not only a win in the final round against Perth Glory, but the results of other games to fall in their favour.
Sydney FC (5-3-2): Hinz, Pearson, Tumeth, Ayson, McLean, Lemon, Corbett, Ulkekul, Hawkesby, Tanner, Luchtmeijer Substitutes: Hollman, Fenton, Tallon-Henniker, Valletta, Robertson, Oppendisano
Scorers: Tanner 31′, 49′
Melbourne Victory (4-2-3-1): Newbon, Blissett, Morrison, Bunge, Pickett, Ray, Pollicina, Sakalis, Lowe, Furphy, O’Grady Substitutes: Jancevski, White, Maher, Techera, Curtis, Woodward
Scorers: Lowe 23′
Referee: Isabella Mossin
Attendance: 2,107
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