Canberra United has succumbed to a determined Sydney FC outfit 3-0 in the Westfield W-League semi final, to see the hosts advance to their fourth straight Grand Final appearance.
Goals to the Sky Blues’ Mackenzie Hawkesby, Clare Wheeler and Ally Green sealed the deal for the hosts, despite several chances from our girls in green.
Canberra put Sydney under a lot of pressure in the opening minutes, with the first goal attempt within 30 seconds. Paige Satchell used her speed to get the ball to the business end before shooting it across goals but it was just missed by Nicki Flannery.
Demi Koulizakis got in some great touches early while Bianca Galic had one of her best games this season, managing to outdo opponents far beyond her years.
At the 15 minute mark, Hawkesby had Sydney one goal up, after a right foot volley got past Canberra’s keeper.
Grace Maher looked to hit back with a classic long range ball but Sydney’s Jada Whyman denied it.
The 38th minute was almost a chance to level the scoreboard after Nicki Flannery caught an off-guard Whyman to take her shot.
Canberra goalkeeper Keeley Richards went down in the 57th minute, after colliding with Kendall Fletcher. Play was stopped and the keeper was assessed, before the Queenslander was given the all clear to play.
Clare Wheeler then got the ball rolling for Sydney to get them up by two, and the hosts finished it off with Ally Green scoring her first Westfield W-League goal.
Captain Kendall Fletcher said she was proud of her team’s performance.
“We dominated the game in terms of possession and we stuck to our game plan, but they finished their chances.
“In the first half we definitely dominated play and got some shots on goal especially that one goal early.
“But that’s soccer isn’t it, you can dominate possession and dominate play and not get the result at the end of the game. Great job to Sydney for finishing some great goals,” Fletcher said.
The captain adding while they missed the strike power of an injured Michelle Heyman, it’s a team performance that gets the job done.
“Well obviously you’re going to miss a player like Michelle Heyman and what she’s done this season in terms of scoring goals and what she helps us do in the attacking third. However I think we’ve played really well as a team throughout the season and we’re more than just one player.”
