Sydney FC hung on to record a 2-1 victory over Canberra United despite a late surge from the home side in Round Two of the Westfield W-League at McKellar Park.
Sydney FC hung on to record a 2-1 victory over Canberra United despite a late surge from the home side in Round Two of the Westfield W-League at McKellar Park.
Canberra United had the first chance of the game in the eighth minute when a cross from Ashleigh Sykes across the top of the 18-yard box found Ellyse Perry running down the right but the defenders first time shot never troubled keeper Nikola Deiter.
Less than a minute later, Sydney FC had a chance of their own but a shot from Catherine Paaske found the waiting arms of Lydia Williams.
Sydney FC continued to press forward and had another chance after 16 minutes when Kyah Simon failed to hit the target after Leena Khamis laid the ball back to Simon at the top of the box from a slight angle.
The visitors were eventually rewarded for their efforts with a great through ball over the top of the defence from Catherine Paaske found Sarah Walsh in full flight and alone with the keeper as she slotted home the opening goal despite Williams charging out to close down the angle.
Canberra United had a couple chances to equalise late in the half when Tseng Sho O played her striker partner Ellie Raymond into space down the right hand side but her first time shot found Deiter in the 32nd minute.
Three minutes later, Tseng had a chance of her own when her corner from the right side deceived everyone but struck the crossbar and cleared from danger as Sydney hung on to their narrow 1-0 lead until half time.
Neither side could get the upper hand early in the second half with the midfield controlling much of the possession with good opportunities few and far between in the battle for ascendency.
Thirteen minutes from time, the home team had a chance to equalise when Perry-s cross into the box saw Sykes force the keeper to spill the ball and the striker pounced but her shot was blocked and Ellie Raymond-s attempt from the rebound didn-t hit the target.
The visitors capitalised on Canberra United-s miss fortune take a 2-0 lead in the 85th minute when provider for the opening goal turned scorer herself when Paaske rose above everyone to head home a corner at the back post.
Down by two, Canberra United made a late surge in an attempt to salvage a point and came close in the 90th minute when Tseng and Sykes founded themselves two on one in front of goal.
Tseng drew the defender out before rolling the ball across to Sykes who blasted her attempt into the legs of Deiter and her follow up chance was brilliantly saved from point blank range.
The 953 in attendance at McKellar Park eventually had something to cheer about when Ellie Brush pegged one back for Canberra United with a header at the back post from a corner in injury time.
Unfortunately for the home side, it was too little to late as Sydney FC hung on to record their first win of the season while Canberra United continue to search for their maiden victory over the season.
Canberra United Head Coach Ray Junna rued not having a noted goal scorer in the line up but is confident the his strikers will step up as the season progresses.
“We just don-t have a noted goalscorer,” Junna said.
“We tried to sign one, but it was difficult to get one to Canberra, so we will work with the two we-ve got.
“[if they can score] then it will give them that little bit of confidence, for someone like Ellie playing in this type of environment, playing ACTAS football she can take an extra touch, look up and at the moment, it has to be instinctive.
“So hopefully she will adapt and that her best is yet to come.
“We-ve got to look at it that way, there is no use getting disillusioned or downhearted, we-ve just got to keep pressing and get a result.”
Despite the result, Junna believes that signs are looking good but emphasized the importance of conceding sloppy goals at this level.
“We-re a very young side and we let in a sloppy goal in a corner as well, [for that corner] we set up too deep we should have been further out. You can-t give teams a goal start or two goal start, that makes it difficult as well,” Junna said.
“But there are some positives there.”
Match Details:
Canberra United 1 (Ellie Brush 90-)
Sydney FC 2 (Sarah Walsh 20-, Catherine Paaske 84-)
McKellar Park, Canberra
Canberra United: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (c), 4. LIN Chiung Ying, 6. Ellie RAYMOND, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL, 10. TSENG Shu O, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Nicole SYKES, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 19. Jennifer BISSET (5. Kahlia HOGG 60-)
Subs Not Used: 3. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 12. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 20. Jocelyn MARA
Yellow Cards: Tseng 40-, Hogg 53-
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney FC: 1. Nikola DEITER, 3. Danielle BROGAN, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD (Lisa GILBERT 88-), 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Heather GARRIOCK, 8. Julie RYDAHL, 9. Sarah WALSH (Catherine CANNULLI 89-), 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 11. Catherine PAASKE, 15. Kyah SIMON, 19. Leena KHAMIS (12. Michelle CARNEY 71-)
Subs Not Used: 20. Carla MONFORTE
Yellow Cards: Garriock 57-, Simon 60-
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Peta MCCALLUM
Attendance: 953
