Sydney University took a giant leap toward the Premiership on Sunday afternoon, while all eyes remain on that last finals spot after 17 rounds in the NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Sydney Olympic 3-1 Macarthur Rams
Pre-game it was billed as a six-pointer and a game with finals football on the line. It would be Sydney Olympic to come away with all three points at Belmore Sports Ground, comfortably defeating the Macarthur Rams 3-1.
First half goals to Sarah Yatim and Mackenzire Hawkesby were cancelled out by a Patty Charalambous ‘buzzer beater’ against the run of play before the break. Olympic then restored their two-goal advantaged via Georgia Koutzoumis less than thirty seconds into the second half.
In the weekly preview, it was suggested that the Rams had to start better than they did the previous week because a team like Olympic would not let them back in.
It took the home team less than five minutes to hit the front as the Rams failed where they did last week. Hawkesby ran straight through the Rams defence before Sham Khamis in the Rams goal saved well, only for the rebound to fall to Yatim who made no mistake with the finish.
It was obvious that the Rams were struggling to get going and weren’t at their usual best.
Not long after it was 2-0 and Olympic was cruising. Again Hawkesby broke through the Rams defence, dribbling beyond four defenders, this time getting clipped just outside the area by Alex Huynh, earning the central defender a yellow card.
Hawkesby dusted herself off to take the free kick, dispatching it expertly over the wall and beyond an outstretched Khamis.
Olympic continued the pressure and did not allow the visitors any opportunities.
Chances fell to the home team for Claudia Cholakian, Gisella Pipino and both goal scorers but to no avail.
With Olympic about to go into the break two goals to the good, they were shocked by the Rams.
A fine through ball from Mel Caceres had Laura Murtagh bearing down on Jada Whyman, only to come away with a poor connection. What seemed to be a routine save for Whyman was spilled right into the path of Charalambous who took the gift and halved the deficit.
With the teams emerging for the second half, it was expected the Rams would come out firing. Instead though, Olympic restored the two-goal advantage.
A cross from the right was not cleared as Koutzoumis let fly with a thunderous half volley from the edge of the area, Khamis left with no chance.
In complete control, Olympic never looked like yielding the lead despite Stephen Peters pushing all his forces into attack for the final 15 minutes of the match.
The Rams managed to create a few half chances but never really tested Whyman.
In a welcome sight for all football fans, not just those from Olympic, Teresa Polias made her first appearance of the season, returning after giving birth to her beautiful baby.
Illawarra Stingrays 1-1 NWS Spirit
The Illawarra Stingrays were not able to secure an important victory on Sunday afternoon at JJ Kelly Park, being held to a 1-1 draw by NWS Spirit.
With finals football on the line down the South Coast for the Stingrays, they went in search of the opener.
Both sides had opportunities early but it would be the home team to strike first after 19 minutes. A corner to the back post was headed back across goal, Kaelah Austin the quickest to react, smartly volleying on the turn to put the Stingrays in front.
The home team were travelling well and managed to hold that lead going into half time.
With the points set to stay down the coast, Spirit decided to spoil the party with 10 minutes to go.
A long diagonal ball from Rachael Patterson found the in-form Sophie Harding who got beyond Danika Matos before curling her effort into the back of the net.
The Stingrays pushed hard for a winner but Spirit held firm to secure a point and dent the home teams’ finals dreams.
Bankstown City 0-3 Sydney University
There were quiet whispers and confidence that a surprise could be on the cards at Jensen Park but it wasn’t too be as Sydney University comfortably secured another three points with a 3-0 victory over Bankstown City.
The game was over after 10 minute first half spell where the league leaders scored three times by the 30th minute to add another win in their fine run.
It started in the 20th minute as a fine run by Holly Caspers though midfield was finished off by the superb Rola Badawiya who found the bottom corner with an excellent shot.
Out of almost nothing it was two in the 28th minute. If Badawiya’s first was nice, this was special, picking up a lose ball on the edge of the area and curling it expertly into the back of the net, the Uni striker recorded her 10th of the season.
Minutes later and the points were wrapped up, this time Jaime Beaufils on target. Annabelle Martin let fly with a rasping free kick which wasn’t held, allowing the youngster Beaufils to pounce and tap home the rebound.
Uni are now potentially only a game away from securing the Premiership, at most two weeks if they can win their next two fixtures.
Blacktown Spartans 0-4 Northern Tigers
The Northern Tigers compounded the Blacktown Spartans misery on Sunday afternoon, scoring four unanswered goals to leave Blacktown Football Park with a 4-0 victory.
The scoring started five minutes from half time as Lily McMahon found the opener. McMahon beat the offside trap, used her strength to outmuscle her marker and made no mistake with the finish.
Only minutes later and the Tigers doubled their advantage. Sporting a new hairstyle, Malia Steinmetz let fly from some way out, giving the keeper no chance with her powerful effort.
Just as the Spartans thought it could not get worse before half time, it did. Steinmetz again at it, this time looping a header following a free kick into the top corner of the Spartans goal to send the Tigers into half time three goals to the good.
The scoring was wrapped up minutes after the break through Hannah McNulty. What looked a cross from McNulty took everyone by surprise, ending up in the far top corner to make it 4-0.
Manly United 3-1 Emerging Jets
Manly United recorded their first win in almost two months, defeating the Emerging Jets at Cromer Park 3-1.
They opened the scoring just after the half hour mark through Meisha Westland. Tegan Biasi crossed in an excellent ball for the midfielder who lifted her shot over the keeper and over the line to put the home team in front.
The second came after 67 minutes in similar fashion. Biasi this time the provider from the right, finding Emily Minett in the box who got lucky with her finish to double Manly’s advantage.
The points were sealed through Japanese import Yuka Honda only minutes later. Biasi made it a hat-trick of assists, another cross from the right, finding Honda who’s header was first saved before she reacted well to smother the ball over the line and secure the points for Manly.
Football NSW Institute v APIA Leichhardt PP
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder