APIA Leichhardt continued their undefeated 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s run with a convincing 3-1 victory over Sydney Olympic at Lambert Park on Sunday.
Isabella Habuda opened the scoring for APIA in the first half in front of a packed house of over 3,500 people, before Isabella Coco-Di Sipio and Ash Crofts added goals in the second stanza.
Olympic substitute Kate Woosnam scored a consolation late on for the visitors to round off the scoring.
It could have all been very different though for Olympic when Allira Toby fortunately saw the ball fall in front of her inside the box, hurrying her effort and volleying well over the bar.
That chance seemed to wake the hosts who slowly started getting into their groove.
Ash Crofts was dangerous down the left and saw a cross flash across the face of the goal with no one getting on the end of it.
The home side went down the left again as Sophie Hoban pinched possession, slotting in Kaitlin Kiparizov who delivered a fantastic ball across the goal for Habuda to run onto and smack home for the lead.
APIA continued to dominate and should have had a second just before the break as Tanya Borazio drove in from right back before finding Hoban with a delightful through ball.
With only Courtney Newbon to beat, the Olympic keeper stood tall, saving low to her left to deny Hoban what seemed a certain goal.
As the second half began, APIA continued to attack.
Habuda was causing havoc all game with her pace and did so again, getting around her defender before crossing in a low hard ball, but no one was able to steer the ball home in a maroon jersey.
APIA did not have to wait long for their second though.
Charlotte Young will tell you it was a driven cross, but the shot come delivery into the box found Coco-Di Sipio who reacted best to steer the ball into the back of the net.
Ash Crofts called game with about twenty-minutes remaining, running onto an excellent pass from substitute Siahn Bozanic.
The league’s top scorer ran onto the ball and burst into the box before curling her effort into the top corner of Newbon’s goal.
Olympic grabbed a consolation late, taking advantage of some confusion between reserve keeper Courtney Halpin and Young, allowing Woosnam to poke the ball home.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt 3 (Habuda 40’, Coco-Di Sipio 61’, Crofts 72’)
SydneyOlympic 1 (Woosnam 90’)
Sunday 23 April, 2023
Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt: 1. Magus (99. Halpin), 3. Borazio, 7. Habuda (22. Jasnos), 11. Crofts, 14. Coco-Di Sipio (38. Johnson), 15. Pipino (17. Bozanic), 16. Fragale (13. Urquhart), 18. Hoban, 21. Kiparizov, 24. Young, 37. Milton.
Subs Not Used: 4. Prior.
Sydney Olympic: 1. Newbon, 2. Polias, 4. Irwin, 7. Yatim, 9. De Domizio (29. Holmes), 10. Toby (6. Bowling), 12. Koutzoumis (27. Woosnam), 17. Fernandez, 18. Hampson, 20. Grew (19. McCue-Shore).
Subs Not Used: 31. Rozman.
-By Nikola Pozder