Olympic dealt killer blow by ruthless APIA
A five-minute blitz in the second half saw APIA Leichhardt win their first game of 2024 as they defeated Sydney Olympic 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.
After a tight first stanza, it took five minutes in the second period for things to heat up as Charlotte Lancaster exploded, opening the scoring before assisting two goals in minutes with Ash Crofts and Mona Walker getting on the score sheet.
The first half didn’t see many opportunities in front of either goal, APIA dominating the possession but not really creating headaches for Sayaka Koyama.
As the end of the first half approached, APIA had the best chance of the first period.
Lancaster delivered a cross into the area, finding former Olympic star Angelique Hristodoulou who rose well but could not direct her header on target.
APIA began the second half immediately on the front foot and after only five minutes took the lead in spectacular finish.
Lancaster delivered an in swinging corner with the left foot which curled it’s way over the line, despite Koyama’s best efforts to keep the ball out.
APIA lifted further from here and Lancaster became provider.
A ball deep into Olympic’s half had Lancaster putting pressure on a retreating Gabrielle Peak, forcing the error from the defender before beating her and delivering an inch perfect cross to Ash Croft.
Last season’s top scorer made no mistake, meeting the ball on the edge of the six-yard-box before powering a header beyond Koyama.
To close out the blitz, Lancaster set up the third.
Crossing into the area with another terrorising ball, this time finding Mona Walker who popped up, heading beyond Koyama to record her first goal in her new club colours.
Geoff Abrahams made changes to try get his team back in the game but APIA never gave them the opportunity.
From here on in, the home team controlled the game and created further chances throughout the half.
Gisella Pipino in particular grew into the game and combined well on a few occasions with Brinley Gentle, neither able to beat Koyama.
With the victory, Brad Attard’s team recorded win number one of the campaign, while Olympic suffered their first defeat of the season.
Match Stats
APIA Leichhardt 3 (Lancaster 50’, Crofts 52’, Walker 55’)
Sydney Olympic 0
Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield
Sunday, 17th March 2024
APIA Leichhardt: 1. Magus, 3. Borazio, 6. Walker, 7. Lancaster (19. Lane), 9. Gentle, 11. Crofts, 15. Pipino (63. Panagopoulos), 16. Fragale, 17. Hristodoulou, 21. Kiparizov (14. Golding), 24. Young (5. Kilbride).
Subs Not Used: 26. Konstandinidis, 40. Vidakovic.
Sydney Olympic: 31.Koyama, 2. G. Peak, 3. McCue-Shore (21. Agostino), 4. Yamahata, 8. Oliverio, 9. Koulizakis, 11. Borromeo (43. Altman), 13. Baudana (5. Rutstein), 17. M. Peak, 25. Sciuriaga, 33. Stanton (6. Bowling).
Subs Not Used: 20. Behne-Smith.
Don’t miss a game! Subscribe to Football NSW’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/footballnsw
By – Nikola Pozder
