APIA and Ravens play out one of the games of the season

In one of the games of the season in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, at the newly refurbished Lambert Park, APIA Leichhardt were held to a 2-2 draw by the Gladesville Ravens.

In front of a packed house at Lambert Park, the home side got off to a spectacular start courtesy of right back Tanya Borazio, only for team mate Charlotte Lancaster to out do her with an even better effort not long after.

The visitors clawed their way back into the game through Keisha Allen, only for Lexie Moreno to level the scores seconds from half time.

Most fans weren’t even in their seats yet when space opened up for Borazio who let fly with an effort from some way out, catching Romina Parraguirre out.

The effort was so well struck that the Ravens keeper could do nothing to keep it out.

On 10 minutes again the home side threatened, this time through Lancaster, forcing Parraguirre into a finger tip save.

From the resulting corner, Tash Prior sent a header inches wide of the far post.

On 23 minutes, Bella Habuda was through on goal before a slight clip from Prior stopped her moving forward, the referee awarding the central defender a yellow, perhaps getting away with one.

From the resulting free kick and a couple blocks, Annie Halls almost got an equaliser for the Ravens, her volley just going over.

With 30 minutes on the clock, Lancaster scored one of the goals of the season.

Receiving the ball wide on the left, the winger looked up, spotted Parraguirre slightly off her line before firing into the top corner, scoring one of the goals of the season.

Only minutes later and Ash Crofts should have made it 3-0, this time Parraguirre making an excellent reflex save to deflect the shot over the bar.

In the 38th minute, the visitors halved the deficit.

Deborah Anne De La Harpe delivered a perfect corner to the far post where Keisha Allen rose highest, heading the ball well into the far corner to make it 2-1.

Minutes after that goal, APIA had the opportunity to restore their two-goal advantage, only for Estelle Fragale to send her effort over the bar.

In the final minute of normal time of the first half, the Ravens were awarded a free kick just outside the area, Moreno’s free kick clipping the top of the bar.

Moving into the third minute of stoppage time, the Ravens found their equaliser with the final kick of the first half.

Great build up play between Patty Charalambous and De La Harpe saw the latter cross a ball into the area, finding Moreno who controlled it well before sending her effort over the line, courtesy of the upright.

The second half was the Romina Parraguirre show.

Just like the first half, APIA started strong, Kiara De Domizio forcing Parraguirre into an excellent scrambling save.

Parraguirre out done herself with the next save, Lancaster afforded to much space to whip in a cross to find Crofts at the far post, only for the Ravens keeper to pull off a save of the season contender.

It was the Ravens turn to attack next, De La Harpe striking the post from an acute angle on the left by line.

Bella Habuda then almost got one against her old team, taking an excellent touch to beat her defender before seeing her strike also cannon off the post.

Just after the hour mark Sophie Hoban thought she had put APIA back in front, this time Parraguirre putting her body on the line as Allen arrived to clear the danger and the ball off the line.

Moments after that, the Ravens keeper made another phenomenal save, this time from Charlotte Young who rose highest from a corner, denied by a strong right hand.

Lancaster went close for the hosts again soon after, her free kick just going over the top corner.

In the 94th minute APIA had one last chance to win the game with a late corner, the Ravens scrambling well to clear their lines.

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt 2 (Borazio 2’, Lancaster 30’) 

Gladesville Ravens 2 (Allen 38’, Moreno 45+3’)

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Sunday, 9 June, 2024

APIA Leichhardt: 90. James, 3. Borazio, 4. Prior, 7. Lancaster (15. Pipino), 8. De Domizio (19. Lane), 11. Crofts, 16. Fragale, 17. Hristodoulou, 18. Hoban, 24. Young, 25. Hayward.

Subs Not Used: 1. Magus, 5. Kilbride, 21. Kiparizov, 26. Konstandinidis.

Gladesville Ravens: 22. Parraguirre, 3. Daczko, 6. Davey, 8. Halls, 9. Moreno (5. Tanaka), 13. De La Harpe, 23. Allen, 26. Buccini, 33. Charalambous (17. Cholakian), 37. Copus-Brown, 51. Habuda (7. Pountney).

Subs Not Used: 1. Coleman, 18. Brewis, 25. Howard.

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By – Nikola Pozder