It’s finals football time in the NPL Women’s NSW competition with four teams vying to lift the Championship trophy.
APIA Leichhardt (2) v Illawarra Stingrays (3)
Saturday 31st August, Lambert Park, 5:45pm
The first semi-final has second placed APIA Leichhardt host the third placed Illawarra Stingrays at Lambert Park this Saturday evening at 5:45pm.
APIA were in the top two positions for the majority of the season, perhaps throwing away the Premiership with their defeat against the Stingrays a month ago.
They have been one of the best teams in the competition this season and have a number of players that can really influence games.
One of those is Ash Crofts who returned to the squad last weekend after six-weeks out with a serious rib injury.
Crofts netted 16 times this campaign, one of those coming on her return, justifying how important she is to this APIA team.
They missed the creativity of Sophie Hoban sitting slightly deeper and may be able to get that with the return of Crofts if that is what Brad Attard decides to do.
At the other end of the park will be APIA’s bogey side, the Illawarra Stingrays.
Over the years, the Stingrays have been good for a shock result over APIA, no matter the two teams respective league positions.
This year though, the Stingrays have gone about their business quietly and deservedly find themselves playing finals football after a long hiatus from post regular season football.
They come into this one without influential Hayley Taylor-Young who was sent off against Sydney Olympic.
One major coup for the side is the return of goal scoring machine Siobhan Edwards who returned to the squad with a goal on Sunday.
Sakura Nojima is another to watch, one of the most sought after players in the league has shown her worth countless times this season and last and could be key in the Stingrays springing a surprise.
They share the bragging rights, APIA winning the first clash between the two at Lambert Park 5-2, the most recent clash going the way of the Stingrays 3-0.
Catch Will Konstantinidis who will be calling this match live on Football NSW’s official YouTube channel.
Macarthur Rams (1) v Sydney Olympic (4)
Sunday 1st September, Lynwood Park, 7:15pm
The Premiers Macarthur Rams host fourth placed Sydney Olympic in the second semi-final on Sunday at Lynwood Park.
Stephen Peters’ side seems just about unstoppable at the moment and the question is, can anyone beat them?
They have kept nine of thirteen clean sheets in the second half of the season and look extremely difficult to first off break down and then beat Teresa Morrissey.
Their midfield three of Darcey Malone, Beth Gordon and Mel Caceres are the backbone of this side both in defence and attack, something Olympic will need to attempt to disrupt.
At the back, the central defensive partnership of Madison McComasky and Maya Lobo has been on song, while Kelli Brown has been showing her goal scoring prowess in recent times, finding form at the right time in the season.
Another player who has been lethal for them this season is Bronte Trew, but she found herself on the bench on Sunday, showing the depth that Peters has at his disposal.
Olympic were in the Top Four all season and deservedly find themselves in finals football.
A slight blip in form, which coincided with a number of injuries seems to have been shaken off with some decent results in their last three games.
Olympic recorded wins against the Gladesville Ravens and Football NSW Institute and a draw with the Illawarra Stingrays.
Geoff Abrahams knows this is the toughest fixture they could have drawn, but it’s the pointy end of the season and there are no easy games at this point of the campaign.
Demi Koulizakis has been their star so far this season but hasn’t scored since July 14 and they could really do with her finding her goal scoring touch again.
In her place, Maxine Peak has stepped up, scoring five goals in her last two games and really sharpening her finishing.
The head-to-head reads one a piece for these two, Olympic winning the first fixture 2-1, the Rams the second convincingly, 3-0.
Catch Nikola Pozder who will be calling this match live and exclusive on Football NSW’s official YouTube channel.
The winners of both matches will then book their tickets to next Saturday’s CommBank Stadium for the 2024 NPL Women’s NSW Grand Final scheduled for a 2pm kick-off.
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