Round 16 Review – NPL Women’s NSW
A fascinating weekend of results played out in Round 16 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, with several sides making a dash for a place in the top four.
Have a read of our breakdown of the weekend’s matches.
Match of the Round – Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 v Manly United 0 at Popondetta Park
One goal was enough for the Mt Druitt Town Rangers to secure all three points at Popondetta Park on Sunday evening against Manly United.
It was veteran Leena Khamis whose goal was the difference early in the second half and all that there was between the two.
Manly did finish the game with a player less after Grace Arnold was sent off for a last-player challenge on Khamis.
Click here to view the full report.
NWS Spirit 2-2 Sydney University at Christie Park
June has seen an upturn in form for NWS Spirit, with Tony Candy’s side sat in the top four ahead of this match and eager to come away victorious in this fixture. Sydney University will have been raring to go in this match having seen their clash against the Northern Tigers postponed last weekend due to inclement weather.
A stunning opening goal from Talia Kapetanellis shot Sydney Uni into the lead in the 11th minute, the Uni attacker delivering a terrific free-kick from the right edge of the 18-yard box that swerved and dipped beautifully to catch out Tiahna Robertson in the Spirit goal. 1-0 to Sydney Uni.
The away fans at Christie Park were sent into raptures when their star No. 7 landed another sensational blow against their high-flying opponents. This time though, Kapetanellis fired a free-kick from range that Robertson was unable to prevent from sneaking in at the near post. 2-0 to Sydney Uni in the 32nd minute.
Spirit needed a response and found one quickly through Ariana Stoltzfus, who stole in at the near post to tuck home a deft finish from Viktorija Calusic’s quality cross. Spirit make it 2-1 in the 34th minute.
Stoltzfus then turned provider to help her side notch an equaliser in the 39th minute, tricking and turning her defender on the wing before sending a perfect cross into the box for Skye Halmarick to head home with aplomb, capping off a dramatic first half to make it 2-2 before half-time.
With all four goals scored in the opening forty-five minutes, the chaos of this match naturally had to manifest elsewhere. The moment arrived in the 77th minute when Sophie Harding was played a beautiful ball by Princess Ibini, however Uni goalkeeper Sofia Fante was quick to nullify the chance after sticking a leg out on the edge of the box to prevent Harding from capitalising.
The Uni keeper then received a red card for her decision; however, it ultimately did not change the scoreline with the match finishing 2-2.
Northern Tigers 1-2 Sydney Olympic at North Turramurra Recreational Area
This clash brought together two sides in good form at the moment, which left both sets of fans excited for an entertaining ninety minutes.
Haley Johnson has been in unstoppable form for the Tigers this season and continued her excellent run of scoring just before the half-time whistle when Isabel Gomez set up the striker in behind the Olympic defence for a composed finish that eased into the bottom right corner. The Tigers make it 1-0 just prior to the break.
Olympic were pushing hard for an equaliser in the second half and found it in the 52nd minute when Aideen Keane’s initial attempt at goal was well-saved by Jasmine Black, who was unable to prevent Peta Trimis from taking advantage of the loose ball to make it 1-1.
First half substitute Tiana Fuller would have to wait until the second forty-five before earning the perfect chance to help guide her side in the lead, the Olympic No. 9 racing in behind to pickup a superb pass by Rochelle Borromeo before making a run toward the goal line to square a pass for Keane at the back post to score the winner for her side in the in the 78th minute. The match then concluded 2-1 in favour of Olympic.
Bulls FC Academy 3-0 Newcastle Jets at Northbridge Oval
Having shaken off a patchy start to the season, Bulls FC Academy have solidified themselves as a competitor for a top four position with a terrific run of results in recent weeks. In contrast, the Newcastle Jets have been unable to win a match for some time since handing league leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers their first loss of the season some time ago.
After competing well throughout the first half, the Jets would come undone whilst playing out from the back and inviting the Bulls to press them into a mistake. The opening goal ultimately arrived courtesy of Petria Phillips, who showed total assurance in picking up on an errant touch and promptly firing her strike in at the near post. 1-0 to the Bulls in the 38th minute.
The second half continued the positive momentum for the Bulls, with Tamires Souza weaving her magic in midfield to set Amber Luchtmeijer on her way, leading to Jets goalkeeper Lily-Rose Dunbar being called into action and bringing down the Bulls’ striker in the box. Luchtmeijer then confidently dispatched her spot kick to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
Gemma Ferris added a third for her side with a well-taken poacher’s finish after a corner kick fell her way following a deflection off of a player’s head, leaving the Bulls defender with little time but to react and guide the ball in on the volley. 3-0 in the 63rd minute.
The Bulls would eventually see out the match as 3-0 winners.
UNSW 3-1 APIA Leichhardt at The Village Green
UNSW will be gunning for the three points on their return to The Village Green following back-to-back losses on the road, but will be up against an APIA Leichhardt side that have remained undefeated for a number of weeks. This sets up a clash that is sure to have fans of both teams excited.
Angelique Hristodoulou got her side off to a phenomenal start in just the 5th minute of the match. Standing over a free-kick on the left edge of the 18-yard box, the UNSW attacker stepped up and sensationally curled her strike into the far-right corner of the net to send The Village Green into raptures. 1-0 to UNSW.
UNSW doubled their lead soon after when Annalise Rasmussen arrived at the back stick to tip a free-kick past APIA goalkeeper Sophie Magus. 2-0 to UNSW in the 15th minute.
The home side kept the goals coming and would add a third when Hristodoulou was brought down while contesting for the ball in the box. UNSW’s dynamic No. 17 then stepped up to put the resultant penalty away for 3-0 in the 29th minute.
After heading into half-time 3-0 down, APIA came out of the break determined to claw their way back into the match. Their early endeavour paid off when Claudio Cicco squared the ball into the path of Te Reremoana Walker at the near post, who flicked the ball in past goalkeeper Sarah Langman. APIA make it 3-1 in the 49th minute.
However, UNSW held onto their lead and saw out the match 3-1 winners.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Illawarra Stingrays at Wanderers Football Park
The Western Sydney Wanderers have endured a rollercoaster debut campaign in the NPL Women’s competition, with their recent run of results leaving them in 10th place on the ladder. They will be out to upset an Illawarra Stingrays side who are sat in 3rd place heading into Round 16 after losing convincingly 4-0 to the Mt Druitt Town Rangers last time out.
It was the Wanderers who gained an early lead in this cold evening clash at Wanderers Football Park. The West Sydney side earned a free-kick from a substantial distance away from the goal that Alvina Khoshaba calmly stepped up to take and cannon in from range, with the strike sailing beyond the reach of an outstretched Brianna Edwards and into the back of the Stingrays’ net. 1-0 to the Wanderers in the 10th minute of the match.
The Stingrays had to be patient and build up to their equaliser, but were rewarded for their determination when a corner routine opened up the opportunity for a goal. Sofia Christopherson would be the ultimate goalscorer for her side after the Stingrays’ No. 18 leapt at the chance to guide the ball in after a ball was knocked back into the 6-yard box by a teammate. 1-1 in the 61st minute.
The match would conclude 1-1 in the end, with the two sides unable to be separated.
Macarthur Rams 0-4 Gladesville Ravens at Lynwood Park
The Macarthur Rams will be determined to get the victory here over the Gladesville Ravens, with the former sat second from the bottom coming into this weekend’s fixtures and the latter in 11th. Though they have struggled this campaign, the Ravens have displayed moments of quality and will be wanting to get the win to stave off any relegation concerns.
Allyssa Ng Saad was unstoppable in her efforts to give the Ravens the lead in the 6th minute of the match. The speedy attacker initially drove through midfield before – through an attempt to setup her winger – earning a fortunate deflection and racing onto the loose ball to produce a superb finish into the bottom left corner. 1-0 to the Ravens.
A set piece routine led to the Ravens doubling their lead in the 29th minute as Bianca Galic got on the end of a header toward the back post and calmly guided the ball in with her head for 2-0.
Gladesville then added a third for the evening after a ruthless counterattack saw Ng Saad lay the ball off before racing into the middle of the box to receive a terrific cross and slide the ball into an empty net. 3-0 in the 65th minute.
This clash would ultimately come to be the Ng Saad show, with the No. 17 notching her hattrick in the 81st minute after Miku Sunaga dinked the ball in behind the Rams defence and Ng Saad calmly chipped the ball in for 4-0, securing the Ravens’ win in the process.
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Words by Matthew Badrov
