APIA overcome tough UNSW FC to reach Grand Final

APIA Leichhardt FC booked it’s National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Grand Final ticket to play Premiers Bulls FC Academy following a 2-0 victory over a gallant UNSW FC on Sunday afternoon. 

Lambert Park played host as APIA and UNSW FC faced off in a blockbuster semi-final clash in front of a lively crowd.

It took an admirable effort for APIA to get to this point, with the team putting aside their uneven early form to come agonisingly close to winning the Premiership at home to fellow title rivals Bulls FC Academy.

Similarly, UNSW came into their own as the season progressed and have been a thorn in APIA’s side throughout this year.

The early stages of the match saw both sides looking to find their rhythm, with possession kept largely to the flanks and in the middle of the park.

After a UNSW free-kick into the box was cleared, APIA created the first real chance of the match in the 5^th minute. The opportunity was opened up by Hannah McNulty playing a pass into the path of Ashlie Crofts, who maneuvered her way into the box before seeing her square ball cleared.

APIA, keenly aware of the fact that UNSW have been early goal scorers against them in three of four recent meetings, settled quickly and were on top of UNSW. This led to Te Reremoana Walker producing a sensational effort after contesting for the ball outside of the box and unleashing a precision strike from distance on the half-volley that landed on the roof of the net in the 7^th minute.

Individual brilliance from Crofts sparked APIA’s opener in the 9^th minute, with the striker dropping onto the right wing to steal the ball away from UNSW and quickly turning to setup Charlotte Lancaster, who confidently took a touch before dispatching a low finish into the bottom right corner that left UNSW goalkeeper Sarah Langman stumped.

With UNSW in need of a quickfire response, Angelique Hristodoulou stepped up to take a free-kick from range and, prompted by APIA’s early goal, struck a decent effort at goal that forced goalkeeper Sophie Magus to parry the ball behind in the 12^th minute.

McNulty was proving to be a true orchestrator for APIA in the middle of the park, setting up an open Lancaster on the left wing with a sublime pass that she ultimately crossed for Langman to collect in the 14^th minute.

A corner to APIA in the 19^th minute opened up the opportunity for Lancaster to cross, with Teal Kilbride getting her head to the ball before sending her attempt just wide of the post.

Crofts then attempted the magnificent in the 20^th minute after receiving a pass from Estelle Fragale on the left wing and bending her strike from distance, however the ball swerved unfavourably and was collected by Langman.

UNSW were finding it difficult to break into the APIA box, leaving chances limited to speculative efforts from distance, demonstrated by Demi Koulizakis attempting to catch out Magus from range in the 28^th minute but finding no such luck.

Trudy Camilleri found herself in a similar situation after winning back possession from Koulizakis’ overhit corner follow-up, however her strike from just outside the box in the 33^rd minute could only bounce safely onto Magus.

UNSW were getting frustrated by the frequency of APIA’s challenges, which eventually led to Claudio Cicco being booked with a yellow card for taking down Marcella Santos in the 35^th minute.

Langman was then called into action in the 38^th minute when Lancaster’s in-swinging corner swerved toward goal, leaving the UNSW keeper with no choice but to clear it.

A heavy challenge from Chloe Smith then led to UNSW earning their first yellow card of the afternoon in the 42^nd minute.

With the first half coming close to the end, Walker brilliantly commandeered the ball and showed her immense agility in speedily breaking past a series of UNSW players before playing Crofts in behind for a strong hit one-on-one with Langman that was well-saved in the 45+2^nd minute.

Following the halftime break, Leia Puxty arrived on the pitch in place of UNSW’s top scorer this season, Chloe Smith.

Magus had to be quick to react to catch Hristodoulou’s cross in the 48^th minute with Santos making her way into the box and almost getting a head to the ball.

Barely a minute had passed before Santos was again causing trouble for APIA, this time after receiving a great pass from Camilleri and striding into the box to unleash a finish across goal that drifted just wide of the far post in the 49^th minute.

Allira Toby made an attempt of her own in the 58^th minute, however the strike from just outside of the box could only bounce wide.

In a special moment, Matildas star Natasha Prior arrived on the pitch in the 60^th minute to replace McNulty for her first minutes of the season.

It was convenient timing, with UNSW putting the pressure on APIA in the second half with several attacking forays being made by the visitors.

After picking the pocket of a UNSW midfielder, Hoban raced forward to setup Lancaster for a strike that flew just beyond the frame of the goal in the 68^th minute.

Against the run of play, APIA then doubled their lead in the 75^th minute when a corner routine led to a ball being headed toward the far post, where Hoban was positioned to head in from a tight angle. The goal capped off a brilliant performance for the Leichhardt attacker and put her side 2-0 up in a crucial moment of the game.

Substitute Brodigan had a chance in the 89^th minute to add a third for her side, but she was unable to place her well-hit strike anywhere either side of Langman in the UNSW goal.

APIA were showing their attacking prowess late on, with Hoban turning skillfully to evade two UNSW defenders before striding into the box and firing at Langman in the 90^th minute. The keeper then spilt the ball into the path of Crofts but was saved of undeservedly conceding another when Crofts played the ball back inside the centre of the box with no APIA players running onto it.

Tess Quilligan mustered an effort on goal in extra time for her side after using her momentum to bypass the APIA defenders and hitting a half-volley from distance that ultimately bobbled into the path of Magus in the 90+2^nd minute.

UNSW’s last attempt of the match would fall to Jessica Seaman, who spurned a difficult effort from range after a free-kick was cleared into her path in the 90+4^th minute.

Despite an improved second half performance, APIA were able to topple UNSW with a classy 2-0 win at Lambert Park and will now turn its attentions to 2025 Premiers Bulls FC Academy whom they will face in next Saturday’s 2025 NPL Women’s NSW Grand Final at Jubilee Stadium.

Match Stats

APIA Leichhardt 2 (Charlotte Lancaster 9’, Sophie Hoban 75’

UNSW FC 0

Sunday 7^th September, 2025

Lambert Park

Referee: Lara Hogan

Assistant Referees: Ella McGarity & Alana Zic

APIA Leichhardt: 1. Sophie Magus, 2. Claudia Cicco, 4. Jessica Seaman, 5. Teal Kilbride, 6. Te Reremoana Walker (39. Ashlee Brodigan 77’), 7. Charlotte Lancaster1 (9. Imogen Lane 90+1^st), 8. Hannah McNulty (3. Natasha Prior 60’), 11. Ashlie Crofts (15. Gisella Pipino 90+1^st), 13. Jordan Jasnos, 16. Estelle Fragale, 18. Sophie Hoban

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Zoe Panagopoulos, 30. Paige Cuthill

Yellow Cards: Claudia Cicco 35’

Red Cards: Nil

UNSW: 21. Sarah Langman, 4. Aya Yamahata, 8. Demi Koulizakis, 10. Chloe Smith (5. Leia Puxty 45’), 11. Marcella Santos, 12. Allira Toby (46. Annalise Rasmussen 65’), 15. Maryam Mostaghimi, 16. Skye Casacchia (24. Alexandra Nealand 90+1^st), 17. Angelique Hristodoulou, 19. Trudy Camilleri (47. Tess Quilligan 66’), 56. Jasmine Limon (13. Sonali Singh 80’)

Substitutes Not Used: 31. Akala Howell

Yellow Cards: Chloe Smith 42’

Red Cards: Nil

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Words by Matthew Badrov