Quickfire Double Keeps Wanderers Unbeaten
The Western Sydney Wanderers maintained their unbeaten start to the season and kept pace in the chase for APIA Leichhardt with a statement 2–0 away victory over the Northern Tigers in their NPL Women’s NSW clash at NTRA on Saturday night.
A decisive two-minute spell midway through the second half proved the difference, as Allyssa Ng Saad and Alyssa McKenzie struck in quick succession to secure all three points for the visitors.
The Northern Tigers created the first opening of the match after an early error from Aimee Hall, but Tanaye Morris was unable to punish the mistake, with the Wanderers goalkeeper quickly recovering to make amends.
Ng Saad, in strong form, registered the Wanderers’ first shot of the game, forcing Anna Norton into a well-timed save down low.
The Tigers responded through Beth Bernardi, who tried to finish off a flowing team move but dragged her effort wide. At the other end, Miriam Zumaya went close to breaking the deadlock, almost finding the top corner, before the Tigers were again left to rue a major chance when Nicola Dominikovich found herself one-on-one with Hall but pulled her shot wide.
As the half progressed, the Wanderers were forced into several desperate defensive interventions, clearing a series of dangerous crosses as the home side pressed for the opener.
The Tigers started the second half brightly and came agonisingly close just after the restart, when Morris burst through the defence and unleashed a thunderous strike that crashed back off the crossbar.
However, it was the Wanderers who struck first on the hour mark. Ng Saad pounced on a quick throw-in that caught the Tigers off guard, skipped past her marker, and calmly slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner past Norton to make it 1–0.
Just two minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage. Zumaya unleashed a shot from outside the area that Norton could only parry into the path of McKenzie, who reacted quickest to smash home from close range.
It is also worth noting that the same two players combined in the build-up to the move, underlining their growing influence in attack.
The Tigers continued to push in search of a response, but were repeatedly frustrated by the offside flag, with several promising attacking moves halted at crucial moments.
Zumaya remained a constant threat and came close to adding a third, but Norton produced another strong save to keep her side in the contest.
At the other end, Hall was determined to preserve her clean sheet, producing a superb save to deny a powerful Amelia Feeney strike late in the match, before again standing tall in stoppage time with another outstanding stop from the defender.
Despite late pressure, the Wanderers held firm to secure a crucial clean sheet and a valuable away victory.
Match Stats
Northern Tigers: 0
Western Sydney Wanderers: 2 (Ng Saad 60’, McKenzie 62’)
Saturday 11 April
Venue: NTRA
Northern Tigers: 1. Norton, 4. Keech, 5. Feener, 9. Head (7. Burton), 10. Mortlock, 14. Bernardi, 15. Ewin (34. Meacok), 17. Walandouw, 19. Douglas, 21. Dominikovich (6. Evans), 23. Morris.
Substitutes not used: 20. Taylor, 27. Paz, 33. Hunt, 99. Riddel.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
WSW: 1. Hall, 2. Keep, 3. Murray, 6. Calil, 11. Mckenzie (14. Barton), 13. Khoshaba (25. Dal Broi), 17. Ng Saag (26. Arrate), 23. Zumaya, 24. Fazzari, 27. Bradshaw, 29. Betro.
Substitutes not used: 9. Turkkan, 19. D’Costa, 30. Edwards.
Yellow Cards: Calil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Nikola Pozder
