Round 12 Review – NPL Women’s NSW

There was plenty of action and spectacle in Round 12 the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, with the weekend serving up several outstanding goals and surprising results.

Read on for our full breakdown of the round.

Match of the Round – UNSW FC 1-1 Sydney University SFC at The Village Green

The points were shared in a high-quality university derby at The Village Green in the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition, as Sydney University SFC held league-leading UNSW FC to a 1-1 draw in a fiercely contested clash.

It could perhaps have been more, as Sydney took the lead after only nine minutes and held it for almost the entire match. But late on nine minutes from time  UNSW found the equaliser, which ultimately secured a share of the points.

Click here to view the full report. 

Manly United 3-1 NWS Spirit at Cromer Park

The round’s action kicked-off on Friday night with Manly United hosting NWS Spirit at Cromer Park. Spirit, having been rejuvenated by this mid-season arrivals, earned the lead in the 23^rd minute when Frankie Morrow stole in behind Manly’s high line and led a solo counterattack before placing the ball calmly into the bottom left corner.

Kayla Osborn earned a penalty for her side that Ruby Jackson cooly buried to equalise in the 39^th minute before Emily Minett touched on an Ellie Kerr cross to push Manly ahead barely a minute later.

Manly showcased their threat on the counter in the second half to make it 3-1 in the 51^st minute after Nicole Stuart confidently put the finishing touchers on a well-coordinated attack, which Manly would ultimately hold onto.

Northern Tigers 0-2 Bulls FC Academy at North Turramurra Recreational Area

The Northern Tigers arrived in Round 12 eager to recover from their loss against the Macarthur Rams last weekend, whilst Bulls FC Academy came ready to solidify their place in the top four.

It was the Bulls who jumped ahead in the 48^th minute, with Amber Luchtmeijer triggering the opener after racing down the right wing and cutting back for Arna Hogarth-Scott to confidently fire the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.

Jynaya Dos Santos then produced an excellent second goal for the Tigers in the 64^th minute after breaking away from her defender and curling an outstanding finish into the top left corner for 2-0.

The Bulls would ultimately hold on to the 2-0 lead and seal the three points in the end.

Illawarra Stingrays 0-0 Hills United at Lakelands Oval

Illawarra Stingrays will have been buoyed by the arrival of a few key talents heading into their match with Hills United, who have impressed in recent weeks and landed themselves confidently in mid-table.

United gained an advantage at the end of the first half after Ayo Seino played a brilliant through ball into the path of Erin Tavares and forced Stingrays goalkeeper Kiara Rochaix to race out from the goal mouth and bring down Tavares on the edge of the box, leading to a red card for the No. 1. However, the two sides were unable to be separated with the game ending 0-0 at Lakelands Oval.

Gladesville Ravens 1-5 Sydney Olympic at Christie Park

A matchup between the Gladesville Ravens in 9^th and Sydney Olympic in 10^th promised to deliver an entertaining clash. Annabelle Daczko’s superb free-kick into the box allowed Leena Khamis to steer her side into a 1-0 lead in the 12^th minute, before Sydney Olympic equalised in the 31^st minute after Tiana Petkovski launched a sensational strike into the top right corner from outside the box for 1-1.

Following some patient build-up play in and around the Ravens’ 18-yard box, Olympic went ahead in the 59^th minute through Morgan Witz rifling a strike from a tight angle that bounced its way through and in for 2-1.

Olympic made it 3-1 in 69^th minute after a fantastic counterattack opened up the chance for Petkovski to tuck the ball in at the near post. Giuliana Nicholas produced a special strike to give her side a 4-1 lead in the 76^th minute, before volleying confidently in the 88^th minute to put the finishing touches on a quality cross to the back post. Olympic would ultimately see out the match as 5-1 winners.

Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 APIA Leichhardt at Wanderers Football Park

Two of the competition’s strongest sides this season were set to face off at Wanderers Football Park, with the Western Sydney Wanderers taking on APIA Leichhardt in an important clash.

Miriam Zumaya provided the opening goal for the Wanderers, unleashing from range and nestling the ball in underneath APIA goalkeeper Sophie Magus in the 36^th minute. Ashlee Brodigan levelled up proceedings in the 57^th minute with an assured finish across goal, but was undone by Amy Barker swooping in to serve up a brilliant header in the 74^th minute.

Zumaya secured a third goal of the match for the Wanderers in the 90+4^th minute, before Brodigan’s chipped finish rattled off the crossbar and was finished off by Ashlie Letta to earn APIA a consolation in what was a 3-2 win to the Wanderers.

Western City Rangers 1-2 Macarthur Rams at Popondetta Park

This season has seen neither the Western City Rangers or the Macarthur Rams perform at their peak yet, meaning this matchup was certainly one to keep an eye on heading into the weekend.

Catalina Wyrzynski kicked-off the goalscoring for the Rangers in the 18^th minute with a terrific strike from the left wing that rocketed into the top right corner.

With her side trailing 1-0, Sakura Nojima produced an outstanding strike of her own when she cut inside to evade an onrushing defender and fired into the top right corner for 1-1 in the 27^th minute.

Nojima then dazzled with her second of the evening, taking advantage of a frenetic moment in the box to burst forward and side step the keeper to score the winner in the 50^th minute.