Unbeaten run stretches on as UNSW FC late show rescues draw in Uni derby
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.
With the first proper chance of the game, the visitors struck early. A perfectly delivered corner from Asha Sutton found Tahliya Sambrook, who blasted her header in off the underside of the bar and over the line.
A few minutes later, another Sutton set piece caused problems for UNSW at the back, though the visitors couldn’t take advantage on that occasion.
Sydney Uni were left wondering how it wasn’t 2-0 in the 16th minute, when a Maddie Caspers cross found Poppy Tay, whose header hit the post and rolled along the goal line before being cleared away.
Uni’s pressure continued, with Sutton again threatening, this time firing just over the bar. Erin Nayler then underlined her quality for UNSW FC, producing arguably the save of the season to claw away a powerful Sutton strike after a slick team move.
UNSW FC found it difficult to break down a stubborn Sydney Uni outfit, with Chelsea Hromek largely untested in the opening half hour.
The home side’s first real chance came ten minutes before the break, when Georgia Plessas popped up at the back post, though her effort was comfortably held by Hromek.
Lexie Moreno then struck the woodwork from a free kick, but UNSW FC could not convert the rebound. Nayler was called into action again minutes before half-time, this time denying Maddie Caspers.
The final chance of the first half came from yet another set piece, with Moreno again testing Hromek, who stood firm.
UNSW FC had the first opportunity of the second half, with a goalmouth scramble eventually smothered by Hromek. Poppy Channing then went close for the home side, her header sailing over from a corner.
The league leaders began to crank up the pressure, striking the bar directly from a corner before the rebound fell to Channing, who fired wide.
Eventually, the pressure told. Ava Collins provided the finishing touch to break down an almost flawless Sydney Uni defensive display up to that point.
The home side almost stole all three points in stoppage time, when Angelique Hristodoulou found Demi Koulizakis in the box, but her header went just over the bar.
Bianca Galic had one final chance for UNSW, but her effort sailed well off target.
Match Stats
UNSW FC: 1 (Collins 81’)
Sydney University: 1 (Sambrook 9’)
Sunday 23 May
The Village Green
UNSW FC: 1. Nayler, 5. Puxty, 6. Yamahata, 7. Channing, 8 Koulizakis, 9. Moreno (16. Casaccia), 10. Smith (11. Collins), 17. Hristodoulou, 18. Plessas (24. Hammond), 21. Kokoris (15. Lemon), 32. Galic
Substitutes not used: 13. Singh, 14. Burton, 99. Vais
Yellow Cards: Hristodoulou
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney University: 21. Hromek, 4. Sambrook, 5. Kirby, 6. Harris, 8. Van Dijk, 9. Tay (16. Tsavalias), 15. Caspers (19. Hijazi), 20. Hughes, 24. Juric, 28. Raad, 39. Sutton
Substitutes not used: 10. Hill, 12. Farrow, 22. Saltirov, 33. Pickett, 211. Wilmot
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Nikola Pozder
