Bulls FC Academy Celebrate Back-To-Back Premierships In Style
Bulls FC Academy celebrated their National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Premiership in style on Sunday evening at Popondetta Park, defeating Western City Rangers 3-0 to officially cap off a remarkable regular season.
It was a contrast of emotions at Popondetta Park, with the Bulls celebrating back-to-back Premierships while the home side played their final game in the top flight following their relegation.
Sarah Hunter’s early goal, followed by two strikes in the final 15 minutes from Jynaya Dos Santos and Tamires Souza, were enough to secure all three points for the newly crowned Premiers.
It took just two minutes for the Bulls to hit the front.
A training-ground corner routine caught the Rangers off guard, with Dos Santos allowing the ball to run through her legs before Hunter ran onto it and struck towards goal.
Her effort took a deflection on its way through, wrong-footing Renee Krstanovska and finding the back of the net.
Dos Santos was involved again in the next opportunity for the visitors, finding space inside the area before firing into the side netting.
Olivia Vanderlaan then had an opportunity of her own shortly afterwards, but her effort sailed over the crossbar.
The Bulls continued to pepper the Rangers goal, but brave goalkeeping from Krstanovska denied Petria Phillips.
Dos Santos then found herself completely unmarked at the far post following a cross from the right, but was again unable to control her effort.
Krstanovska continued to keep the Rangers in the contest, coming out on top against Dos Santos once again with another strong save.
Just before the break, the Bulls went close again when neat work from Daniella Naemi saw her attempt to curl an effort into the top corner, only for the ball to drift just wide of the target.
The first opportunity of the second half again fell to Dos Santos.
The forward turned and shot from the edge of the area after some nice football, but her effort was comfortably saved by Krstanovska.
It looked as though it simply would not be Dos Santos’ night when Krstanovska produced a fantastic fingertip save to deny the attacker yet again.
The Rangers goalkeeper continued to be kept busy and, with just over 20 minutes remaining, she again had to save her side, this time denying Phillips following an effort from the left.
Dos Santos finally got her goal with 15 minutes remaining to double the Bulls’ advantage.
Liz Grey played a lovely ball over the top of the Rangers defence for Gracie Bishop, who cut the ball back into the path of Dos Santos.
The attacker made no mistake this time, firing beyond Krstanovska to make it 2-0.
Moments later, Krstanovska was called into action again and once more produced an important save, this time denying Tamires Souza.
Hunter almost added a second of her own with five minutes remaining, but once again Krstanovska stood tall, producing perhaps the save of the game.
The Bulls eventually rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
Guichon delivered an inswinging cross from the left and found Souza, who reached the ball before Krstanovska and finished to make it 3-0.
The final whistle confirmed another dominant victory for the Bulls, who can now celebrate a second consecutive Premiership.
A massive congratulations to Marti Garces and the Bulls FC Academy on an incredible season and back-to-back Premierships.
Their focus now turns towards making it back-to-back Grand Final victories, with the Bulls set to take on Western Sydney Wanderers in their Semi-Final next week.
Match Stats
Western Sydney Rangers 0
Bulls FC Academy 3 (Hunter 2’, Dos Santos 75’, Souza 90+2’)
Sunday 30 August 2026
Popondetta Park
Western Sydney Rangers: 88. Krstanovska, 8. Boutros, 13. Wyrzynski, 14. Gordon, 15. Zoghbi, 20. Hastings, 21. Barton, 25. Preston, 33. Al Fararjeh, 46. Jonsson, 99. Silva.
Substitutes not used: 18. Durant, 26. Groarke, 36. Bailey, 37. McGarity, 133. Sen, 211. Wilkinson.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Bulls FC Academy: 1. Hughes, 2. Phillips, 4. Ferris, 5. Grey, 8. Valletta, 11. Naemi, 12. Meli, 13. Vanderlaan, 14. Dos Santos, 17. Surjan, 30. Hunter.
Substitutes not used: 6. Bishop, 7. Dos Santos, 9. Harpur, 10. Souza, 15. Franklin, 33. Guichon, 61. Simonsen.
Yellow Cards: Garrett
Red Cards: Nil
By Nikola Pozder
