Bulls FC Academy Storm Into Back-To-Back Grand Finals

Bulls FC Academy have booked their place in a second consecutive National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Grand Final after producing a convincing 6-2 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers at Northbridge Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Marti Garces’ side had the contest practically wrapped up before half-time, racing to a 4-1 lead before adding another two goals after the break.

The Wanderers managed to find the net once in the second half, but the Bulls were simply too strong as they completed a dominant victory.

Perhaps most impressively, six different players found the back of the net for the Bulls, highlighting the depth and attacking quality throughout Garces’ squad.

The Bulls will now look to make it back-to-back Premiership and Championship doubles after securing the Premiership during the regular season and reaching another Grand Final.

It took just 14 minutes for the home side to hit the front.

Ruby Betro’s attempted clearance fell to Petria Phillips on the edge of the area, with the Bulls attacker calmly placing her effort into the top corner and beyond Annabella Croll.

Six minutes later, the advantage was doubled.

The Bulls had appealed for a handball moments earlier, but when the penalty was not given they simply continued their attack.

Jade Guichon delivered a lovely cross towards the back post, where Claudia Valletta arrived to head home and make it 2-0.

The Wanderers responded almost immediately and halved the deficit.

Alyssa Ng Saad burst through the defensive line and saw her effort saved by Ash Hughes, but Alvina Khoshaba followed up quickly and was first to the rebound, placing the ball into the back of the net.

The Bulls restored their two-goal advantage five minutes before half-time.

Daniella Naemi beat Charlotte Bradshaw down the left wing before driving into the box and producing a composed finish beyond Croll.

There was still time for another before the break.

The Bulls capitalised on a Wanderers error, with Sarah Hunter picking up a loose pass before combining with Jynaya Dos Santos on the edge of the area.

Hunter’s deflected effort beat Croll to make it 4-1 and put the Bulls firmly in control heading into half-time.

The visitors came out strongly after the break and struck first through substitute Alyssa McKenzie.

Mia Nataly delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal from the left, with McKenzie reacting quickest and volleying home to reduce the deficit to 4-2.

Any hopes of a Wanderers comeback were extinguished with five minutes remaining.

Dos Santos picked up another loose pass from the visitors, turned and produced a well-struck finish into the bottom-left corner to restore the Bulls’ three-goal advantage.

The Bulls were not finished.

Guichon, who already had an assist to her name, picked up the ball on the left, dribbled past two defenders and fired towards goal.

Her effort took a deflection but still found its way beyond Croll, completing a comprehensive 6-2 victory.

The result sends the Bulls into their second consecutive Grand Final, where they will now look to defend their Championship and complete another Premiership-Championship double.

For the Wanderers, the result brings an end to an impressive 2026 campaign in which they reached the final four and challenged some of the competition’s leading sides.

Match Stats

Bulls FC Academy 6 (Phillips 14’, Valletta 20’, Naemi 40’, Hunter 45+1’, Dos Santos 85’, Guichon 90+2’)

Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Khoshaba 23’, McKenzie 68’)

Sunday, 6 September 2026
Northbridge Oval

Bulls FC Academy: 1. Hughes, 2. Phillips, 4. Ferris (13. Vanderlaan, 17. Surjan), 5. Grey, 8. Valletta, 10. Souza, 11. Naemi (6. Bishop), 12. Meli, 14. Dos Santos, 30. Hunter, 33. Guichon.

Substitutes not used: 3. Hawkins, 15. Franklin, 18. Harpur, 61. Simonsen.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Western Sydney Wanderers: 20. Croll, 2. Keep (10. Sultan), 3. Murray (31. Driscoll), 5. Bennett, 8. Nataly, 13. Khoshaba, 17. Ng Saad, 23. Zumaya (32. Moussa), 27. Bradshaw, 28. Karaberis (11. McKenzie).

Substitutes not used: 25. Dal Broi, 30. Church, 38. Young.
Yellow Cards: Murray
Red Cards: Nil

By Nikola Pozder