It was a fantastic game of football at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday evening as APIA Leichhardt continued their unbeaten start to the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition, coming from behind to snatch a late 2-2 draw against Bulls FC Academy.
The Bulls took the lead against the run of play when Peta Trimis netted five minutes before half time.
There was enough time for them to pinch another before the break, Elizabeth Grey on hand to double the advantage.
APIA responded in the second period as substitute Bella Habuda halved the deficit, before Ash Crofts got her 14th of the season with an excellent finish.
The visitors started the better and had most of the field and ball possession without creating any real chances.
That was until midway through the first half when Rhianna Pollicina played through Holly McNamara.
The pacey striker beat the defence and moved in one on one with Trudy Simmons, beating the Bulls keeper but not finding the target with her effort.
Shortly after APIA went close again.
The Bulls struggled to deal with a corner as the ball bounced around the box and fell into the path of Tash Prior who shot first time on the volley on the turn, only for her strike to hit the post and bounce into the grateful arms of the Bulls keeper.
From their first attempt of the game, the home team hit the front.
Aideen Keane did extremely well down the left, creating enough space to cross the ball into the box, finding an unmarked Trimis at the far post who volleyed her effort into the top corner of the goal.
That goal was Trimis’ ninth of the season.
Out of nowhere, the hosts began dominating and looked likely to add another.
That they did two minutes into first half of added time.
It started via Elizabeth Grey who intercepted a Tash Prior pass, combining with Tamires Souza who played in a delightful ball, only for Grey to blast home in style to make it 2-0.
Spencer Prior had much to say at the break making a double substitution by bringing on Bella Habuda and Siahn Bozanic.
It would be Habuda that would get on the scoresheet in some style fifteen minutes after the restart, picking up the ball outside the box, controlling it, before volleying with the outside of the foot, into the back of the net.
Full of confidence, APIA grew into the game and pushed hard for the equaliser.
As they threw more forward, spaces started opening in the defence, substitute Daisy Cheeseman running in on goal but not able to beat Morgan Aquino, possibly with Tamires Souza a better option to the right.
A few minutes later and the Bulls were punished by APIA.
The current NPL NSW Women’s top scorer Ash Crofts showed fine strength to power into the box before shooting toward and finding the bottom corner of Simmons’ goal to bring the scores level.
With minutes to go, Bulls almost snatched it after a Bella Volkanovski deep free kick, only for Aquino to gather at the second attempt.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Volkanovski was shown a second yellow card and subsequently a red with Jaime Gomez’s team having to battle with 10-players on the park.
Neither team could find late winner, having to settle for a point apiece
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Trimis 40’, Grey 45+2’)
APIA Leichhardt 2 (Habuda 59’, Crofts 80’)
Sunday, 18 June, 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre
Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 2. Trimis, 3. Grey (18. Clout), 4. Seaman, 7/ Prakash, 8. Keane (19. Cheesman), 9. Chessari, 10. Souza (22. Popovic), 11. Valletta, 13. Di Sciascio, 17. Volkanovski.
Substitutes: 12. Corry, 16. Gyzen, 21. Segavcic.
APIA Leichhardt: 90. Aquino, 3. Borazio (32. Daczko), 4. Prior, 9. McNamara, 10. Pollicina, 11. Crofts, 15. Pipino (7. Habuda), 16. Fragale (17. Bozanic), 18. Hoban, 21. Kiparizov, 24. Young.
Substitutes: 1. Magus, 14. Coco-Di Sipio, 37. Milton.
By – Nikola Pozder