Adelaide are coming close

Adelaide might not have won any games so far this season, but they’ve got to be close to getting some points on the board after how they’ve been performing recently.

Based solely on performance, this side doesn’t deserve to be at the bottom of the ladder.

In tonight’s game against Sydney, the Reds not only held their own against a third placed side, but they had opportunities to go in front on more than a few occasions.

And this is in a game where Mary Fowler – one of Adelaide’s highest goal scorers this season so far – was not involved at all due to an ankle injury.

Instead Mallory Weber led her side's attack, which was arguably more dynamic than Sydney’s in today’s game.

Weber created chances from the midfield and connected well with the front third players. If anyone was going to score for Adelaide, it would’ve been Weber.

Adelaide also led a high press - the pressure seemed to take Sydney by surprise, and they weren’t able to have their usual goal scoring opportunities and build up play from the back.

Adelaide have lost every game this season by the smallest of margins. And this week was a similar story.

Adelaide have been extremely unlucky to not have any points on the board this season. It was almost heart-breaking to watch them work so hard and then fall away again at the final hurdle.

Maybe they’ll get their first points next week when they take on Perth Glory.

Gotta feel for Adelaide in this game, especially after the waved away penalty in the first half. They deserve at least a point for their efforts.#SYDvADL

— Dale Stevens (@Sui1977) December 29, 2019 ">

 

What’s happening to Sydney FC?

After losing to the Wanderers 5-0 last week, you might expect Sydney FC to come out firing and ready to show the competition what they’re made of.

But the Sky Blues didn’t run out onto the field with that fire in their belly.

The movement up front wasn’t the same quality that we’ve come to expect from Sydney FC, and they didn’t have many attacking opportunities.

Sydney FC’s attackers spent too much time offside and weren’t able to make well-timed attacking runs to lead to chances in the final third. 

Coach Ante Juric also criticised his players at half time for losing the ball too easy across the park. 

Although they came away with the three points today, they were lucky to get a result from this game. Their first goal came off an Adelaide player’s shoulder who was attempting to defend a cross, and their second was an individual moment of brilliance late in the game from Princess Ibini.

While today’s game ended in a 2-0 win for Sydney their performance told a different story. Could it be possible that the Sky Blues are experiencing a mid-season slump?

 

The W-League is getting stronger

The main thing fans can take away from this game is that the W-League is getting stronger.

If you look at the big picture, this game was third on the ladder vs eighth, and for three-quarters of the game the score could’ve gone either way.  

In the past, W-League clubs would be heavily divided by the midpoint of the season, with clear run-away leaders already.

And although you could argue that Melbourne City and the Western Sydney Wanderers are doing just that, the overall performance of W-League games are certainly of a higher calibre now than ever before.

In the first half, Adelaide United were very unlucky to not be awarded a penalty after Alanna Kennedy fouled in the box.

If the referee called this penalty and Adelaide scored, the game could’ve gone in a completely different direction.

It’s exciting times for the W-League, with the overall quality of teams improving and better competition across the board emerging.

Let’s hope the second half of the season will be just as exciting as the first. 

An absolute 🚀 from @princessibini_ to wrap up the points in the @WLeague!

🎥 by @FOXFOOTBALL#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions #SYDvADL pic.twitter.com/7D9HXJj68Y

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) December 29, 2019 ">