Sydney back to winning ways

Sydney prevailed in a tight contest | (Credit: Nick Guoth)

Sydney FC and Perth Glory played out a most impressive match in front a small crowd at sunny WIN Stadium in Wollongong, south of Sydney.

While the result, 2-0, was in favour of Sydney, the home team certainly did not have it all their way.

The game also marked the first ever in the Westfield W-League where a foreign referee took charge. Sachiko Yamagishi, on exchange withBrisbane-based Australian referees, performed quite admirably. Fusako Kajiyama, who was fourth official for this match, will take charge of Brisbane’s home clash with Canberra, the ABC game next Saturday afternoon.

Following an even first half, possibly shaded by Perth, Sydney came out from the sheds fighting and struck after ten minutes of solid pressure. Their second, a bit more than midway through the half saw any fightback from Perth extinguished.

For the neutral, the first half was one well worth watching. Both teams went at the game, hammer and nail. Yet, even though there was a minimum of action for either keeper, it was the midfield tussle that provided the spectacle.

Sydney threatened on numerous occasions, mainly using the flanks, yet the Perth defence held very tight, meaning that the rare shot had to come from distance. One such, from Sydney midfielder Kylie Ledbrook tested the Perth goalkeeper Tine Cederkvist, the latter palming the ball away acrobatically for a corner.

Probably the best player in the park in that opening stanza was Perth stalwart Collette McCallum. McCallum was the central point of nearly all of Perth’s play. Yet, their movement off the ball by the rest of the team, especially around the back was quite impressive.

For Perth coach John Gibson, he stated after the match that he wants the team to play a prescribed way and learn from that. If the passing and work off the ball is that style, Perth should become a force, not only later in the season but for years to come.

One player Gibson does have to look after is youngster Samantha Kerr. Maybe faster than ex-Perth player Lisa DeVanna, Kerr needs to learn how to time her runs to beat any structured defensive line. Kerr was caught off-side no less than five times.

Gibson, though did have a concern in the opening stanza. His other striker, and AFC Women’s Player of the Year, Katie Gill, limped off after only ten minutes of second half play.

She had suffered an ankle injury following a contested possession with Sydney defender Danielle Brogan in the opening five minutes of the match. Gibson will be hoping the striker is back in the fold soon.

Sydney, though, were able to show why they are one of the top teams, through their depth. Having lost Heather Garriock to a left-hamstring injury (although she, herself, would not admit if it was the left or right), coach Alen Stajic was still able to place Matildas or aspiring Matildas on his bench.

Maybe too, his half-time talk was what was required when the team entered the sheds. Certainly something must have been said as it was a different Sydney who came out for the second period.

From the opening kick, they dominated Perth. After ten minutes of continuous pressure, the solid Perth defensive line was broken.

Yet it took a delicate through ball from Lydia Vandenburgh that sliced between the opponents and found the on-rushing Leena Khamis, The very experienced striker had no problems rounding Cederkvist.

Even so, it was not a simple tap in and Khamis had to balance and then, from a tight angle only a few metres from the goal line, slide the ball between two defenders trying to guard the now empty net. A very nice piece of skill rewarding the lovely pass that set it up.

The home side could have been two up a few minutes later. This time the Perth captain, Tanya Oxtoby, was able to get a timely foot in to block a goal-bound shot of Kyah Simon.

The Sydney midfielder was not to be denied, and yet again it was a neat play that determined the result. This time an incisive move led to Teigen Allen making strides down the right. Her pull-back found Simon just outside the six-yard box.

Still with much to do, Simon angled her shot perfectly so that it went into the net just inside the near post . All Cederkvist could do was watch and, possibly, admire the placement of the shot, her chances of even getting near the ball being nil.

The second strike ended Perth’s hopes for a result in the match. And as time moved on they become tired, possibly the long trip across the country taking its toll.

Kerr did have one more chance for the visitors, this  time escaping the referee assistant’s flag, but she lacked confidence and her shot, without much pressure, flew stright into Dimi Poulis’ hands.

The result, coupled with those in Adelaide and Newcastle, mean that the three early contenders for the Championship have now moved away from the pack, leaving three teams, Perth, Newcastle and Melbourne to compete for the fourth spot.

When discussing the matter after the game, Stajic was non-committal, yet he was duly impressed with the Perth team’s style of play.

Sydney FC: 1. Dimi Poulis (gk), 2. Teresa Polias (5. Alanna Kenedy +86’), 3. Danielle Brogan, 6. Servet Uzunlar, 8. Renee Rollason (13. Catherine Cannuli +60’), 9. Caitlin Foord, 10. Kylie Ledbrook (c), 11. Lydia Vandenburgh, 15. Teigen Allen, 17. Kyah Simon, 19. Leena Khamis (14. Nicola Berger +81’)

Substitutes not used: 20. Erin Herd (rgk)

Yellow Cards: nil

Red Cards: nil

Perth Glory: 1. Tine Cederkvist, 3. Carys Hawkins, 4. Samantha Kerr (16. Sadie Lawrence +92’), 5. Shannon May, 6. Alexander Singer, 7. Alexander Nilsson, 8. Tanya Oxtoby (c), 12. Kate Gill (17. Marianna Tabain +55’), 13. Elisa D’Ovidio (2. Stacey Learmont +84’), 14. Collette McCallum, 15. Jaymee Gibbons

Substitutes not used: 20. Kathleen Waycott (rgk)

Yellow Cards: Samantha Kerr 9’

Red Cards: nil