Sydney FC Women 2 Newcastle Jets 1
The faithful fans of Sydney FC’s women’s team didn’t have to wait long for redemption following Wednesday night’s horror defeat at Leichhardt Oval as the Sky Blues served up their own dramatic win to sink the Newcastle Jets in a thrilling finish. The visitors had scored in the first half through Philippines international star Sarina Bolden, and the game looked to be going with the pattern of the season towards another frustrating no-show at home until young gun Maddie Caspers levelled and Zara Kruger won it at the death to leave the Jets players slumped on the turf in dismay. Sydney’s members’ open day ended in triumph in difficult hot conditions; this was almost the exact opposite to the scene midweek and the wheels are back on for the run in to the end of the season.
Conditions on Sunday afternoon were hot. The UV index was off the charts and there was not a breath of wind as the Sydney FC women members congregated under the big trees next to the main entrance of Leichhardt Oval, over two hours before kick off. Parking in the area adjacent to the stadium was plentiful, most Sydney inhabitants hibernating from the harsh conditions. The gates opened and the Sydney fans filed in as the Newcastle Jets team bus arrived, the visiting players largely ignored, save for a few heckles, as they made their way to the changing rooms. That was our destination too – this much-loved annual event, hosted by membership guru Shane, taking us straight into the home changing room.
The coaches were setting up the room, Ante Juric scribing some thoughtful words to generate conversation in his team, the team line-up had Princess Ibini up front and Indiana Dos Santos on the left, Shay Hollman back in alongside Mackenzie Hawkesby and the superstar Caspers straight back into the team after being signed by the club. This was ground-breaking, but somewhat forced upon the squad after two concussion calls during the week. To be this close to the off-field action was a real treat, Cortnee Vine’s shirt was naturally the most photographed, and to see the line-up being written on the whiteboard before it was public made us feel very priveleged.
We made our way up to the Centurions Lounge at the top of the main stand in lovely airconditioning while the second of the two groups of fans had their moment in the changing rooms. Shane played the part of warm-up act perfectly – he always has interesting facts about the club, from being a foundation member and being involved in the club since it began. Membership numbers are up by significant multiples on last year, which at least will make the juggling act of ordering jerseys for next year’s stock a little easier – interest is at an all-time high and shirts will sell. Ante then joined us for a Q&A, which was fantastic.
Our coach gave us the inside scoop on what he said to the referee at Allianz Stadium to earn a red card after the win against Western United, which the audience enjoyed immensely (it’s a secret between members), and he let us know how proud he was that his team could be second in the ladder after today after coping with such a difficult patch during an injury-laden season. The balance of work and football also raised its head, Juric holding a full-time position in a school as well as all his footballing duties – what a man! Leaving to applause, he was replaced at the lectern by our relaxed captain Nat Tobin, a character who is both engaging and thoughtful with her words when she addresses the fans. The common theme with Ante’s session was a disdain for Melbourne Victory and a desire to win in Melbourne on Australia Day, but she was happy to update the fans on her own injury situation and reveal what it was like to be a non-playing mentor this season.
The Premiers’ plate and the A-League championship trophy were on display for fans to marvel at, before cards were scanned and we entered the main stand from the very top, a new way to enter the stadium for most of us. We had an hour before kick off, this had been a great initiative by the club, and we established camp in the Cove area and went on the search for food and drink. Mainly drink. It was 40 degrees.
The players emerged into the roasting hot arena to warm up as we raided the Little Tokyo food stall on the opposite side of the ground. Newcastle Jets’ super fan and Blacktown City coach Lucas was in attendance, confident of a result, hoping his team would emulate the Mariners’ success here four days previous, but hoping to right the Jets’ ship after Friday night’s pasting for the men’s teeam at Allianz. We grabbed some tastily-priced food and much-needed drinks, marvelling at the importance that shade was already playing today.
The scoreboard on the hill side of the stadium looked to be in some kind of disrepair – hopefully the scoreboard operator would be a little more up to date than Wednesday night, when they’d popped out for a smoko while the goals were going in. The hole in the scoreboard could have been simply the operator creating some breeze to cool the hot box inside. There was no one in full sun on the hill or in the seats below. The sun was simply too fierce.
The emergence of the players for the line-ups prompted our fearless capo MMTV into action, the drum ready for a workout and We Are Sydney was belted out. This would potentially be a tough crowd to motivate, a little bit of fatigue and listlessness in the hot conditions, the sweat marks left on the plastic seats a testament to the stinking temperature. Beer cans were replaced by water bottles, but the songs continued unabated, the crowd favourite Super Sydney FC chant getting an early airing.
The game was settling in to an arm-wrestle with 15 minutes on the clock. Sydney FC had the majority of the play, but it was the Jets who looked the more decisive and threatening with the ball. Sure enough, suspect distribution from super-keeper Jada Whyman played the home team into trouble – the defence was way too deep as the ball was worked out to the right with one-touch precision and the cross found Bolden unmarked, Charlotte Mclean nowhere near her player, and the Jets’ striker thumped home the header for 1-0. The referee signalled immediately for a drinks break, the Cove mid-chant but not too keen to finish it off after another sucker punch.
The ball over the top looked like being the main source of threat from the home team, Vine willing to do the running, and there were chances. The referee overruled the assistant with an offside that had the fans incensed, and there was an offside goal for the home team that wasn’t even celebrated as the flag was up early. Caspers played in Vine who tricked her way onto her left foot and trickled a shot towards goal that tickled the post, then she was played in clean through, only for her dinked shot to curl onto the same post, and the rebound was hacked away. This was exciting, but frustrating at the same time – Vine smashed a shot miles wide and Sydney’s final ball just wasn’t finding a target. After another drinks break just after the half-hour mark, Sydney pressed further, but they remained blunt up front and a 1-0 deficit was not a shock at half time.
The shade was starting to advance onto the Northern end, allowing more home fans to spread out around the stadium. Drum repairs were undertaken on the spot to help maintain the rhythm, and the half-time members’ draw piqued everyone’s interest to see who would walk away with signed shirts and free memberships. Alas no wins this year!
Sydney resisted making changes, despite the testing conditions, and started the second half with a spring in their step. Indiana Dos Santos went direct and hoisted in a cross that Vine smashed off the post on the volley. Three times off the post already. As we were recovering from that, Vine won the ball back and clipped in a beautiful cross for the incoming Caspers, who was the only player who really wanted the ball, and she nodded home for an excellent equaliser. All the players rushed in to congratulate her, what an achievement! We now had a game on. There was a little bit of spice out there, some coming-togethers as tempers frayed in the heat. This was developing into a tense finish.
Sydney had plenty of corners, but the Jets’ keeper was dominant, although Tori Tumeth bundled the ball just wide of the post from one corner from the right, and there was panic in the Newcastle defence. Which way this game would go was anyone’s guess. Every time the Jets went forward there were nails being bitten, Bolden making a nuisance of herself, but the Sydney defence remaining strong.
As is often the case in these games, the crowd started to become increasingly feverish, every good pass cheered and every referee decision against Sydney booed with gusto. It looked as though we were going to settled for a draw though, Kruger replacing our superstar Caspers and the Dos Santos sisters swapping for each other. Kirsty Fenton then showed us just why she is revered by the home fans, bundling through three tackles before being upended, and when our tough-tackling left back gets in the zone, that’s the only way to stop her. There was almost a repeat of the Vine goal against Western United, a long searching ball seeing the right-winger nip in front of the keeper, but this time the defence was alert. The Jets fired just over the bar late into the 90 minutes. Perhaps a draw was inevitable.
The eight minutes of stoppage time were reaching their conclusion when Fenton played an unintended one-two with Mackenzie Hawkesby and chose to go central with the long ball instead of wide to Vine. That left Kruger in space. Would the ball fall in time? The two last defenders turned like tractors, the goalkeeper raced out and as the crowd held their collective breath, most people thinking it was Macca, the young star hooked the ball effortlessly into the net for an incredible winning goal. No suggestion of offside, nothing wrong with that one, and we had well and truly erased Wednesday from our memories, the whole team racing to congratulate another young gun’s debut goal as the Cove went bananas. B.a.n.a.n.a.s.
The final whistle sounded almost immediately after the kick off, and the crowd was still excited. Did we deserve that win? Probably yes, but it would not have been a surprise to see it go the other way such is our luck at the moment. Was there relief in the crowd? Yes there was. It seems like an eternity since we won a game here, and the scenes after the final-whistle took us back to the halcyon days where the crowd were eager to celebrate the win with their heroes in Sky Blue and the crowd was a sea of happy faces. The players came across and linked hands to cheer the Cove, who were still in position up in the main stand. Super Sydney FC rang out and the players joined in. Traditions are being made. This is what it’s all about.
Contrary to Wednesday night’s debacle where the majority of players raced off the field and the crowd emptied as the rain thrashed down, it was sunsine and smiles tonight at the final whistle. Normal service had been resumed and everything was in full working order at Sydney FC; we’d even scored more than one goal for the first time in ten games. Quite the stat for a free-scoring team in previous seasons.
We left Leichhardt Oval and jumped into the air-conditioned car, back in the north western suburbs 20 minutes later. This had been a fantastic day out. The women’s members day is a favourite day in the season’s calendar, well done to Shane for putting on a great event, and thanks to Ante and Nat for taking time out of their match day preparations to answer the many questions from the growing membership. One day we’ll not be able to get a spot at these members’ days, such is the rising profile of women’s football; that will be a nice problem to have. Until then though, we’ll rejoice in being part of a progressive football club that looks after its members and is more than happy to listen and answer. Good luck to both of our teams in Melbourne, we’ll be cheering on from Sydney, bring it home please!