Sydney FC Women 3 Western United 1
A splash of colour, a beautiful sunset and almost 3,500 fans flocked to Leichhardt Oval for Pride Round on a wonderful evening in the Inner West of Sydney. Abbey Lemon gave Sydney a deserved early lead as they started strongly, Cortnee Vine extended the lead in the second half, but Western United hit back with the most comfortable of headers to set nerves jangling. It was left to Vine to wrap things up with a delicate chip in added time, sealing a big three points for Sydney FC to keep them in the hunt for a most unlikely premiership. The Sky Blues have certainly hit form at the right time, and they were terrific again tonight, a thoroughly merited victory over the league leaders to blow the title race wide open.
The choice of route to Leichhardt Oval in the Saturday afternoon peak took us through Balmain and along past the Orange Grove Hotel to park at the stadium – being there early enough tends to guarantee a spot in the stadium car park, and we arrived as last week’s hero Caley Tallon-Henniker was dropped off by her family to walk through her new fan base congregating at the stadium entrance. With our visitor for the weekend, Andy, from England’s south coast making his debut at an Australian football game, we made the pilgrimage to the OG, where we met up with the gang, catching up on the latest news and enjoying the pre-game build-up. The walk back at 6.30pm was taken on the shady side of the street, such was the warmth of the sun, and there was a decent crowd building when we arrived at the stadium.
The hill was looking busy, the main stand was filling up, and the superstars from the Flying Bats, the biggest LGBTQI+ women’s and non-binary club in the world, who play in the same competition as our own West Ryde Rovers, were excitedly preparing for pitch duty to welcome the players to the field. The rainbow flag was draped from the Cove, the players arrives and We Are Sydney echoed around the old stand as the players went through the formalities and Princess Ibini won the toin coss for Sydney FC to shoot towards the Cove in the second half.
There were splashes of colour everywhere, reminding us that we were indeed in Pride Round, and the players huddled together in the middle of the field as the hot sun set in the spectators’ faces on the hill. The atmosphere was excellent, the Cove were warming up the vocals nicely and the players seemed up for it from the opening whistle.
Sydney pressed from the start and there was no sign of Chloe Logarzo in the visiting team. Cortnee Vine wasn’t afforded the time and space that she often finds in the corners of Leichhardt Oval, but she set up the opener with a deft ball to tempt Ibini, and our captain’s flick was saved by Danish international Kathrine Larsen. Lemon had time to steady herself on the penalty area and wasn’t put off by the incoming Mackenzie Hawkesby, and rattled the ball into the net for 1-0. The stadium was rocking. Vine then got herself into a great position to fire in a shot that hit the post and somehow bounced right back into Larsen’s arms with Sky Blues waiting to pounce. It was a terrific display and Sydney FC were in the driving seat. Ibini cut inside and almost scored a cracker, reminiscent of her goal at Commbank Stadium two years ago on the opening day, the ball just over the bar.
It certainly wasn’t one-way traffic and Western United did get into some good positions, especially down the left, but the defence held firm; the aimless forward passes of weeks gone by seems to have been eliminated, and passes from the back were finding feet. A one-touch triangle foray up the left, starting with Kirsty Fenton wowed the crowd, but the end result was missing. Hawkesby managed another of her corner routines that ends up behind the goal and there wasa hint of frustration. Everything was pointing towards more goals though in the second half, but it was a shame to see the half-time whistle interrupt such a flowing game of football and with the score at only 1-0.
Day turned to night like the flick of a switch, the realisation that summer is coming to an end soon and that daylight saving will be cruelly ripped from us saw darkness descend, but the ambience and atmosphere improve. Mascots Muph and Plutonic, the dark-haired one in a rainbow cape, did the rounds getting plenty of love from young and old, and the fans were in the mood for more goals.
Vine almost obliged minutes into the second half, Taylor Ray’s wonderful cushioned ball just lifted over the bar by our international superstar. Vine had chances to torment her defender, and at one point twisted and turned multiple times to eventually create the opening to cross, but the defender at the far post got the vital touch to divert the ball away from the incoming cavalry. The tall and powerful Hannah Keane looked menacing, at one point getting into a position akin to Ibini’s for the opening goal, but the ball was cleared.
The Cove was in full voice, capo Michelle demanding the maximum from her choir, and the call and response was duly belted out to the fans down below, who were more than happy to reciprocate.
The free-running of Vine eventually brought a second goal for Sydney FC, cutting inside and finishing with a delightful shot in front of the giant rainbow flag after Ibini had slipped her in up the right. Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, our girls are amazing… Everything was going right and the points seemed in the bag with 20 minutes left to go. Whoever said 2-0 is the most dangerous scoreline in football was an evil genius, as it wasn’t long before the visitors scored a simple goal to show us just how easy it is to undo the Sydney defence from a set piece. The inswinging free-kick the simple header over the stranded Jada Whyman and we had, all of a sudden, a contest on our hands.
United looked like a team who would press until the end and they made Sydney’s life hell at the back, but Shea Connors jinked down the left and the Sky Blues should have put the game beyond their Victorian visitors. We had to wait nervously until added time, when Fenton, so often the most direct player in the team at coming forward and aa dominant figure in the team, strode upfield and lifted a glorious pass to Vine. The Matildas superstar got her bosy position right before lifting a delicious shot over Larsen into the empty net from the egde of the area. What a way to finish the game, twirling our flags to the post-goal techno celebration song.
The beauty of the post-match scenes these days is amplified when the players move into position for their celebration with the Cove. It is the players now and not the Cove that seem to be demanding a sing and dance to cement the three points, and the Super Sydney FC chant accompanied their merry jig as the Sydney fans cheered a fantastic victory.
Club legend Rossco led the ball crew to meet their heroes and the biggest cheer of the night came when Cortnee Vine decided it was time to join the melee at the sideline and sign some shirts. Her post-match routine is so different now; once she was able to make her way around comfortably, now she is extra-hot property and needs to manage her time better, so tends to wait longer to join in. Completely understandable.
We were one of the last out as usual after savouring the maximum of post-match vibe. Andy was impressed by the atmosphere and especially the singing at his first football game on our shores, with a nod of the head to the Yankee Doodle Dandy at the end of the call and response; alas he would be off back on a big jet plane in the morning and would miss the men’s game at Allianz to make it the perfrect weekend.
We were out of the car park quickly but snarled up in Le Montage traffic, but made it to Ryde quickly, walking in as the EPL coverage was starting. A brilliant evening of top-flight women’s football, a fabulous victory for the Girls In Blue against a very good opposition, and hopefully another step towards filling Leichhardt Oval one day for a Sydney FC women’s game. We couldn’t have been prouder on Pride Round.
See you soon!