Canberra United 0 Sydney FC 1
The Sydney FC Women’s Cove’s Tour of Duty took the Sky Blue squadron down the motorway to Canberra on a revenge mission. After weathering a series of dangerous set pieces and some hairy moments, a fierce shot from Mackenzie Hawkesby sent Sydney FC on the way to a terrific three points against the team that denied them the premiership in this same fixture a year ago. A strong finish to the game typified Ante Juric’s team spirit of late, and we now go into the final three weeks of the season with renewed hope and optimism, even with no hope of making the finals.
There’s something special about NSW away games. The Saturday afternoon kick off time made it even more special. The only thing missing was another team’s fans travelling to a different game and crossing paths in the motorway services for a spot of tension. If BBC 5 Live had been playing in the car, a hundred other games happening across the country and the temperature slashed in two, this could have been any Saturday in England. Wake up Texi…
With the remit of meeting for an ovine selfie at the Goulburn pitstop at 2pm, we were on the road soon after 11.30am. Multiple tolls and a bit of traffic as roadworks brought the flow down to one lane saw us pull in to the Big Merino car park right on time, and the rest of the Sydney Women’s Cove was enjoying exquisite German baked goods in front of Australia’s number one ‘big thing’.
A further hour on the road had us pulling into the Belconnen United car park at McKellar Park ready to plant our flag and stake our claim on a patch of the stadium to call our own. The stadium was pumping, probably twice as many people as last season, and all the shady areas were taken; the Cove flag was mounted on the metal stand in the bright sunshine and we had our base for the day. A hat might have been a good idea, and the stand at the entry promoting sun sense and offering free sun cream was the most popular of all the activations. The atmosphere was superb, happy smiling faces, this is why Canberra United was saved and why it will continue to be a valuable part of Canberra life.
There were many sky blue shirts. It was a joy to see. Picnic blankets were everywhere, gazebos up to protect from the beaming sun, and Sydney FC warmed up with some much-needed shooting practice. There were shouts of “ball” as the shots rained down onto the unsuspecting fans behind the goal, and the goalkeeping coach winced as multiple balls made it out of the stadium altogether. Shea Connors though was rattling every one of her shots in the net, hopefully a sign of things to come.
It was clear that the Cove were only going to be joined by a handful of extras for today’s proceedings, most people sensibly choosing the shade of the main stand, but it was lovely in the sun and our fearless capo MMTV, back from international duty, roused the stadium after the players had come out for their Pride Round entrance. We Are Sydney pierced the air, but the Canberra United faithful were straight on it, giving us a song in return. The stadium was alive, the game kicked off, and the Cove continued with the chant to let the players know that they had our full support.
Sydney were shooting away from the car park end, and took a while to get into their rhythm. Canberra had the first chance from a corner, and it was ridiculous defending from Sydney to allow the hosts to pack the penalty area and the ball bounced off the bar with a free header. A goal from a corner was surely coming. Our first corner looked like a good chance for captain Nat Tobin at the far post, but she may have been on the byline as she headed the ball back instead of on goal, and Tori Tumeth eventually got the shot in, but it was deflected away. Canberra enjoyed the bulk of possession, but Sydney had the odd break, and another corner was prodded wide by player of the season Jordan Thompson.
Sydney’s failing for the season were there for all to see. Caley Tallon-Henniker was stand-offish and wouldn’t go into a challenge; her lightning pace was no match for the defenders on either side who simply brushed her off. Indiana Dos Santos was caught with the ball on more than one occasion, and even playing out from the back Sydney FC were sloppy. The slight Maddie Caspers trying to intimidate a defender before being side-stepped showed at least the girls were trying to close down their opponents, but too often Canberra were given too much respect, the powerful Michelle Heyman untouchable when she had the ball.
When Sydney FC play the ball around swiftly, without taking that extra touch, that’s when they seem to be able to pick apart the opponents. The Cove offered encouragement throughout the first half, and by all accounts were audible from the main stand. Shay Hollman was somehow shown a yellow card after she had her legs whipped away from under her – perhaps something she said afterwards, but it was strangely a free-kick against her. Was anything going to go right today?
Goalless at the break was no surprise; it was hot after all. With the sun coming further down, the second half would be a challenge to see anything, and the long shadows would make for an interesting forty-five minutes, especially for the goalkeepers.
The simple half-time entertainment was well-received as queues formed for cool drinks and cold ice-creams. A cross bar challenge was happening at one end, the half-time heroes were playing at the other. More sun cream was applied. By the time we got back to the designated Cove stand, the players were coming out and we had a big second half to come. Canberra went forward, Heyman flashing in a cross that fell nicely for goalkeeping sensation Jasmine Black. Former Sydney FC player Aideen Keane flopped down in the penalty area looking for a spot kick and was quite rightly ignored by the referee. The game was opening up now, the introduction of Millie Farrow to join half-time attacking replacements Princess Ibini and Connors gave Sydney FC that extra bite. Connors raced through the middle to fire in a low shot, but it was set pieces again where Canberra would be dangerous. A swinging corner came in and Hollman somehow deflected the ball off the line and Sydney FC escaped.
Farrow then stole the ball on the far side, the referee seeing nothing wrong with the challenge. Dos Santos raced into the area, clean through on goal, but seemed to hesitate. Her choice to square the ball for Hawkesby though was vinidcated as the midfielder rifled the ball into the net for a cracking opening goal, the Sydney players really enjoying it, and the Cove going bonkers on the other side of the field. The celebrations were still happening when a hopeful ball somehow found Ibini on the left, and she dinked past her defender and was taken out. Deadset penalty. But no, the referee waved it away. Even from our distant spot it looked nailed on, but for some reason it wasn’t given. That could be pivotal.
If Canberra had scored at the other end when Keane handballed en route to goal after a route-one upfield shank, there would have been an inquest, but Thompson was there to block the shot. Canberra had another corner, they had been dangerous all day, so when the corner sailed harmlessly behind to a chorus of ‘aaaaaghhh’ from the Sydney fans, perhaps we were a chance at preserving the lead and nicking the win. Tumeth’s game management tactics were a little opaque – asking for a ball from the ball crew when another ball was right next to her, and then fumbling it, by accident of course. The Sydney defender had already taken on water supplied by the Cove when there was a short break in play, and the extra zing that gave her allowed her to win a meaty challenge right in front of the Sydney fans that was cheered enthusiastically. We had the Dos Santos derby too as Janaya came on and was flattened by her sister, the Canberra Dos Santos looked composed and confident, the move having been a good one for her.
The final whistle almost caught us out, there wasn’t even enough time to chew fingernails, and We Are Sydney rang out again, this time in celebration. The players knew where the active fans were and made their way across for some lovely moments, JT and Nat with the fan selfies and a warm welcome back for super capo MMTV from the players, now that we know she is not the jinx. Adrian and Lidia, absent from another victory, suspicion continues to grow that the jinx is with the newlyweds. Super Sydney FC rang around the stadium, the Cove joined by more sky blue shirts; what a great end to the day.
The scoreboard showed 1-0 we think ; facing the sun, it was difficult to tell. The Canberra players fronted their adoring fans, the defeat forgotten. The temptation to barrack former Victory star Maja Markovski was there, memories of her gestures our way after our semi-final defeat at Kogarah still fresh in the memory, but she was having a great time signing boots that we left that right alone. The mood was happy; the young fans had easy access to the players. The Canberra goalkeeper was being peppered with questions about playing that position from a bunch of young boys and they were lapping it up. This is what football is all about. It’s for the fans, it’s a game for the people, and today, even though the result went the wrong way for the home fans, they were entertained and left with a genuine desire to come back for more.
There was a bottleneck as supporter access was blocked to allow the players back down the tunnel, but we were out soon after. With the players piling on the bus, we drove off into the setting sun, and back to Goulburn for a succulent McDonalds meal and then back on to Sydney, arriving at 10pm ish and ready to relax ahead of another football day.
What a great day out. Six hours in the car, but rewarded with an exciting game, and the Tour of Duty to the nation’s capital gave us three points and still a probability-defying mathematical possibility of making the top six. Get your arse to the next game, see you there! Forza Sydney FC!