Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Sydney FC Women 2
Sydney FC’s fainter than faint hopes of a top-six finish were boosted as they recorded another win in a run which has seen them propelled from the foot of the ladder to within three points of a finals spot. An eventful night in Western Sydney which culminated in a pitiful ambush in the Marconi Stadium car park, this was all about the football on the field and the resurgence of the Girls in Blue after a horror season. A fortuitous penalty on the stroke of half time was converted by Mackenzie Hawkesby and a second half Indiana Dos Santos finish underlined the Sydney dominance that keeps the other Sydney team in last place on the table. This city is ours!
A tricky one to navigate, this, a 7pm kick off at Marconi Stadium, deep in the suburbs of Western Sydney, giving a proper intimidating derby away-day feel. Knocking off work slightly early, we were on the road from the far north-western suburbs of Sydney just after 5.15pm and didn’t really hit any expected traffic, arriving around 6pm into the enormous Club Marconi car park. We were ushered into the stadium’s main entrance and welcomed by the friendly staff, who were handing out posters and flyers, and we made ourselves up towards the traditional away end terraces behind the goal. A late change of spot had us near the corner, and the Cove set up base camp ready for action.
The Wanderers players were warming up at our end, looking sharp in front of goal, teen superstar Talia Younis effortlessly pinging shots into the goal, and when the players emerged from the tunnel on the far side, an unexpected firework display engulfed the main stand in smoke. It was actually quite a scene against the dreary backdrop and threatening sky, and the players lined up facing away from the main stand for TV purposes, the massive gantry on the car park side of this marvellous stadium bearing down over the field.
Sydney FC looked as comfortable as they have done all season in the first half. They were very composed at the back and Shay Hollman and Lucy Johnson busied themselves in closing down their opponents and starting up attacks. Goalkeeping sensation Jasmine Black was a virtual spectator as Sydney pressed, Hawkesby getting through on the left, but unable to outpace her defender, while Caley Tallon-Henniker had another frustrating half, unable to make any physical imprint on proceedings despite getting into some good positions. The Women’s Cove rattled out tune after tune, this was a good turnout, and the sound carried well across the whole stadium.
The first half was coming to a close, and Sydney had run their opponents ragged without really threatening, when a mis-hit corner by Dos Santos flashed low into the penalty area, the ball jumping up and striking the hand of the Wanderers defender. It appeared to be purely accidental, but every player and fan in Sky Blue appealed to the referee, and the decision went in Sydney’s favour. The footballing gods had turned; decisions like these have not gone Sydney’s way all season, and Hawkesby made no mistake from 12 yards, the Wanderers keeper not even having a guess at which way it was going.
A fabulous end to the first half, and Sydney FC’s active fans were in full voice as the players disappeared again down into the main stand.
There were people in the car park checking out the Cove; whether or not they were just interested passers-by or if this was someone scouting for trouble, we’ll never know. Inside the stadium the Cove marshals and the two police officers who were doing the rounds made it seem as though they didn’t even need to be there, and it was a safe environment, even if an 11-year-old youngster insisted on waving his Wanderers flag in front of us.
The second half was superb from Sydney. The game opened up, but every one-on-one chase was won by our ever-alert defence, Abby Lemon’s no-nonsense tackling well applauded and Jordan Thompson making vital stops. Captain Nat Tobin was a step ahead of her player and the tempo was good.
At one point Lemon looked at a ball that had veered across the goalmouth and appeared to be going out for a goal kick, and turned her back, but the ball had stayed in, and an unnecessary foot race saw her clear her lines with relief. Both teams had chances, Half-time sub Princess Ibini hit one just over the bar, Tallon-Henniker did well to cross dangerously right in front, and Millie Farrow tried a spectacular overhead flick that went well over the bar. The second goal when it came was a gift, just when Wanderers appeared to be coping with the pressure. Hawkesby pounced on a loose ball, Farrow was one on one with the keeper, and she squared for Dos Santos to curl the ball away from the stranded keeper and into the inside netting. The Cove was mid-chant and the chant continued, growing in volume. This was fantastic. In-diana, In-In-diana.
The Wanderers had chances towards the end of the game, Black making a good stop with her legs before watching the same striker drill wide from right in front. On any other day this season, those would have gone in, but the renewed and regenerated Sydney FC women survived, and were good value for the three points. Shea Connors got lucky with a bounce that went her way and she was off on a one v one with her defender, but she was well tackled, before Tobin won a ball and played it into the corner flag at the far end, a marvellous piece of non-time-wasting game management that was appreciated by her teammates.
The Wanderers creche had by now decided to regale the Sydney Cove with their thumbs-down swimming carnival chants, but the volume from the visiting fans was drowning out everything. The game ended to a backdrop of We Are Sydney and the players milled around the far side of the pitch before finally coming our way. The marshals were keen to get us out, but we had celebrations to do. F*ck You Western Sydney scum rang around the fast-emptying stadium as the players lined up for the celebration. Jordan Thompson showed the Cove drummer that he’s not that bad after all, and the players and fans joined in the call and response with capo MMTV leading the way with gusto. This truly was a family moment.
What a superb end to a derby encounter, the players were obviously pumped, and the mood in the squad appears to have been mended by a few morale-boosting victories. The players were off back to the sanctuary of the main stand to meet and greet with the inactives, while the active fans assembled to head out of the back entrance and into the busy car park.
Just as the fans were starting to head off in their cars, a pack of Western Sydney rat boys swarmed one of the cars and started punching the windows; in a split-second they were gone, disappearing into the night after being spooked, but the evening wasn’t over yet. As we headed away from the stadium and passed an RBT station on Horsley Drive, a police car caught up with us and did a U-turn in front of us at speed to head back to the stadium. Moments later an out-of-control car came up behind and roared past, a car coming out of a side road cutting them off and sending the speeding car into the air. All the occupants of the two cars piled out, so luckily there were no casualties other than the vehicles themselves, and we drove past wondering if we had seen some of these characters in the car park minutes before. What a peculiar end to a fabulous evening, and we were back in the relative oasis of calm of North Western Sydney at 10pm trying to fathom just what went on.
Sydney FC winning the derby in Western Sydney. The Women’s Cove in full voice. The players rejoicing the win; it doesn’t get much sweeter than that. We’ve got two more games to go, and we’re relying on Brisbane Roar especially to continue their awful run of results. It’s a super long shot, but could they do it? It could be over by the end of the weekend, but at least we’re still in with a faint sniff. Forza Sydney FC, the A League entertainment never stops!