Sydney FC Women 2 Perth Glory 0
While all eyes should have been on Tony Popovic’s experimental team playing Venezuela in Houston with the FIFA World Cup 2026 in mind, we were instead treated to an extended afternoon delight at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney FC women’s withstanding a first half siege to come out of hiding in the second half to beat a stubborn Perth Glory. A first goal for superstar Bianca Galic, after sparkling footwork from Riley Tanner, had Sydney in the lead before a lightning break sent everyone undercover expecting a repeat of the armageddon of last year’s Canberra game here. An hour later, after respecting the rules around storm activity and sport, the game restarted and saw Sydney FC dominate, putting the game to bed with a sweet strike by Tanner. It could have been more too, but we settled for a two-goal win, the remaining crowd getting their money’s worth from a huge afternoon in the suburbs.
Kick-off times are variable this season, and this one was oddly placed at 2.45pm, and we aimed for 1pm at the Orange Grove Hotel, in time to take in the first half of the Socceroos game. With the Lemon and Limes down 1-0 at the break, and the Cove crew a few drinks to the good, it was time to head to the stadium, this time Kev treating us to a lift to the front gate as car parking proved to be tricky. The ad hoc car parking of some matchgoers was being handsomely rewarded by the parking inspector, who had found a bonanza in the leisure centre car park as we walked towards the gate.
Decent numbers, but nothing like the opening game, and today was all about Mackenzie Hawkesby, making her 100th appearance for the Sky Blues, and we probably missed the presentation before the game as we were walking through the gate. A warm, slightly overcast day gave us perfect conditions for football, and we had our capo back, MMTV back from international duty to lead our band of misfits off the field and our superstars on the field to victory. We Are Sydney rang out as the players emerged and continued until after kick-off, Glory having won the toin coss and turned us around to shoot towards the Cove in the first half.
The opening stages were cagey, neither team able to find their rhythm, but when the commanding Onyinyechi Zogg was caught out with a heavy touch and sliced down Galic, Maddie Caspers played on and fed Hawkesby, but she had a rush of blood, players either side of her with acres of space, smashing the ball over the bar from distance. Perth Glory took control, winning a series of corners that kept the play at the far end, and one marauding run through the middle saw the busy Perth Glory midfielder strike the foot of the post with the diminuitive Tiahna Robertson beaten.
Perth piled on the pressure, Robertson making a blinding save to touch a free kick around the post, and we had a number of heart-in-mouth moments as the visitors turned the screw. Sydney didn’t create much, a fizzing corner by Tanner beating everyone and hitting the corner flag, an unbelievable repeat of what we had seen a fortnight ago right here in front of us. The huge planes leaving from Sydney airport were veering to the left immediately after take-off, suggesting that there was some meteorological action happening behind the huge trees at our backs as the cloud rolled in. Sydney made it to the half-time break at 0-0 and that was a relief – this was not a vintage display, and it was hard to see how we’d keep this effervescent Glory team from scoring at least once in the second 45.
A walk around the stadium, past the Shark tank behind the goal, along past the empty hill and then around the far end of the stadium revealed a bank of brooding cloud behind the Cove, enhancing the expectation of rain in the second half. The line for food was winding, and it was straight back to the home end to rejoin the action as the teams appeared for the second half. Our Sky Blues now shooting away from us was unusual, but we looked the better team, and it wasn’t long before we got our reward. The silky Tanner, perhaps a less speedy but more skillful Cortnee Vine, jinked her way down the left with a fabulous step-over and then ghosted past the last defender. It looked like she had a clear shot on goal from our angle, but she prodded the ball to Galic, who shot instinctively and the ball found the net via what looked like a deflection, but we didn’t care. The fans were pumped and celebrated well, a massive relief to have the lead.
It was getting dark, so dark in fact that the floodlights should have been on; they did eventually flicker into life, but the referee had seen lightning and it was time to vacate the playing area. No complaints, especially after the recent Sunshine Coast tragedy. We waited. “They’ve not told us to go undercover” was the call, a few moments before we were told to seek cover over the PA. We retreated to our old position in the main stand, the rain starting and making us realise we weren’t high enough up to stay out of it. It wasn’t heavy though, and the flashes were sporadic, each one eliciting a sharp intake of breath around the stand.
All of a sudden, the cones were back out, the day was brightening before our eyes and after what may have been an hour, we were back in the Cove getting ready for what felt like a new game. Maybe half of the crowd had already headed off into the suburban streets, with no indication of when the game was going to restart, but for those remaining, this was a reward for our patience. The Sydney players were pointing to the clock, wondering what the actual time was, the clock reading 67 minutes when we’d perhaps only played ten minutes of the second half. New huddles, new tactics maybe, and Sydney were right back on the attack, Caspers somehow riding a tackle to set herself clean through, but her attempted chip was too low and the Perth Glory keeper batted the ball away.
Sydney probed, Perth had some good positions, but the Sydney defenders seemed to have a special tactic, going to ground early and hooking the ball clear, both Abby Lemon and Tori Tumeth doing it brilliantly. Young Willa Pearson was clattered to the ground at one point but she seems to be made of steel, and the subs warmed up in front of us, three familiar faces from Christie Park proving that the youth system in Australia does actually work. With Sydney in the driving seat, they struck again, and this time it was a blunder by the Perth defence, gifting the ball to Caspers, who combined with the Hawk to tee up Tanner on the left, and she placed a beautiful shot past the Glory keeper, just inside the post for 2-0. Get in. And every time we score, I get this feeling… sang the Cove, this was awesome.
Robertson made hard work of a long-range speculator but her concentration was spot on, before Amelia Cassar had a good chance on the right but drilled it straight at the keeper. Perth kept pressing, and had a great chance when the centre forward chested the ball and turned in the area only to hook the ball hopelessly over the bar. Time for a significant change in added time, and we saw Skye Halmarick, future Matildas number 9, come on for her debut and put herself about, bouncing off players and looking like a player with years of experience, the swagger of a superstar in their prime and the gait of Zinedine Zidane. She almost squeezed in a shot when set free by Caspers, the ball bobbling against the post, but that was almost the final action and the referee blew for full time. Get in!
The players congregated next to the benches before heading over to the Cove for a celebration, linked arms as we saw last week with the men, then a quickfire Super Sydney FC chant had the players, and the new SFC baby, dancing and clapping along. Macca Hawkesby was serenaded before the players broke away for their post-match duties, Ruby Sullivan continuing her Community and Family Studies assignment of looking after her temporary child, appropriately named Ante Juric.
The mood was celebratory. The players were keen to stick around, the fans weren’t going anywhere, and we slipped quietly out into into the evening, heading back to the Orange Grove to pick up the car and back to the North Western suburbs by 7pm. An evening with no football, most unusual, but plenty of replays to keep us entertained. Today had been entertaining, and the result was reward for 90 minutes of vocal support. Honestly, if you want to let off steam on the weekend, chant and shout, there’s not many other places you can yell at the top of your voice in public with it being in context. Get yourself along to Leichhardt Oval, cast off your shyness, and join the crew for a right good singsong. And don’t worry if you don’t know the words, we still don’t know some of them after years on the terraces. See you soon. Two games next weekend, no excuses! Forza Sydney FC!
Hey, quick one, glad you got this far. Just to let me know you’re there, give this a like and even a comment on social media, follow me on the various platforms, and stay tuned for more as the season unfolds.