Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Sydney FC Women 0
If Sydney FC’s season is defined by a single point at the end of the season, this was it – a horrible performance from what should have been a dominant away team saw them come away with a draw despite leaving the door wide open during a second half suicide mission. A string of misses from the Sky Blues was matched by a string of saves by Sydney goalkeeper Tiahna Robertson, who will no doubt be the hero of the day, a day when nothing seemed to go right for either team in an entertaining goalless draw. An incident-free day off the park too for the travelling fans, a little wary after last year’s brush with the Westies in the expansive Marconi Club car park.
This was a little bit “after the Lord Mayor’s show” following the previous evening’s extended entertainment and fabulous come-from-behind win in Gosford for the men, but a trip to Marconi Stadium is always a pleasure, the massive car park pretty full on arrival 30 minutes before kick off. The Cove crew had already arrived on their bus, the banner and drums were being put in place, and our little corner of heaven in the north end of the stadium was already looking ready to go for an entertaining afternoon of top-flight women’s football. The camber of the field is always impressive here, a big pitch with the edges lower than the centre, the players feet not visible from the other side of the field, but from our elevated position, that was not an issue today.
The players entered to fireworks and fire, the PA system inaudible from our position, and We Are Sydney was belted out by the 20-strong Sydney crew. The teams had been turned around, Wanderers perhaps winning the toin coss forcing Sydney FC to shoot towards their fans in the first half. The wind may have been a factor too, a fierce cross-wind seeing the corner flags at full extension.
Sydney had a youthful backline with 16-year-old fullback Ruby Sullivan two years senior to tough-tackling central defender Willa Pearson. Coach Ante Juric persisted with Mackenzie Hawkesby up front, despite having a wealth of goals on the bench, and they were under seige from the kick-off. Hawkesby and Sarah Hunter tried their luck from distance, but didn’t get anywhere near, and at the other end Yuan Cong was a constant thorn, her physical presence giving her an extra yard whenever the ball went in to the Sydney penalty area. Cong headed one wide at the far end when she looked well placed and unmarked, but Maddie Caspers bent one in at our other end that the Wanderers keeper pushed away.
The passing in the first half was absolutely horrific from both sides. Amelia Cassar at one point floated a cross field ball to absolutely no one, like no one within 20 metres, and time and time again a simple pass would go out of play, or the control would let the player down. Hawkesby won a free kick in a dangerous position, but Hunter’s effort wasn’t troubling the Wanderers defence. Sydney held firm, the Cove under no illusions that they were lucky to be level at the break. The noise had been superb from the Cove, the chants echoing around the otherwise quiet stadium, and they would have to keep it up to spur on their heroes in the second half.
A half-time shooting competition took place at our end, but with the PA system muffled, we had no idea what was going on. Contrary to advice, we had free rein of the stadium at half time, but the queue for food was prohibitive, Michelle opting for a beer for dinner instead.
Into the second half, with former Westie Cassar replaced, it was difficult to know which team had the advantage from the breeze. Sydney attacked, newly-arrived Caley Tallon-Henniker had a glorious chance right in front that was blocked, Hawkesby blazed over from the penalty spot and Caspers miskicked one wide when it all opened up for her in the penalty area. Goal-machine Skye Halmarick came on relatively early and started to put herself about, but it was the Wanderers who should have scored; some comedy defending from Sydney, way over-confident and playing themselves into trouble, gave Cong a glorious chance in front, but Kirsty Fenton was across to block miraculously and Robertson dived on the loose ball.
Pearson showed her lack of experience, trying something fancy as the last defender and getting her pocket picked, and again Cong couldn’t convert, chased down by a pack of Sydney defenders instead of getting the early shot away. Pearson was down for a moment, but to the experienced observer, you could argue it was out of embarrassment. Massive let-off for the Sky Blues, and Pearson had to be strong to block super-sub sensation Talia Younis as she broke through. Sydney seemed to be playing two at the back. The clearest chance produced the best save of the day, Robertson getting down to push a low shot just past the post from Alyssa Ng-Saad, who had turned sweetly in the box. At the other end, the opportunities were there, the returning Hana Lowry missing two clear chances, blazing one of them way over the bar, her hands on her head after that one.
In the end, a nervy Sydney FC settled for the point, goalkeeper Robertson with her head bandaged up fielding questions on the sideline as the Cove waited patiently for the team to come and acknowledge them. The Cove had sung their hearts out today, the La La La La Sydney chant a highlight for getting everyone, including Willa Pearson’s younger sister and biggest fan, bouncing. There was also a lot of harmonising and free-styling which brought a strangely upbeat energy as the evening wore on. Not finishing on We Are Sydney felt right as we were urging the team on for the win, and it took the team an age to come across and see their most loyal fans.
You win some, you lose some. And sometimes you get a draw when you barely deserve it. One of Ella Buchanan’s family members wanted us know that the Cove need new songs as we headed out. Had we sung only one song today, it would have been one more than the Western Sydney Wanderers fans did today. So you can stick that where the sun don’t shine.
The day was complete when Australian football royalty Tom Sermanni joined our photo, despite his obvious preference to the West side of Sydney. Confidence is high ahead the Asian Cup. We were out of the car park quickly, the number of cars having thinned, and were back on the north side of Parramatta by 8pm, one of the closer away games for us. Wednesday sees a hastily rearranged 5pm game in Canberra – that’s not user-friendly at all, and we’re not going. Shame, as it was rescheduled from a clash with the men’s derby, but 5pm in Canberra on a week day, what’s that all about? Catch up soon, week off! Forza Sydney FC!