Sydney FC Women 0 Adelaide United 0
The return of football to Leichhardt Oval after it was taken out of action post-Christmas presented a glorious chance for Sydney FC to build on a much-improved performance in Melbourne last week, one that they passed up with yet another blank on the scoresheet. A game interrupted by drinks breaks and dubious offside calls was going nowhere in a first half of such low quality that the fans barely raised their voices, but a more direct route in the second half gave the home support plenty to get excited about, the width of the bar denying Riley Tanner, and the Cove growing in numbers and fervour as the game wore on. Second bottom vs third bottom produced exactly the result you would expect, both teams proving that their positions in the table are a reflection of their uninspriring football this season.
Friday 9th January was a hot one. With Michelle at a family event, it was Tessa in the hot seat as we wound through Ryde, along Victoria Road and cut in through Rozelle to Leichhardt. An abortive attempt to park in the packed leisure centre car park ended up in Le Montage car park down below after dropping the passenger at the one and only watering hole, the Orange Grove, and a sweaty walk back up the new path (when was that built?) and through the back streets allowed five minutes for a refreshing soda water at the pub. A 7pm kick off and the sun was absolutely beaming. The crowd at the front gate had all now gone in and were almost exclusively in the shadow of the main stand as the players went through their warm-up routines. Adelaide were clad in a snazzy warm-up uniform that didn’t suggest that they were Adelaide, Sydney warmed up in the hot sun as the state of the pitch revealed itself. Sandy patches, leftover turf behind the goalline and different coloured patchwork throughout the playing surface. The groundsman plopping a pile of sand into a hole just before the players arrived back on the field for kick off told a story.
This was a small crowd. A thousand would be stretching it, and the Cove assembled in the usual spot in the shade, trying to remember how it all worked after so long away from home. The team line-ups were shown on the big screen at the far end, the names so small that you couldn’t read it. Voices were croaky to begin with, but We Are Sydney was belted out as always when the players entered the field, taking us by surprise. The line-up was a statement, keeping faith in last week’s team who battled valiantly, superstar Skye Halmarick given another chance to break her duck.
The first half was devoid of quality, Tori Tumeth giving the crowd something to cheer with a meaty challenge to concede a corner. Paige Zois took a series of corners from in front of the Cove before being relieved of that duty, and only one moment from a corner had our hearts in our mouths, Heather Hinz going up early and almost losing flight of the ball. Adelaide had a host of chances, the incessant singing by the Cove interjected with sharp intakes of breath as the ball whistled past the post on three or four occasions. Sydney had nothing going forward; or should I say the game was so unengaging that it was difficult to concentrate on what was and what wasn’t happening. The best chance was out of the blue when a goalkeeper clearance struck Jodi Ukelele and looped goalwards, but it was up the other end and didn’t really make sense at all in real time. Sarah Hunter was sliced down and Willa Pearson took a big hit, and the rampaging Kirsty Fento looked the most likely to make something happen going forward. Half time at 0-0 was no surprise, but Hinz’s goal had led a charmed life.
The second half was more of the same. Tumeth was up with an attack and was injured. Total confusion saw her ushered from the field before the physios could come on and treat her, and she was left marooned on the far touchline with no one to see to her. Eventually she just subbed herself back on, the physio team still waiting in the technical area. Adelaide had the ball in the net on the break, there was no flag, but no celebration either, the referee having given a free kick to Sydney before the finish for what could have only been a slight push.
Tanner came on for the Ukelele, and immediately Sydney went on the offensive. The attacking intent was suddenly apparent, Abby Lemon’s through ball on the inside of the defender absolutely fantastic until the assistant referee raised the flag to the bemused Tanner. The Panamanian flyer brought a verve to the home team and it almost paid dividends wit time running out, as she danced outside her defender and smashed a shot off the underside of the bar. Did it cross the line? No way. But the three players at the far post couldn’t force te ball in either and the chance went begging.
There was still time for Adelaide to snatch a win, Pearson was caught trying a stupid turn as the last defender, and a free header in the area from yet another corner up at the far end beat Hinz but Kirsty Fenton was on the line to hack the ball clear. Again, from our vantage point it was hard to know what really happened, but it must have been close.
The final whistle was a relief. Sydney FC have scored five goals in nine games, and the lack of cutting edge and confidence was on show. The players took an age to come across, and were treated to The Highest Highs by the Cove, showing that the support will be there through thick and thin. And thin it certainly is at the moment. The players enjoyed their post-match love-in with the fans as always, the scoreline immaterial if signatures and selfies are in free supply, but this was another non-performance from Sydney FC in a flurry of poor games in the A-League this season.
The Cove filtered out into the night, and the journey home was very quick, the lack of crowd making the exit from Leichhardt very swift indeed.
The early-season promise was obviously a false dawn, we all knew that. Sydney FC have been found out again this season, no confidence in the team, no real attacking ideas and all that good vibe created by the Matildas in 2023 is waning quickly. The glimmer of hope that hot shot Halmarick can get on the scoresheet to open the floodgates, as well as the positive football from the defence, keeps us coming back for more.
So, that’s it, not coming any more? I don’t think so. That’s classic click bait. Glad you read this far. See you on Tuesday when out-of-form Newcastle Jets come to town looking to extend Sydney’s scoreless run even further into the new year – surely that’s worth heading to Leichhardt Oval?