South Korea 1 Japan 4 Sydney relies on good weather to host a good event, but as many weddings, birthdays and beach parties have seen sunshine replaced by late afternoon rain on a balmy autumn day, some of the best events take place when everyone comes together thanks to the elements. As the drizzle startedContinue reading “Japanese juggernaut unstoppable… until Saturday.”
Author Archives: texismith
Interest rates plummet at Allianz
Sydney FC 0 Melbourne City 1 Sydney FC took the mood of a nation and sprinkled it with urine in a most unacceptable performance on St Patrick’s Day at a half-shut Allianz Stadium on Tuesday night. A game rearranged to accommodate Melbourne City’s failed Asian Champions League attracted a bleak crowd, the early kick offContinue reading “Interest rates plummet at Allianz”
Ruthless Japan send out a message
Japan 7 Philippines 0 Japan’s quarter-final clash at Stadium Australia was meant to be the day after the Matildas own Sydney quarter-final, and many tickets would have been sold in anticipation of rounding off a smashing weekend of top-flight international football. While this may have been a mitigating factor in the low numbers inside andContinue reading “Ruthless Japan send out a message”
South Korea’s six pack for Uzbeks
South Korea 6 Uzbekistan 0 When special event buses are running in Sydney, the event is usually one that attracts tens of thousands of fans. Alas, the first quarter final in Sydney, which was meant to involve the Matildas, was never going to attract a crowd to justify the major outlay of a free busContinue reading “South Korea’s six pack for Uzbeks”
Newy Horror Shit-Show
Newcastle Jets 3 Sydney FC 1 Sydney FC women’s team plumbed new depths at Newcastle’s Sportsground No. 2 this evening as they squandered a tidy lead, gifting goals to the home team in a fearful display of benevolence and profligacy. When Mackenzie Hawkesby put the visitors into the lead after some indecisive defending and evenContinue reading “Newy Horror Shit-Show”
Book review : Rippa
P.J. Laverty’s story about Joey Rippa, a talented Australian footballer living in the remote surfing village of Merri Bay on Western Australia’s coast, was a Secret Santa present, the limit set to $30 so the person who got it was in luck as it was on sale from the publisher in the lead-up to Christmas.Continue reading “Book review : Rippa”
A-League tipping Round 21 : The race to the pub to watch the Matildas
When the AFC Women’s Asian Cup dates and times were announced, the APL quite rightly made room for the group stages so there would be no clashes with the Matildas action. They must have been expecting a swift elimination for Australia though, as this weekend sees the A-League go up against a major international footballContinue reading “A-League tipping Round 21 : The race to the pub to watch the Matildas”
Manisha magic as Chinese Taipei advance
India 1 Chinese Taipei 3 A beautiful evening in Parramatta was a stark contrast to last night’s rainy conditions, the final round of group games in Group C coming to a close with what looked like a mismatch on paper. India, battered beyond submission by Japan on the weekend, up against Chinese Taipei, who hadContinue reading “Manisha magic as Chinese Taipei advance”
VAR drama, early whistle, China prevail in thriller
DPR Korea 1 China 2 A thoroughly miserable grey day in Western Sydney was a total contrast to the last time these two teams were in action, intermittent rain making for ideal conditions on the field, but adding to the barriers keeping the fans away from this tournament so far. The teams emerged well aheadContinue reading “VAR drama, early whistle, China prevail in thriller”
“F**ck off” : frustrated Matildas exposed in Asian Cup reality check
Australia 3 South Korea 3 This was meant to be a fairytale run of games in Sydney, packing out Accor Stadium with fervent Matildas fans en route to Asian Cup glory; however, as big-time women’s football returned to our shores after a series of underwhelming attendances, South Korea provided the Matildas’ first major test ofContinue reading ““F**ck off” : frustrated Matildas exposed in Asian Cup reality check”