Heart-stopping quarter final thriller

Sydney FC 3 Jeonbuk Motors 2

An epic journey through suburban Sydney preceded an epic journey through the quarter finals for Sydney FC in the Asian Champions League 2 at Allianz Stadium. A quite unbelievable first hour that could have seen Sydney FC four goals down was turned on its head by a scrappy goal by Alex Grant, and once Patryk Klimala had got his goal, a penalty from Douglas Costa was the icing on the cake to turn a disastrous defeat into a majestic victory. With A-League secret agent Valere Germain having done his best work to ensure Singapore’s Lion City Sailors await in the semi-final, the future is bright as we head into the A-League finals run in.

  • Scorching out West
  • Never heard of it
  • Parramatta Square
  • Different trains
  • Back in the city
  • A proper light rail that never breaks down

Everyone has had a story of a mammoth journey to get to the football, but a good hour should be enough to get me door to door in Sydney for a home game. A journey that started on the light rail to Parramatta saw the tram come to a halt at a mysterious station Tramway Avenue and we were advised to get off and walk if we had somewhere to be. Boiling hot and sweating, the final 15 minutes to Parramatta station was almost done when the tram caught up to me. There was no-one to let me through the gate at Parra station, free transport included in the ticket deal, and when I finally found someone, they had no idea there was a game on. Fair enough, this is Wanderers territory after all. An express train that seemed like a throw-back in time took me to Central, where another light rail trip made the journey up to Moore Park in a couple of minutes. This already felt like an epic evening, and Michelle was held up at work and subsequently in traffic and was running late.

  • Pilgrimage
  • The simple life
  • Sparkling in the evening sun
  • Driver Avenue capo
  • Gate One
  • Works next door
  • Gleaming ticket office

A high tempo AFL training session was happening on the field next to Moore Park, Driver Avenue was open and there was a camp Yorkshireman with a megaphone warning people to be careful as they crossed the road, the football crowd used to having the road to themselves on game day. Surely a sign of a meagre crowd to come, there were only two gates open, and I made sure I took the label off my water bottle to avoid any nonsense at our usual gate, Gate 3.

An ACL2 game has a very strange vibe. There’s something quirky yet unwelcoming about it, and it was evident today. An exuberant RSA marshal at the bar, perhaps lacking spacial awareness, was slightly over-eager, almost bowling people over while keeping the line moving at speed, and I headed up to my seat with my extortionate Stone and Wood to see who was around. Luckily the Prof was there, no others from our area taking advantage of the same seat deal. A group of people behind were moved on by the ACL2 ticket police, or it may have been to do with the labels on their bottles, no one will ever know, but they were definitely made to disappear. Like I say, a very odd feeling coming into these games, like Big Brother is watching at all times.

We were close to kick off, but the stadium was virtually empty, the early kick off very difficult to manoeuvre for a lot of fans, and the Cove made sure everyone came to the centre of Bay 23 to let them at least make an atmosphere for this crucially important game. The players appeared to no fanfare at all, it was a little disconcerting that they came out almost unnoticed. At least we were spared daytime fireworks, but the music was loud. Sydney had a very strong team; being 2-0 up from the away leg meant that we could relax, in theory, but Ufuk Talay had a sixth sense and played his strongest eleven.

  • Cove assemble
  • Players are out suddenly
  • Game on
  • Action stations
  • Defend for our lives

Both teams were up for this, Joe Lolley testing the keeper after a short corner had seemed wasted, and when Klimala was set free by Anthony Caceres up the far end, he was looking for options that were not there. A quick step inside and he slammed a shot over the Jeonbuk keeper and Sydney FC were ahead. We all looked at the assistant referee, no flag, what a start! There were no replays on the big screens, the players assembled at half way, there was no suggestion that the goal was being checked. All of a sudden, after a lengthy wait to kick off, the game was immediately stopped. The score changed back to 0-0 and the game went on, everyone bemused at what had just happened.

Jordan Courtney-Perkins was having one of those games where every touch goes wrong, it happens, and Jeonbuk seemed to be concentrating their play as a result down their right. At one point we had two balls on the field as Sydney went to take a throw-in. All the players looked at each other as if to say ‘well, I’m not getting it’ and the ball crew had to run on to remove the second ball, no doubt against AFC regulations and sending the match commissioner into meltdown. Sydney went behind on the night when a cute ball was played in to the attacker on the right of the area. His control was sublime and he fed the ball into the incoming players, it was difficult to see which player was going to hit it, but it stayed hit and Harrison Devenish-Meares was beaten by the power. Lolley standing with his hand in the air for the offside instead of tracking his man was particularly disappointing, and the goalscorer appeared to get a whack from a teammate in celebration and was left doubled over in pain.

Devenish-Meares then pulled off a brave save to push a header past the post with a South Korean player looming, a world-class stop to keep Sydney in the lead, but the visitors continued to camp upfield. A rasping shot from Nana Boateng, who had sat so quietly during Gus Poyet’s pre-match press conference rant, seemed to hit the post, the assistant awarding a corner. Comical defending from the corner saw not a single Sydney player react and go to the ball, Courtney-Perkins so far away from the header, so it was no surprise when the free shot rebounded to the only player who was alert and Jeonbuk Motors had the equalising goal on aggregate. It was just before half time, the whistle blew as soon as we kicked off, and this cup tie was now on a knife edge.

  • Back out after a roasting
  • Here we go!
  • We’re gonna score in a minute
  • Get in
  • Action
  • Winning feeling
  • Piling over

A strange night was just about to get stranger. The Cove restarted the second half with silent capos and the crowd choosing their own chant, Rhyan Grant telegraphed a pass and slick passing saw the Jeonbuk striker through on goal; it looked nailed on a third as the striker shot, but somehow Devenish-Meares deflected the ball away for a corner with his legs. What an escape. The South Korean number 97 then flopped to the ground looking to stop the game, but the officious middle eastern referee waved play on. Boos rang out as the player leapt to his feet and sprinted back into play – a yellow card would have been appropriate for that disappointing act of play-acting.

Sydney FC then scored. And what a scrappy goal it was. Costa’s expert free kick from the right arrowed all the way to the back post where Rhyan Grant let the ball hit him, and it rebounded into the path of fellow central defender Alex Grant, who gleefully stuck out a leg and steered the ball into the net in front of the Cove. Relief all round, it was akin to the Covid grand final nipple goal, it didn’t matter how it went in, we just needed the goal. Sydney FC were looking a lot more likely to score the next one now, and the game opened up with Costa showing the way like he did at Macarthur. His silky skill gave his team the chance to work an opening for Klimala, who dinked the ball out of a tackle wth his right and finished with his left, doing the superman shirt rip in front of the Cove who had gone completely bonkers. This was a conntinental night to remember.

Sydney had a corner, the referee lectured the players once more about pushing and holding, so Klimala went to take a drink fron the goalkeeper’s drink bottle. He took a swig then poured the rest of the water onto the ground, shithousery he must have learned from teammate Andew Redmayne. The Cove did the SFC chant that everyone loves. Instead of going into the lo-lo part of the chant, the capo mixed it up and went into the na-na-na-na chant. Like a DJ remix, you had to be here to experience it. Costa was at his devilish best, his ability to stop dead and then feint past his player was something that frustrated his opponents no end, and it was a surprise that he was still on the field given that the tie was seemingly over. When Adrian Segecic was brought down for a stonewall penalty on the edge of the area by the impressive Boateng, Jaiden Kucharski appeared to be heading to the penalty spot to claim the kick, but it was Costa who took it. The stuttering run up and the devastating finish sent us into ecstacy again, and we now knew that the game was over as a contest.

There was time for Jeonbuk to give Devenish-Meares some work to do, and a cheeky chip from a free-kick inside their own half almost caught the Sydney shot stopper in no man’s land, but he was able to field it with a sublime chest-down and jogged away with the ball as if there was no danger at all. Leo Sena antagonised the visiting players, teasing his opponent into a stupid challenge on the byline as he showed his mean streak. The big screen, which had shown 0.25 second clips of replays all night, including the almost over-lapping lines for Klimala’s offside, now showed the Jeonbuk fans’ anguish, unhappy faces eliciting jeers from the Sydney faithful. A paltry 7,000 people were here tonight, but they had enjoyed one of the most exciting conclusions to a two-legged tie.

  • Eager to celebrate
  • A happy team
  • Super Sydney FC
  • Stealing a Mariners move
  • Devenish-Meares on vocals

The players wasted no time coming to the Cove to celebrate, the SFC chant again filled the stadum as the players joined in. The team then posed for a photo, Mariners-style, or even Australia Cup style, in front of the Cove and Devenish-Meares, unsung hero for the night, led the crowd through the call and response Come On You Boys In Blue. Awesome scenes. This had been a fabulous spectacle for those who had made the effort to be here. The in-stadium experience had not been the best – no replays, kept in the dark about VAR, and forever the spectre of big brother looking at your every move. In fact Michelle, who arrived a little late, was even later after being turned away from Gate 3 – the gate I had gone through – and forced to run back to Gate 1 to enter the stadium.

  • Never ending basins – humour me, I found it interesting!
  • Jeonbuk ultras

Outside the stadium, the Jeonbuk fans assembled on Driver Avenue and seemed stunned. Some had flown over especially for the game and were exhausted after an emotional rollercoaster of an evening. We headed to the Entertainment Quarter to pick up the car and headed back to the far north western suburbs of Sydney, rolling into the driveway just before 11pm.

What a superb evening. What could well have been another ignominious AFC experience, turned into a Haarlem Globetroters style party, and everyone who was at Allianz Stadium tonight will remember this night fondly. Wellington Phoenix weekend coming up – get excited! Forza Sydney FC.

Everything but the goal

Blacktown City 0 South Coast Flame 1

A superb strike on the counter-attack from Naomi Hart was the difference between two lively teams at Landen Stadium on Sunday, South Coast Flame leaving with three points and Blacktown City wondering just how they didn’t score. A rousing second half from the hosts saw them go close on multiple occasions, but the killer instinct was missing; is this set to be a season of ‘what could have been’ for Blacktown’s bright young things in the Girls Youth League Under 18 Division Two?

The bright orange shirts of today’s visitors were a statement, but they lived up to their vivid colour with a positive warm-up and a dominant first period of the game. Captain Arika English and fellow defender Lola Garcia stroked the ball around like superstars in the opening ten minutes, the hesitant City strikers unable to get anywhere near the ball. Caelin Rogers on the left up against Lara Green was already shaping up to be an exciting tussle, but it was fellow attacker Amalia Harb who broke through onto a defensive giveaway and brought the best out of Courtney Mackenzie in the City goal, palming the ball away for a corner.

South Coast’s corners were leaving a lot to be desired, but they kept pushing, Harb again beating two players before sliding a glorious ball through for Rosie Lewis but the ball just ran away. A sweet turn from Hart then tested Mackenzie, Flame continued to push but Courtney Kitching was quick to clear up any danger from the long searching ball over the top. Harb again pounced on a loose pass in defence and fired in a cross from the right. Kitching was first to it, but she could only divert the ball goalwards and Mackenzie made an astonishing save to prevent an own goal and turn the ball behind for a corner.

Harb played in Madison Latta, but the offside flag was up before she shot, and Hart raced up the left into the box, firing low to Mackenzie’s left, but the ball was inches past the far post. This was a case of survival for City, and with too many misplaced pases in defence and a lack of intensity in the increasingly hot conditions, they were dicing with danger.

Sarah De Sousa and Sienna Bell battled for a loose ball as City finally got some traction, De Sousa firing over from distance, then Rachel Fry slid a delicious through ball in to De Sousa, but goalkeeper Spiridoula Spyrakis was out quickly at her feet to clear. An interception by Aurelia Smith was played to De Sousa, but her lofted shot was plucked out of the air by Spyrakis. There was finally life in the City attack. A belated drinks break was called, but not before Hart had been foiled by a last-ditch Kitching tackle and Hart again had a fierce shot charged down. A drinks break was most welcome, the heat starting to beam off the slick Landen Stadium surface.

Refreshed and refocused, City continued to battle, De Sousa doing well up against the strong Latta. All of a sudden a stray pass in defence from Flame had Fry in space in front of goal, but she dragged her shot wide. De Sousa, Green and Fry then combined with some intricate one-touch passing, but the final ball was just out of reach for Fry. Emily Jackson continued the onslaught for the reinvigorated City attack, teeing up Liliana Waterhouse, but the shot was scuffed and cleared. Fry raced up the left to cross, but Spyrakis pounced, before City won a corner after good work by Jackson and Green.

The corner was half-cleared to Fry who took aim, and got a second attempt when her shot was blocked, the ball falling for Angelica Conate whose shot was well saved by Spyrakis. Sienna Bell was by now on maximum charge. Flame were a constant threat though, Harb playing in Annabelle Shelton, but Kitching was in quick to clear. Smith was venturing forward and played in a through ball, but Evdokia Papafilopoulos wasn’t on the same wavelength and the ball was cleared. Half time was upon us when Bell won a ball in midfield and raced up the right, her dangerous cross sliced high into the air, but the whistle sounded and the players could have some respite from the energy-sapping heat.

South Coast Flame were out early into the searing afternoon sunshine, kept waiting by the referee and their opponents, and the breeze was now well and truly in favour of the visitors. A superb move involving Smith and Waterhouse eventually led to Papafilopoulos striking on goal, but there was no power in the effort, and Papafilopoulos was struggling to find her range as a second attempt was mis-hit. At the other end Dominique Ashton pursued English, eventually forcing the ball out for a corner, and when the corner came in, Hart’s rising shot was saved well by Mackenzie in the City goal.

The impressive Natalia Badrov then rode three City challenges in midfield before raking a glorious ball out right to Hart to win a corner, and when the first corner was scrambled behind, a second corner was cleared well by the Blacktown defence. De Sousa played the ball off her own face in a comedy falcon moment, still managing to play in Fry through moist eyes, but the ball was cleared. Smith then found herself in unfamiliar territory bursting through up the left, but she couldn’t find a way past the final player.

Emilie Chandran won a free kick on the left, Ashton fired in a teasing ball in front of Spyrakis, and Smith just couldn’t meet the ball. Ashton was winning a lot of her duels by simply playing the ball off the legs of her attacker, but she could only watch when Kitching and Smith got in a knot from a goal kick and Harb fired wide with the best chance of the game. A similar moment upfield was to gift Flame the ball when De Sousa and Jackson left the ball for each other. A swift interception and through ball to Hart sent her off and running, and this time Ashton couldn’t get the run of the ball and Hart advanced on goal, steering a shot inside the far post for a superb opening goal. Hart was almost through again a minute later but City survived, and South Coast Flame were hunting for more.

De Sousa was bundled over for a free kick from the right; Jackson and Bell combined brilliantly but the shot lacked conviction, before City had their best chance. Beth Lucas got in the way of a huge clearance from Kitching, and Spyrakis presented De Sousa with the ball on the edge of the area with the goal open. De Sousa shot instantly, but Spyrakis stuck out a hand and the ball was diverted for a corner. Kitching was in the area looking for a heading opportunity from the corner but the ball wouldn’t fall for her.

A great move on the right then saw Bell race into space and pick out Waterhouse at the far post. The ball was there to be struck, but the City flyer got the ball tangled in between her legs and the chance was gone. City had turned the contest in their favour, and the drinks break was well-timed to give them one last push to get something out of the game.

Another superb move with De Sousa and Smith then sent Green chasing a through-ball, but the ball just beat her on the byline. A sudden interception by Smith was played instantly to Lucas, free on the edge of the area, but her back was turned and she couldn’t turn and shoot quickly enough, the defence having gone walkabout. The officials appeared to be suffering from the heat too as a series of decisions went the wrong way. Lewis was tackled by Green for a corner but a goal kick was awarded. Hart and Rogers then combined but the shot was blocked, and the corner again ended up frustratingly behind the goal. De Sousa was battling hard, but the next moment puzzled everyone, a deflection out of play by a Flame defender being awarded as a throw-in to Flame despite the protestations from everyone in black and red.

Smith then found Bell out on the right who cut in and fired on goal, the ball bobbling just wide of the far post, the referee awarding a mystery corner to protests from the Flame defence. Flame made their final sub, but were trying to make two substitutions; the referee reminded them they only had one available in the final ten minutes of play, but as soon as he turned his back, the player quickly went off to be replaced, a quite unbelievable moment that was missed by all of the officials, and unable to be rectified in retrospect. Early season gremlins we’ll put that down to.

Rogers then played in Shelton but the assitant referee had his flag up, the Flame bench in uproar at that decision. The final whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the third team. That gave City a final chance to get forward, and the Flame defence was panicked. The referee though brought the game to a close though, the clock a minute or two away from the full forty-five, but by this stage the players were keen to get off the boiling hot field. City had lost their opening game at Landen Stadium in a thriller.

A difficult pill to swallow, City had dominated in the second half and had chances to equalise. It would be easy to bemoan the loss of a proven goalscorer just prior to the season, but the chances were there to be taken, and these players are all capable of much more in front of goal. But for the hand of Spyrakis in the Flame goal, this would have ended in a draw, although the first-half display from the visitors suggested that the margin of victory would have been much greater. Well done to the visitors from Wollongong for the win, well played Blacktown City for getting back into the game and making this an exciting contest, and we look forward to another massive test next Sunday when they visit the home of Football NSW at Valentine Park for a clash with Hills United. See you there!

Thanks for reading. Great to see more photographers at the games, such is interest in the women’s game, and this means unparalleled coverage for our City girls! Now, was it Naomi Hart or Rosie Lewis who scored the only goal of the game? We await confirmation from eagle-eyed fans, and we’ll change it based upon your feedback. The referee may have seen the number clearer than me!

Oh FFS, not again…

Newcastle Jets 1 Sydney FC 0

Our return to the terraces to support Sydney FC Women, following last weekend’s hiatus when we finally won a game, was further proof that we are indeed the jinx. Once again, the urgency to compete in this thoroughly winnable game was only evident in the final ten minutes, when it was all too late and the game management of the Jets’ players was a sight to behold to run down the final moments. Another kick in the teeth for the fans, who still cling to the title of Champions despite knowing that finals football is not coming to Moore Park this year. What has gone wrong this season for Sydney FC?

  • No, not that stadium
  • So handy
  • Shutters almost down for tickets
  • Newy legend
  • Newcastle University mutant
  • Accees All Areas

A 4.30pm kick off at Sportsground No 2 in the middle of Newcastle, and our aim to be on the road by 1.30pm from the far north western suburbs of Sydney was about right. Coming through some rain on the way, we feared the worst, but we arrived to patches of sunshine and perfect conditions for football. The configuration of this stadium allows the general public and the media pack to mingle, and the temptation of a Bunnings-style sausage sandwich was too much to resist from the indoor barbeque. The local Modus beer bar, a welcome feature of past visits to this compact venue, was running late and was only just setting up for the day.

  • Filling up
  • Warming up
  • Seats undercover taken
  • Grimace and the Hawk
  • Quality in the stands
  • Tori Tumeth

A decent crowd was forming, the Jets’ seemingly solo drummer in the middle of the stand, undercover in case of rain, while the Sydney FC Cove positioned themselves towards the Hunter end, exposed to the elements, ready to give it their all in the continued absence of capo MMTV. Our fantastic Euro capo for the day, and her eager drummer, respected the International Women’s Day line-up prior to the game and let the legendary INXS intro music play before leading the massive bank of Sydney Cove in the traditional We Are Sydney. The players were acutely aware that they had the full support of the travelling fans, so it was a particularly discouraging start to the game with Sydney reverting to the football that has seen them plummet to the foot of the A-League ladder so spectacularly this season.

  • Jasmin Black flying in warm-up
  • Slaps all round
  • Proper prices
  • Proper food
  • International Women’s Day line-up
  • The players are out

There was only one team in it for most of the first half, Sydney FC, for all their obvious talent and neat footwork, were simply outmuscled. Beth Mason-Jones was called on to make two full-length saves to repel the Jets, and they were dangerous every time they came forward, Josie Allen having a field day down the left and sudden superstar Sophie Hoban making life tough on the other flank. The Cove sang, unrelenting and undeterred, but it was no surprise when Sydney finally went behind, and Mason-Jones couldn’t save the day this time, palming away a header, but Sheridan Gallagher was on the spot to turn the ball in.

  • Huddle for warmth
  • Corner already
  • Attack attack
  • Modus come up trumps again
  • Up close and personal
  • The Capo crew

Princess Ibini did tee up a shot from distance at the far end which was blocked, and she was at least putting herself into challenges, and Caley Tallon-Henniker made in-roads up the right, but there was no penetration and the once-dominant Sky Blues were made to look like Marty Sheargold’s year 10 girls by the more determined and more hungry Jets players.

  • Goal
  • Joining the party
  • Second half huddle
  • Faltering attack
  • Last chance saloon
  • Crowd

Just as it was a surprise to see the Sydney FC non-playing squad members sitting in Bay 6 with the general public, it was also a surprise to see Shea Connors readying herself at the break to replace the only real threat Ibini. We saw an instant change in mood. Connors chased everything and hassled her defender out of the ball at one point to set up Mackenzie Hawkesby, but the shot was well over. For all the endeavour that Connors showed, her ungainly touch undid all the good work, coughing up possession after she had won the ball. The Cove was loving her energy though, and when Tori Tumeth went in and won a strong tackle, we could sense a change in attitude to match that of the American star.

Whatever wind was out there on the field, the leftovers of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, was in Sydney’s favour, and the introduction of Millie Farrow for the ineffectual Maddie Caspers added to the fight. Jasmine Black was forced into action after Mason-Jones was given a shove from a long free kick, although the goalkeeper was unimpressed to be forced off the field after recovering. Black made a great save with her feet to keep the score to one, then the Jets hit the bar with a rocket of a shot, and Sydney were still somehow in the game with ten minutes remaining. Lucy Johnson tried to replicate her heroics from earlier in the season, but fired over, but it was Hoban who looked the most likely, her confidence on a high and she had the beating of Abby Lemon up the right.

With Sydney having used up all their subs, the word seemed to go out that they simply had to win. The urgency to return the ball to play suddenly appeared, the need to get the ball forward quickly was refreshing. They pushed and pushed, but the quality was sadly lacking, so often a stray ball not finding feet and the long-ball route-one was simply not working, with Natasha Prior dominating in the Newcastle defence. Hawkesby’s corner at the end saw the only consistently solid Sydney player this season, Jordan Thompson, leap and plant her header just over the bar, and with Newcastle running the ball into the corner to eat up the rest of the game, the final result was no surprise to anyone in a sky blue shirt.

  • It’s all over
  • Losing ritual
  • Let me take the photo
  • The Matildas support crew
  • Toukley Ary is Sky Blue
  • Half way there

There was at least some joy, players celebrating with Jasmine Black for making her debut, and to the players’ credit, they did endure the awkward moment of being serenaded by the Cove when they obviously didn’t want to be there. We simply don’t know what more we can do to help get the team over the line in games. There is singing and encouragement and the chants are non-stop, but we just can’t see where it’s all going wrong. Good players don’t become shit players overnight. Some of the football is flowing, but too often there is a nothing ball or a low-percentage pass that just breaks any positive play down and doesn’t seem to elicit any reaction from the sideline, as if it’s acceptable. And the way that Sydney are bullied off the ball at the moment is so concerning – we should be running rings around some of these players, but our girls are simply being knocked off the ball by more eager and willing opponents. Confidence is a big factor.

Shea Connors thanked the Sydney fans after missing the mutual appreciation moment, and we chatted with fellow football tragics from Newcastle until it was time to go home. The players were already outside and heading off to their lifts home. There was obviously no post-mortem, and everyone was super-keen to get back on the motorway and back home. It didn’t feel right, but to be fair, that has been the Newcastle away-trip vibe every time we’ve come here.

We made a night of it though, heading to the Central Coast to see Born Jovi at Toukley Ary, the day rescued and the football long forgotten. What a horrible season this has turned into; any talk of still making the finals is just hot air, and for those players sitting in the stands watching their peers dish up meek and unconvincing performances like this must surely make the mood at Sky Park very sombre indeed.

Sydney FC Central Coast crew

We’ll support you ever more, or so they say. A continuation of this run of performances and we’ll be lucky to have even the smallest of crowds for the rest of the dead-rubber-filled season. But, for some reason unbeknownst to us, we’ll still be there, through the highest highs and the lowest lows. Forza Sydney FC!

Late heartbreak as Inter snatch draw

Inter Lions 1 Blacktown City 1

A late goal on the counter-attack from Inter Lions’ Eva Gawel rescued a point for the home side after they had fallen behind to a brilliant Emily Jackson strike midway through the second half. Blacktown City hit the post and the cross bar as they looked to wrap up the three points, but instead they will have to settle for the draw after the late twist to this facinating season opener at Majors Bay Reserve. The season is up and running, both teams are off the mark, now let’s see what they can both achieve during this exciting Girls’ Youth League Under 18 season in 2025.

A repeat of last week’s pre-season trial game, same time, same venue, but with some cloud cover, conditions were much more conducive to entertaining, free-flowing football. Blacktown had the pressure on from the very start, Sarah De Sousa and Evdokia Papafilopoulos combining on the right and forcing the Inter defence into a risky ball across the face of their own goal. The home team were direct in their approach, Charlotte Priddy lifting a ball over for Zara Gard, but City goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie was out smartly to intercept the danger.

An early inidication that Blacktown would receive no favours from the referee saw Sienna Bell crash-tackled in the corner after stealing the ball in midfield and racing to the byline. The assistant referee’s furious flag was ignored by the referee and play continued to puzzled expressions from the visiting players. Inter continued to probe, and when Angela Diamantopoulos combined with Gard, it was captain Courtney Kitching who cleared the danger at the back. As we had seen the previous week, the pace of Bronte Smith was the source of much danger for the home side, and a ball in from Priddy was again dealt with by Kitching.

Aurelia Smith sent Papafilopoulos scampering through and she forced a corner. Rachel Fry centred the ball but Sienna Froggatt in the Inter Lions’ goal was alert to the cross. Gard then slipped a ball through for Madeleine Cheng, but Mackenzie was out quickly to smother the opportunity. The home team were content to play the ball out from the back, and Montana McCormick had hearts beating a little faster as she turned her way out of trouble and strode upfield with the composure of a seasoned Matildas defender.

City were awarded a rare free kick on the left, Dominique Ashton played in an inviting ball that saw Jackson and Froggatt collide. Jackson emerged with the ball and shot low, but Froggatt had recovered well and made a smart save. Ashton’s corner was then played to Angelica Conate, who drilled in a cross for Fry, but the shot was wildly wide of goal. City were pushing for the opener, and when Jackson picked up the ball outside the area there was little indication that he would dribble into the area, play a neat one-two with Fry and find herself free in front of goal. Alas the low shot was again saved by Froggatt and Inter Lions escaped. The all-action Bell stole the ball midway inside the Lions’ half, and her persistence and bravery made sure the ball was out of play before Inter could break upfield. Liliana Waterhouse was lively on the left for the visitors, but the next opportunity fell for De Sousa, combining with Papafilopoulos to wind up a shot, but Aurelia Smith had made the run alongside her in the box and was completely unmarked, the difficult shot going wide and hands going on heads when she realised the opportunity missed.

Bell raced up the right onto Kitching’s ball. Kitching continued her run upfield to join the attack, controlled the cross at the second attempt and forced in a scuffed shot that hit the left hand post and bounced to safety. So close to an opening goal, but the whistle brought play to a halt for half time with the scores locked at 0-0.

The second half started much in the way the first half had done, with City asking the questions. De Sousa and Bell ambushed a defender and when Bell played in De Sousa, Froggatt was out smartly to save. A long free kick from Kitching found De Sousa, goalside of her defender and onside, but Froggatt did well to push the ball away with Papafilopoulos in close attendance. Bronte Smith then broke through the City rearguard, Jackson tracking back quickly to make the challenge, and Jackson was soon to have an even bigger impact.

Fry and Eva Milkovic contested a ball on the edge of the area, Jackson picked up the pieces and moved the ball on to her right foot and launched a shot on goal that cleared the despairing dive of Froggatt and flew into the net for a glorious opening goal. The City players swamped their first goalscorer of the season, and Inter Lions had it all to do.

Great work from Lara Green on the right then saw a low ball played across the edge of the penalty area. Emilie Chandran read the ball perfectly, cut onto her right and fired a shot just over the bar. At the other end, Gard stole the ball on the left and played a one-two with Bronte Smith but the chance was squandered, and then City had another great chance to extend their lead. Green rode a challenge on the edge of the area and played in De Sousa. A turn that Mark Viduka would have been proud of saw the City striker spin past her player and smash in a shot, Froggatt pushing the ball up and onto the bar, and Papafilopoulos unable to capitalise on the rebound. Such frustration for the visitors.

Instead this spurred on the home team, Bronte Smith stealing the ball from Ashton on the left, but Conate dealt with the low cross. A corner caused confusion, Gard making a nuisance of herself and Fry sandwiched in a tackle, but the ball broke for Alia Hawkins whose shot was easily saved by Mackenzie.

Bell’s long-range effort was plucked out of the air by Froggatt, before Alicia Mason coughed up possession to Gawel, but the young City defender raced back and closed down the pacy Inter striker and the danger was cleared. McCormick appeared to trip De Sousa as she strode away on goal, the City striker incensed by the lack of a whistle, and Blacktown continued to look for a second goal, Waterhouse stealing the ball on the right to cross low into the area, but Charlize Cencigh was there to intercept.

Bronte Smith played the ball through for Gawel to race away down the right as Inter launched one last foray on goal. Her pace took her into the penalty area and her low cross found Hawkins completely unmarked in front of goal. When her shot was competely miscued, City appeared to have dodged a bullet, but the ball fell kindly for Gawel, who smashed the ball goalwards, a deflection off Kitching taking the ball past Mackenzie and into the goal to loud cheers from the watching crowd. It was tough to see the reactions of the City players, so long in the ascendency in this game, but given a rude shock at is conclusion. There was barely a minute remaining and the final whistle was met with stony-faced disbelief from the visitors and relieved smiles from the home team.

A point a-piece from today’s game will be seen as an opportunity missed by Blacktown City; in a week when they lost their talismanic striker Zoe Thompson to further reduce dwindling squad numbers they will be happy to have negotiated this tricky fixture. However, to give up the three points in the final moments of a game they dominated, this was not in the script. More to come from this dynamic and resilient group of talented players, we look forward to welcoming South Coast Flame to Landen Stadium next week. Come on down and see what it’s all about at 1.05pm on Sunday.

Many thanks to Gerry for the photos this week; thanks for giving us images to match the action of a thrilling season-opener. Any errors or inaccuracies with player names, do not hesitate to leave a message.

Bulls smoked in Campbelltown

Macarthur FC 0 Sydney FC 2

Macarthur away, always a fun time, and this one ended up with a win, a clean sheet and some beautiful shots of a hazy sunset in South-West Sydney. A first half of missed opportunities turned into second half of total domination and Sydney FC were good value for their two-goal victory. Luke Brattan played like a thug and still lost, Adrian Segacic made the Macarthur defence look stupid, and Joe Lolley’s shot is still in orbit after missing its target by a few hundred metres.

  • View fro the car park
  • Posh people’s car park
  • At those prices…?

Busy weekend, this one, and we were on the road from an afternoon in Crows Nest, straight into the tunnel and on the M5 to register some good quality tolls on the way to Campbelltown. The timing was fortunate for parking, the leagues club car park filling up and we jagged one of the last spots on the roof, able to take in the marvellous view of the stadium below from our lofty vantage point. Sydney was smoky, bush fires giving the sky a dusty look, and it was red-hot, belying the advent of autumn. The gates had just opened and we went straight there before realising that we hadn’t in fact bought tickets during the week – look, it’s not been top priority, right? Fortunately the zealously-priced away active tickets were not sold out and we could buy them at the ticket office in exchange for a mobile number, an email address and $45.

  • Sun over smoke haze
  • Staring into the sun
  • Perfect lighting
  • Filling up slowly
  • Getting ready for kick off

Once inside we were treated to some marvellous panoramas of the stadium with the golden sun dipping behind the main stand opposite. As always, the away bay was in the corner of the opposite stand, the unpopulated hill behind the goal closed off with temporary fencing. The arrival of the Cove train to Lumeah station saw the bay fill up, but this was by no account a big crowd.

The singing began as the players entered the field before our fearless capo brought it to an immediate halt; his polite and articulate address to the non-active fans in the adjacent bay was heart-felt. You may not be in active, but you can most certainly sing along with We Are Sydney. As a result, the crowd belted out the anthem and we were off and running.

The first half was superb. We were treated to some intricate football, Douglas Costa’s dribbling and back heel bringing gasps from the crowd, Wataro Kamijo flew into a sliding tackle that yielded applause from the away bays, before he gave the ball away and earned a yellow card for crunching his player. Good commitment and just what the fans wanted to see! Costa had earlier wooed us with a crazy outside-of-the-left-foot cross that Patryk Klimala steered goalwards, Filip Kurto making one of two marvellous saves. We also had the ball in the net, but the offside flag saved the home team, and the celebrations were cut short.

  • Two of the biggest names in football
  • Arms up
  • Na na na nah SYDNEY
  • Hang it in the Louvre

Half time saw paramedics in the away bay; an unfortunate lady was resting against the concrete at the back of the area looking in a lot of discomfort; as half-time came to a close, she was being stretchered up the one gangway access to the active bay and it took a while for the active fans to reassemble for the second half. Broken leg we understand, not sure how or why!

Costa struck a free kick that dipped viciously, Kurto tipping it over the bar in front of us at the away end, then Kurto made a strange volleyball-style two-handed save to repel another Sydney attack. It was on – Sydney FC were on fire. Brattan assaulted Leo Sena, leaving him in a heap, there was a bit of biff, Joel King played in a fantastic cross that Costa just couldn’t finish, and Costa rattled the cross bar with a superb shot from distance. Surely the goal would come; it certainly did! For all the fancy football, flicks and tricks, the goal was as simple as could be; Joe Lolley slipped the ball through for Klimala who smashed the ball home. Basic principles of football at play and a devastating finish from the in-form striker. And the Tequila chant for Klimala, don’t we love it?

Tomi Uskok nearly took off Costa’s head with a high tackle, and all of a sudden, Sydney had two. There was no danger when substitute Adrian Segacic took a chance and closed down a ridiculously pedestrian clearance from Kevin Boli (yes, from the famous Boli family of footballers) and the ball rebounded off the Sydney man and into the unguarded net. The Cove were mid-song, and such was the surprise of the goal, the song continued but with much more intensity until “Adrian Sega, he scored another” took over. The salmon-shirted Bulls had caved in now – poor Matthew Jurman had just come on as the goalkick was taken that resulted in the goal and he was looking at the sky for inspiration.

Segacic was then miles offside, but play went on, and he was just unable to get the cross in. Lolley ballooned a shot miles over after taking aim from the edge of the area. Quite possibly the most off-target shot seen at this stadium. Sena did another one of those impudent stops where he claims his shirt is being pulled, the referee not falling for it, the freshly shorn Harrison Devenish-Meares made a full-length save to stop former Sydney man Kealey Adamson’s powerful drive, and Macarthur did have the ball in the net but it was well offside. Captain Rhyan Grant sent hearts fluttering with an overhit backpass that went out for a corner, but he and his fellow defenders were taking the piss by now, playing risky balls from goalkicks with utmost confidence.

It was a shame when the final whistle went. The Cove had been constant, although there was way to much chattering instead of singing from some of the active section that the volume could have been higher.

  • Goalless
  • Ambulance
  • Go on, ger in!
  • Best feeling
  • Douglas accosted
  • Joe and Blacktown City goalkeeping coach Redders

The players enjoyed their moment with the fans, Sega joining the group after he had finished his interview, and Costa was loving the attention. This had been a very pleasing victory for the Sky Blues, and everyone in a blue shirt left the stadium with a spring in their step, knowing that those precious three points had maintained a strong position going into the week off and two massive ACL2 quarter-final fixtures. The car park had emptied by the time we got back to our car, and we were back in the northern suburbs by 11pm ready for an evening of FA Cup action on the telly.

What a superb evening’s entertainment, and we look forward to the next game in Newcastle next Saturday for the resurgent women’s team. Forza Sydney FC!

Tropical Concord too hot for City

Inter Lions 1 Blacktown Cty 1

A scorching hot day in Sydney’s Inner West made a difficult task even more challenging as Blacktown City were held to a draw by next week’s opening day opponents Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve. Leading through a trademark Zoe Thompson strike, the City midfield went walkabout in the second half allowing Giuliana Le Greca to equalise. From then on, the game was anybody’s, but despite some enterprise from both teams as player ran out of steam, there was no winner on the day. A fascinating encounter, and plenty of work to do for both teams ahead of their repeat meeting in seven days’ time.

The Blacktown City players looked relaxed despite a week of turmoil that saw their squad numbers reduced due to late transfer activity; their opponents Inter Lions looked more like a unit, and the pre-match war-cry in the huddle was much more pronounced from the home team. Captain Andrea Michael was involved early on, but it was Thompson who forced the Inter defence into conceding a throw-in on the right so the action could begin. Sarh De Sousa’s pressure won an early corner for the visitors, Rachel Fry swinging in a corner that was half-scrambled away, Thompson giving Inter goalkeeper Kavitha Varatharajan an early test from distance.

Central defensive partnership Montana McCormick and Matilda Ryan had their hands full, but it was Inter who fashioned the first real chance, livewire Bronte Smith making a nuisance of herself up the left to feed Zara Gard in space, but her shot was well wide of the target. City were trying to play the ball around, but the accuracy of the passing was an issue, the ball finding touch instead of the player, Dom Ashton forced to concede a corner on the stretch as Inter looked to find the net early on the game. The football at times was low quality, neither team able to maintain possession or break upfield with any sort of belief, but to be fair the oppressive conditions were not conducive to top-notch running football.

An uncharacteristic giveaway from City captain Courtney Kitching then saw Ashton clatter into her striker on the edge of the area, the watching crowd expecting a penalty, but the referee called a free kick, only to be over-ruled by his assistant who signalled a corner. It was certainly a let-off for the visitors. Good play by Michael saw her tee up Marie Hasapis for a long-range effort that was pushed away smartly by City goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie.

Kitching then burst out of defence and slid a ball through for De Sousa, who advanced on goal, but her shot was well saved. The resultant corner from Ashton was cleared, but this in turn led to the opening goal. A throw from the left by Emilie Chandon, a deft touch by Emily Jackson to tee up Thompson, and the expert striker did the rest, firing in a shot from outside the area that seared into the net for 1-0. It was perhaps not a reflection on the play at that point, but City had their tails up. Mikayla Gadd checked back on the right and recycled the ball through Aurelia Smith and then on to Jackson, who fired in a shot which was well fielded by the Inter goalkeeper.

A disastrous free kick by City then left spectators scratching their heads as a communication breakdown turned attack into defence – some work is definitely needed on attacking set-pieces. A drinks break was called on 22 minutes, the players gladly accepting the opportunity to cool down and assess their vitals in the horrible humid heat of late summer in Sydney.

When play resumed, Evdokia Papafilopoulos battled well to win the ball on the left and fed Jackson, who fired in a long-range effort that only just cleared the crossbar. Gadd was then sliced down unceremoniously by Renee Penitani after the ball had gone and took some time to get to her feet. Papafilopoulos poked a ball through for Thompson, but the flag was up quickly; Thompson then stole the ball from Eva Milkovic, winning a throw-in. From the resulting throw in, Thompson fed Sienna Bell on the rampage, but her low cross across the face of goal couldn’t be finished off by the incoming cavalry.

Good play by Fry on the left then set up Thompson for a shot, but she was well closed down by the alert Lions defence. Papafilopoulos then pounced on a loose backpass, the shot deflected wide for a corner. Fry’s delivery was superb, Papafilopoulos just unable to steer the ball in on the volley. A swift throw-in from Chandran then saw Papafilopoulos turn beautifully to set up Thompson, but the shot flew past the post. The half ended with City in possession, Thompson controlling well to set up Bell, but her effort summed up the first half, scuffed harmlessly along the ground.

A change of ends and a change of scene, the advantage of the breeze now with the hosts, and Inter Lions brought on goalkeeper Sienna Froggatt. The home team were straight on the attack, Michael playing in Madeleine Cheng, but the ball ran out of play. Blacktown’s Papafilopoulos was looking lively and she turned her defender and was held back, the referee spotting the shirt pull and awarding a dangerous free-kick in a central position. Alas, the set-piece malaise that had blighted City’s first half saw Ashton place a shot well wide of the goal and Inter were given a let-off.

Penitani was set free on the right and her pace took her through on goal, Kitching in hot pursuit, but the shot was blazed past the post, and again Penitani raced up the left hand side and flashed a cross in that was bundled wide at the far post. At the other end, Fry intercepted a casual ball across the back to feed Thompson, but the shot was easy for Froggatt. All of a sudden it was 1-1; Blacktown were caught short in midfield, the home team swarming forward, and Cengigh was given way too much time to pick her spot, Mackenzie beaten by the pace of the shot and the Inter players celebrating their fortune with the scores now level.

The pace of Penitani was causing City many problems, and from one of her many raids, Michael played in La Greca whose shot was well saved by Mackenzie. Inter Lions looked the most likely to go on and win the game at this stage, but Bell had other ideas, marauding up the right hand side to be taken out with an off-the-ball shoulder charge. The free-kick from Ashton was whipped in towards the incoming attackers, De Sousa being held as she went for the ball, but there was no intervention from the officials as the ball flashed across goal and out for a goal kick. La Greca was then free on the left, but the cross was dealt with by Kitching, and McCormick drilled in a long-distance effort that flew wide of the goal. The game was scrappy now, both teams starting to run out of energy in the horrible conditions, and a second drinks break was most welcome for the players and referees to recharge for one last push.

The visitors were reinvigorated when play resumed. De Sousa embarked on a great run up the left to win a corner, but a series of corners paid no dividends. Papafilopoulos then played in Jackson but her low shot was palmed away. Papafilopoulos and De Sousa then combined to set up Fry, her effort just wide of the goal. City were winding up for the big finish; Bell stole the ball on the right and whipped in a cross that Froggatt did well to smother, and a throw-in on the right saw Fry and Jackson combine, Jackson beating her player but the shot curling away past the far post.

Bronte Smith continued to be a danger for Inter Lions on the left, but the end product wan’t there. Bell was running on empty but still managed to dart up the right on a powerful run, but her cross was cut out, leaving her on the ground in a sweaty mess. The home team then had a good opportunity, Zoe Gibson’s run cut out by Kitching for a corner, but any late drama, with the home team stacking the penalty area, was denied when the corner found the side-netting.

There was time for one last foray for Blacktown, and what a moment it was. Echoes of Maradona in the Mexico World Cup as Jackson picked up the ball inside her own half. Off she ventured, into the Inter half, weaving past challenges, shimmying past players, and time stood still for a moment as she carved a route into the penalty area. Just as the City midfield maestro shaped to shoot, two defenders lunged in and forced the ball away for a corner to deny what would have been an outrageous conclusion to the game.

With both teams profligate from corners today, that was the last action and the referee brought the torment to a close, two depleted and sizzled teams relieved to be ending ninety minutes of torture and heading into the changing rooms to escape the relentless summer sushine.

A final pre-season hit out for both sides, and we reconvene here next Sunday for the opening fixture of the inaugural GYL Under 18s season. There will be lessons learned from this game, none more than the lack of stamina from City; despite the challenging conditions, it was Inter Lions who coped better with the sapping heat and that was a factor in the game turning after the break in their favour. We also saw players turning their backs on the ball, missing out on opportunities to intercept, and coupled with misjudged headers and set-piece impotency, these were facets of the City performance that suggested a big week of training ahead.

The season starts here. With the shirt presentation on Thursday night ahead of the opening fixture on Sunday, excitement levels will be peaking, and we look forward to seeing our girls excel on and off the field this year.

Thanks for reading. Shout out to Nichola for clarifying the Inter Lions team numbers – the team sheet was a little difficult to follow! If there are any other inaccuracies and spelling mistakes, these can be changed at the press of a button. I await the inevitable messages and I thank you for your interest!

Tigers caught behind the eight ball

Camden Tigers 0 Blackown City 8

Blacktown City’s pre-season preparations took an interesting turn on Sunday when they went goal crazy at Ron Dine Memorial Reserve. Once Liliana Waterhouse had popped the cork midway through the first half, the goals flowed against Camden Tigers, Courtney Kitching, Sarah De Sousa and Dominique Ashton also on target before the break. Any chance of respite for the beleaguered home team in the second half was dashed when Zoe Thompson scored twice, and Lara Green and Waterhouse again added their own embellishments to the scoreline before the end. A gameplan that may have been better served during the season, City at least now know that they have goals in them with the GYL2 season just around the corner.

When the Camden Tigers huddle only had ten players, with shouts to the bench to get another player on, the signs were ominous. Goalkeeper Natalya Robertson and central defensive pairing Matea Saba and Charlotte Warner were in for a busy afternoon in the late summer sunshine, but they were relaxed and made it look easy early on. Robertson fielded a weak shot by Waterhouse, Evdokia Papafilopoulos was putting herself around in the challenge for City, but Camden looked comfortable.

A superb ball from midfield by Aurelia Smith for Rachel Fry to run on to was a sign of things to come. Emily Jackson then launched a long ball for De Sousa to sprint on to, but Robertson was quick off her line to deal with the danger. Mikayla Gadd and Waterhouse combined well up the right, but the impetus was interrupted when an injury stopped play on the Camden left. The Tigers took the initiative and sprung attacks up both wings, Alice Stephenson up the right and the lively Annabelle White on the left. That was only to be a brief break from the Blacktown attacks.

Jackson released Emilie Chandran on the burst up the left, and when she combined with Fry, the cross was good but dealt with well by Robertson. Gadd played in Waterhouse, but the ball ran away from her, and then Chandran embarked on a lung-busting run upfield, creating a shooting opportunity for Papafilopoulos but the ball flew past the post. De Sousa was having trouble measuring the through balls, and Camden attacked, Hayley Purkiss and Diana Maracic combining well with no end result.

Could City make the breakthrough with their domination of the possession stats? Jackson’s ball through for Chandran was exquisite, but the flag was up and the Blacktown players knew they had to be patient. Sure enough, when Thompson and Fry combined on the left, Thompson fired in a cross-shot that fell perfectly for Waterhouse, and despite calls for offside, the assistant referee waved play on and the City flyer finished well past Robertson to open the scoring.

Camden hit back immediately, Qynesha Riley bursting through on goal when the Blacktown defence coughed up possession, and it took a sensational tackle, Kitching launching herself out of nowhere, to block the shot and goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie was relieved to see the ball out for only a corner. Jackson then advanced up the left and delivered a cross that was controlled by De Sousa, and with an intricate turn to wrong-foot her defender, she got the shot away, but Robertson pushed the ball away for a corner. Fry’s excellent corner hung in the air, the Camden defence was static as Kitching was the only player tracking its flight and her bullet header from close range at the far post nestled in the net for 2-0. City were now in command.

Thompson slipped a ball through for Smith, whose shot was in vain with the offside flag raised, and at the other end, Riley went on a searching run up the left, but was marshalled well. Blacktown pounced again, Gadd’s superb through ball sent De Sousa away for a one-on-one with Robertson, and despite getting a hand to the shot, the ball bounced into the net for 3-0.

The source of much of City’s attacks, Jackson then slipped in a glorious ball for De Sousa but Robertson was quick to clutch the dangerous cross and snuff out another chance. Camden then enjoyed a period of pressure, Purkiss raiding up the right but Chandran scrambled the ball away. A free kick from Stephenson caused alarm in the Blacktown penalty area, and White’s ball for Riley sent her clear, but the cross was blocked. De Sousa then raced up the right and delivered a tasty cross for the incoming Green, but the close-range effort was bundled away. Robertson then gifted the ball to Ashton, whose shot was blocked, and Jackson smashed the ball wide from the rebound.

Camden were consistently offside, such was the high line of the Blacktown defence, but Riley slipped away up the left and cut inside, but Olivia Sleap’s last-ditch tackle saved a certain goal. Green and Ava Carney were having their own battle royale on the City left as City ended the half strongly, Ashton racing away up the right hand touchline. When her cross was cleared, she picked up the rebound and tried again, the floated cross becoming a shot as it swirled in the air, and the hand of Robertson was in vain as the ball looped into the net for a freakish fourth goal. Ashton will tell us it was a shot, and if it was, it was a good finish.

Blacktown 4-0 up at the break, and dominating possession. Would the breeze have a factor in the second half and bring Camden back into the game?

No it wouldn’t. Thompson looked hungry as the second half started with Blacktown in attack, battling well on the left to win a ball, and then unlucky to see Ashton’s through ball find the hands of the out-rushing Robertson. When Green advanced out of defence, the Camden defence was caught flat and the precision through ball sent Thompson clear on goal. She still had a lot to do, but waited for Robertson to commit and went around the exposed goalkeeper to roll the ball ito the empty net for 5-0, an expert finish from a striker in form.

Eva Russell then appeared to pass the ball back to her goalkeeper who picked up the ball. De Sousa was convinced it was the true definition of a backpass and appealed, leaving a shoulder in on Russell and earning a ticking off from the referee for her over-exuberance. Green then teed up Jackson for an effort on goal, but the shot was just wide. Camden then found some possession at the other end, White battling well to win a corner, then Maracic and White combining, but Mackenzie plucked the ball out of the air to avert the danger.

Blacktown then fashioned almost a carbon copy of the fifth goal, Green coming out of defence with her head up, and when Thompson made the run, Green’s expert through-ball sent her away on goal, and she fired the ball low past Robertson with a first-time shot under pressure to bring the scoreline to 6-0. Stephenson then took out Papafilopoulos for a free kick on the left, but Jackson’s free-kick amounted to nothing and a good chance went begging. Green was then taken out by Maddison Mackenzie, the free kick played into the penalty area but the flag caught City offside. The series of free kicks continued when Gadd took down Purkiss on the Camden left, and Stephenson’s curled effort was not far past goalkeeper Mackenzie’s left hand post as she watched it wide.

Thompson controlled the ball dropping back in midfield and returned the favour to Green, racing up the left. She had a lot to do and, despite a suspicion of offside, outfoxed her defender to cut inside and drilled a low shot inside Robertson for an excellent goal, the score blowing out to 7-0 with no sign of City easing the pressure. Camden’s offsides in attack were frustrating, while at the other end, the Green / Thompon combination was beating the offside trap, this time Thompson firing just wide.

Charlotte Warner was forced into goal when Robertson limped off, and City attacked, Chandran out to Waterhouse and her long-range effort was brilliantly saved by the newly installed Warner. A shot from De Soua was then palmed wide. The corner from Fry caused an almighty scramble, but the ball fell to Waterhouse, who thrashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle to make it 8-0. Jackson squeezed a through-ball in for De Sousa who won a corner off Warner. Fry’s corner kick was palmed over for another corner from the other side, this time the ball met by Kitching with a thumping header that smacked off the crossbar in one of the game’s most thrilling moments.

Jackson then cut inside and stung the palms of the busy Warner, Papafilopoulos was played in by Fry but couldn’t beat Warner, and then Smith lined up a long-range shot when the corner was cleared, but the ball sailed wide of the post. Gadd then played a superb through ball for Papafilopoulos, but Warner was out in a flash to smother. City were finishing with a flourish, but the last word went to the home team, Purkiss getting a rare shot on goal with the last kick of the game, but the ball went past the post and the final whistle brought the game to its conclusion.

What did we learn today in this pre-season encounter? We definitley saw Thompson at her devastating best in front of goal, Kitching was dominant in the air all day and Jackson was the pivot in midfield whose vision was the source of much of the Blacktown attacking play. The final game of pre-season next weekend should present more of a test as City head to Majors Bay Reserve for a season-opener dress-rehearsal against Inter Lions. Will they go for the jugular again, or will this be a final chance to try new patterns ahead of the opening day at the beginning of March? Whatever the case, this season is shaping up to be exciting; from what we’ve seen in pre-season, there is quality across the park in the squad. Despite losing two players during the week as pre-season transfer market dealings took their toll, there is a sense of hope for a great season ahead. Let’s go City!

Thanks for reading. As always, any inaccuracies, let me know; it will be a strange week if we don’t find any!

Sydney held in AFC monsoon

Sydney FC 2 Bangkok United 2

A goal in additional time, confirmed by VAR, was the dagger in Ufuk Talay’s heart tonight. Succumbing to a ridiculous penalty thanks to the enigmatic Harrison Devenish-Meares, the second half was off to a bad start, but things got better once the flair players were introduced and another Douglas Costa-inspired comeback saw Adrian Segecic score twice and Devenish-Meares make amends with some inspired goalkeeping. There was however one last twist, Sydney picked apart leaving a player unmarked to finish at the near post, and after a lengthy check in the bunker, the Bangkok fans at the far end could begin their celebrations. Despite a fun night for the fans, this was a great opportunity wasted for the team, and we fully expect Sydney FC to pay the price in Thailand next week.

  • Wrong side of the stadium
  • Tropical Moore Park
  • Tyler Childers. Who are ya?
  • Dance party
  • Hey, we’re not there any more are we?

Wednesday night football, and the 7pm kick offs always mean an early start to the journey. This time we were playing at Allianz, the social media storm from the club suggesting that this was a big game, but we had our doubts based upon who we knew was actually going. I was in the city and at Michelle’s work by 5.45pm, and by the time we’d driven the streets of Moore Park looking for the elusive non-1P parking spot, we had 20 minutes to get from the Entertainment Quarter to the stadium, enough time to get there comfortably for kick off. Three groups of people crossed paths at the precinct formerly (and still) known as Fox Studios, the cowboy boots of the Tyler Childers fans heading to the Hordern Pavillion (never heard of them), the drum and bass aficionados heading to the rave in the padel courts next door, and of course the Sydney FC fans. Each group was looking at each other as if to say “what the f*ck are they going to?”; after all this was a Wednesday night.

Even though the sky was blue, we copped rain en route, finally able to find shelter alongside the club shop before entering. There was very little in the way of a crowd when we entered through our usual Gate 3, and looking down from Cove Heights, our super capo eventually made the call for everyone to bunch up in the Cove (there’s a chant in there somewhere) and start making noise.

  • Quiet Driver Avenue
  • Last minute sales for our Thai visitors
  • Up the famous steps
  • Shelter from the rain
  • Cove numbers
  • Looking better now!
  • And we’re off and running

The AFC rules made for a strange atmosphere. There were seats in the Cove, not safe standing. There was no advertising and no sponsorship on the shirts. There were different people looking after each bay. There was security telling people that they couldn’t bring in their water bottles. It felt like an away game but at home, maybe like Western United must have felt every time they hosted at AAMI Park. Rumours were of a 10,000 crowd, but there was not a hint of that yet, empty seats all around and only moments from kick off.

The Cove were roaring by kick off, making lots of noise despite midweek ACL2 numbers, and this strong Sydney FC side looked to make their presence felt. Patryk Klimala blazed wide from a good position, Joe Lolley fired one just over the bar, and Sydney looked in control. At the other end, in front of us, Devenish-Meares plucked one out of the sky to build his confidence. The surface was extra-slippery, lots of Bangkok players losing their footing at the wrong time, and Anthony Caceres brought up sods of turf at the far end when he turned his man. The Bangkok keeper looked as though he had borrowed a Matildas shirt to wear tonight, the exact same hue of egg-yolk used in his goalkeeping jersey, but he was well protected by his burly central defenders and by some quite thunderous tackling.

  • Clouds a-coming
  • Come On You Boys In Blue
  • Action up our end
  • Minimalistic scoreboard
  • Here comes the rain
  • Absolute deluge

Anas Ouahim was taken out as he went to shoot up at the far end; it looked a penalty, but the whistle-free referee waved play on to everyone’s surprise. Sydney huffed and puffed but couldn’t make a breakthrough, the usual good approach play, but very little in the way of creating chances. The Cove was in full voice, the call and response magnificent, even from both sides of the deserted stadium, the crowds at this sort of game always happy to join in the fun. And this was fun. Devenish-Meares cleared up some danger but then Sydney gave the ball away immediately, the crowd urging their goalkeeper to get back in his goal as Bangkok tried to find the shooting opportunity on the open goal. The Sydney keeper also gave a fist-pump when Bangkok missed a great chance, the mini-celebration no way a reflection on the poor passage of defending that had led to the chance.

Such was the low crowd and the noise from the Cove, the chants were crystal clear. Now I know that it’s ‘Stand and defend our city, stand as one’ instead of the ‘Stand and defend us, as we sing as one’ that I had been singing for the past however many years. At least that’s what I think it is! We sat and watched a security guard confiscate a Coca-Cola can from someone in Cove Heights, and this was after we’d seen people forced to put their water into a cup and throw out their branded water bottles. Quite unnerving really, knowing that we were being watched by hawks from above.

The heavens truly opened at the break, the subs warming up in heavy rain.

  • It’s a penalty
  • The sky brooding
  • Amazing cloud formation for hte weather geeks in the crowd
  • Half time sprinkler system
  • Heavy flow
  • Late drama we hope

Sydney FC came out in the second half with renewed purpose, but they were looking a little shaky when they lost the ball. Which they did on one occasion too many, and with only a couple of minutes gone since half time, Devenish-Meares, only sporting the Devenish part of his surname tonight, dithered like he did at Central Coast when a ball over the top sent Bangkok away. He was late on the scene, taking out his player for a stone-wall penalty. Somehow he escaped a red, the yellow card deemed enough punishment given the penalty award, and he did well to get a hand to the spot kick. We were a goal down now, a goal conceded at a familiar phase of the game, and we were looking shaky in this two-legged tie.

Sydney FC did their usual subs, Costa and Segecic brought on along with Joel King, and it paid dividends almost immediately. Costa played Segecic in on the burst, and he got lucky with a ricochet off a defender, somehow squeezing his shot inside the post for a delicate equaliser in front of the Cove. Ouahim then got flattened by another meaty challenge from the fearless Thai midfield, no free kick given when it looked like a proper assault. Segecic played a lovely ball across the area for Jordan Courtney-Perkins in space, but his shot was wildly over. The referee was run into, but still managed to play on, the makeshift central defensive pairing of Kyle Shaw and Rhyan Grant somehow got themselves out of trouble after fannying around with the ball at the back – captain Grant relieved to finally see the ball booted into touch after selling his partner short twice.

A Mexican wave was attempted on the eastern side. Thankfully it was over before it started – are you not amused? Enjoy the f*cking game, you muppets, it’s better than your shit-house Mexican wave. Leo Sena hit the deck after getting studs down his shin; it was all too theatrical for the referee who again waved play on as the Brazilian hopped off the field in disgust. Of course, he was fine, but seemed to have a cut on his leg as a result, and was very angry about it. Suddenly, Sydney FC were in the lead. The rain was absolutely thrashing down. Segecic received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area, turned, and smashed the ball home with unerring precision. What a goal! What a player. The ‘na na na na, Sydney’ chant, which had been going for a minute already, continued with gusto for another four minutes, etting louder and louder. Sydney continued knocking on the door, but Bangkok showed plenty of skill and flair to match their crunching tackles, knocking the ball around like Brazil, playing Sydney at their own game.

There was a good chunk of stoppage time to come, Devenish-Meares made a great save to deny a Bangkok breakaway goal, but then the unthinkable – Sydney left the door open in midfield, the quick passing of the United team found a player free in acres of space on the right and he drilled the ball inside the goalkeeper’s near post for a stunning equaliser. The flag went up – we had no way of knowing, as it was up the other end. And we’d had no replays all night on the big screen. Incredibly, we got a ‘decision pending’ style message on the scoreboard. Up until that point, with Ouahim’s non-penalty award in the first half and some crunching tackling from the United team, we had simpy assumed that VAR was not in play. How wrong we were, and after an eternity, the goal stood and the fans at the far end of the stadium erupted once again. What a disaster. Ufuk had a face of thunder.

The game ended with bizarre moments. Now that we knew VAR was in play, a Segecic rocket seemed to be handled, albeit accidentally, by the United defence, the ball deflected for a corner. We’d seen those given plenty of times, both for and against us, and Costa kicked the ball towards the penalty spot when he found that it was being checked. When it came back negative, he slowly made his way back to take the corner, the only player in the stadium who was taking his time. There was no Grant header and Caceres finish, so we had to be content with a draw, the whistle ending a very entertaining game.

  • Fair play lining up again for more handshakes
  • Thanks for coming, all 5,000 of you
  • Costa con’t stop applauding
  • Bangkok players applaud their support

The players were required to be in the centre circle for a ‘fair play’ handshake with their opponents, a nice touch. They then came over to the Cove to show their appreciation. The mood wasn’t quite as buoyant as Saturday’s draw, but everyone in the home end had enjoyed the game and had given their all in support of the players.

The rain had stopped as we got outside and retraced our steps to Moore Park, and we were back home in the northern suburbs by about 10:15pm, not too late for a school night, the only positive of the 7pm kick off.

This game had been exciting. Bangkok had a lot of good players – they also had a couple of not-so-good players, but the way they passed their way out of trouble towards the end of the game, we could see there was a lot of class about them. We may well rue that last-minute equaliser when these teams meet next Wednesday in Bangkok in totally different circumstances, but let’s worry about that next week. No more games for a few weeks now, both men’s and women’s on the road. We’ll be back soon though. If you don’t normally go to the games and you like what you read here, get your ticket bought for the next match and see what you don’t see in the three-minute highlights. You will not regret it!

The very definition of insanity

Sydney FC 1 Western United 2

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Another home loss for the Sky Blues, and this was almost a carbon copy of the last one. If the intensity and desire had been there in the first half as it was in the second, this may have been a completely different story, but once again Sydney FC were picked apart and made to pay by superior opposition. An early goal from Chloe Logarzo, under the body of new goalkeeper Bethany Mason-Jones, was way too familiar, but when Mackenzie Hawkesby strode through to finish well, hopes were up. The home team were poor, again the passing was dreadful, and we went back to the bad old days of corners that hit the side netting and players measuring careful passes to absolutely no one. Totally unacceptable for a team full of players with Premiership and Championship winning experience. Sydney succumbed again just before the break when another former Sydney FC player Kahli Johnson found a yard to pick her spot, but the increase in vigour in the second period was obvious and Sydney just couldn’t find the goal that would have made this more palatable. In the end, a 2-1 defeat was the right scoreline on the day, but the stony faces of the players at the end told the real story.

  • New car parking spot
  • The real hill at Leichhardt
  • Death alley
  • What we came for
  • Who are we?
  • United geting ready
  • Relative strangers

Sunday is football day from now on, my own game in sweaty conditions in the morning, a delayed NPL GYL U18 Division 2 pre-season hit out at lunch time and then a race to see if we could make it for kick off from Marconi Stadium, no chance of any pre-game at the Orange Grove Hotel. Parking was ferocious at the stadium car park, think Christmas Eve at Woolworths, so Michelle ventured inside while I surprisingly jagged a spot down the hill next to the water and ventured up the steep grassy hill and through the alleyway to Leichhardt Oval. We used to go that way years ago, but haven’t had the need since; a spot of reminiscing before the big game.

The Cove were in full voice when I arrived. Sydney had a new goalkeeper in Mason-Jones, and with both of our usual goalkeepers not even on the bench, that underlined the lack of faith that multi trophy-winning coach Ante Juric has in them. When Logarzo got lucky, the ball falling for her perfectly from a shinned pass, she shot straight at the debutant keeper and all eyes went to the skies as the ball went under her body and into the net for a soft opening goal. Conceding a goal mid-chant is never a great feeling, but the Cove persevered, and Sydney were back on level terms with a goal of incredibly similar fortune. Lucy Johnson’s tackle in midfield almost escaped the touch of Maddie Caspers, and the lucky flick found Hawkesby through on goal on the left of the penalty area. There was little hesitation as she fired goalwards, and the Western United goalkeeper couldn’t keep it out, another disappointment for the keepers union.

The moment that we’d all waited for, a chance to sing our Hawkesby Venga Boys chant! Finally!

  • We Are Sydney
  • The SYdney Cove, we are here
  • Drum and bass
  • Lovely conditions
  • There’s a game on, you know?
  • Empty seats

Sydney then served up a horrible half an hour of football. Hawkesby gave the ball away in defence under no challenge, Shay Hollman was guilty of playing the ball to no one, and almost every ball was picked off by eager opponents. Western United were keen to test Mason-Jones, and the shots rained in. The bright spark was the trickery of Indiana “Maxi” Dos Santos, whose spaghetti legs were bamboozling the visitors’ defence. It was her corner from the right that Jordan Thompson thumped against the bar and over, as the game opened up into cup-tie mode. Mason-Jones may or may not have got a touch to turn a shot onto the underside of the bar as United tried to unsettle the goalkeeper, and why not – she’s not particularly tall. Hawkesby wriggled free in Princess Ibini’s position on the left but her shot was parried away, Dos Santos lurking as the ball was hacked clear.

And then, just like that, Sydney were behind again. It looked from our position that Logarzo had taken Nat Tobin out in the box, but in reality it was a cheeky back heel to set up Johnson, and she took a touch before firing into the net from the edge of the area. Again, half way through a chant, the drums going, the curse of active supporter groups around the country, and the singing was interspersed with muttered swear words. 2-1 down at the break then, we would need to see a marked improvement in the second half to get anything out of the game.

  • Main stand
  • Warming up in front of the Cove
  • Heads go up
  • Split the bay, amuse yourselves

The Cove had fun. Splitting bay and chanting to each other was better than watching the game, and it was a fun atmosphere in the corner with smiles and laughter all round. Sydney had come out firing, as they did in our heart-breaking loss last time out. Just looking at the body language of elder stateswomen Tobin and Hawkesby, we could tell they’d been given an injection of urgency. Sub Millie Farrow was busy, but succumbed to injury not long after. We were all looking at each other as play continued with Sydney down to ten players, and it took maybe three minutes for Amber Luchtmeijer to come on. What was that delay about?

  • Which side was loudest?
  • Junior flag bearer
  • Down tools. Enough.
  • At least the cuddles are good

The intensity went up and the game became stretched. The mood in the Cove was sensational – we just wanted an epic comeback like we’d seen the previous evening at Allianz, and the singing got louder and louder. Western United somehow won a penalty when Thompson slid in on her striker to clear. It was doubtful, even from 100 yards away, and the anger on the Sydney defender’s face was clear to see. What a crock! Never fear, Mason-Jones palmed away the spot kick and the game was still there for the taking. The new keeper made another good stop, tipping one over, to enhance her chances of retaining the number one spot going forward.

Seeing Caley Tallon-Henniker continuing to warm up was a reminder of the Corica era of meticulously timed and horrifyingly predictable substitutions. Ninkovic on, Burgess off on 67 minutes every f*cking week. This season it’s a sure bet that livewire Tallon-Henniker will be the last sub off the bench and be given a maximum ten minutes to save the game, and the fact that Caspers stayed on for so long despite having a totally underwhelming game suggested that there’s an element of tactical staleness about the women’s team. As we look for any signs of Matildas star Kyah Simon making an appearance this season, and we watch on as Margot Chauvet and Shea Connors continue to play a supporting role from the stands, the season already feels like a complete write-off.

There were chances late on. Luchtmeijer was fouled right in front of us as she raced for a ball in the penalty area, a sure-fire penalty that was somehow waved away, Ibini and Luchtmeijer both got in good positions down the left, and a series of corners led to nothing. It was exciting, Luchtmeijer keeping a ball in despite it looking over the line, but there was no one in support, and Hawkesby winning a corner despite the ball clearly comig off her on the way out. Ibini performed miracles on the touchline to keep a bouncing ball in with a clever header to sustain an attack. Try as they might though, there was no magical moment, and the late game management of the green and blacks strangled the life out of the game and the final whistle went after a huge chunk of added time.

  • Stunned players
  • Thank you for your attendance
  • Words of encourageme
  • Back to the grind of signing and smiling

The Cove were left to contemplate yet another defeat. More support in vain. It’s starting to grate. The players came and stared at their active fans in a line in an awkward moment, but it was a good opportunity to show our support, and We Are Sydney was belted out to show that we really do care and that we’ll be here forever more. Captain Tobin was in tears as she shared her frustration with capo MMTV, and there was a lot of respect between the embattled players and the patient fans. When the chips are down, we’ve got to pick each other up.

The hard part done, the players then moved on to their civic duties, smiling and interacting with the young crowd to sign autographs and take selfies. We left while some players were still out there, from both teams, Tallon-Henniker still with her family and Kahli Johnson’s local crew beaming after her team’s win. It was discouraging to see coach Ante hot-footing it out of the stadium while players were still interacting with the crowd. Clearly no post-match words, and perhaps he deemed it more useful to not be there (hey this isn’t the EPL, let’s be honest, he probably had something else on) and maybe it would be more appropriate to address the performance when everyone’s head was clear.

  • Youth signing for the youth
  • Ever noticed the seats?
  • Why is no one upset?
  • The Tori Tumeth section
  • So, that first goal…
  • At least someone won

We left the car park soon after and were back in the northern suburbs by 8.30pm, the end of a huge day of football and a second 2-1 defeat for the day. Lots to digest after this one, and the fact that we have no home games for the rest of the month for the men’s or the women’s teams is a tough pill to swallow. We’ll support you every more, Sydney FC, but far out, you make it hard for us sometimes.

Reflecting on another home defeat as the sun sets over Leichhardt

See you on Wednesday night.

Mini marvel bosses City

Marconi Stallions 2 Blacktown City 1

A sparkling performance from Jaydaleah Browning guided Marconi to a slender victory in a hot and humid pre-season encounter in Bossley Park on Sunday. An early goal from Amber Mitchell and a shot from distance from Faith Bugeja had Marconi in the driving seat at half time. A stirring late revival from Blacktown saw them come close to snatching an unlikely draw, Rachel Fry scoring from the spot with two minutes remaining but City were unable to fashion an equaliser. An intriguing hit out for both teams, and plenty of questions to be asked as both squads take shape ahead of this inaugural Girls Youth League Under 18 Division 2 season.

There was absolutely no notion coming into this game of what to expect, such is the new-ness of the Under 18s competition, and the uncultured hoof upfield into the wind from the kick off by Blacktown gave nothing further away. Marconi had the first half-chance, Browning releasing Mitchell on the left, but the speedy winger was closed down. The visitors were content to take a risk playing out from the back, the type of heart-stopping football that fans are universally uncomfortable with, and when goalkeeper Courtney Mackenzie gifted the ball straight to Browning with a scuffed clearance, it was a surprise that it wasn’t returned with interest, the lively sriker closed down without getting a shot away.

Dominique Ashton delivered a searching ball through the gap to give City a first chance on goal, Zoe Thompson firing just wide of the post. Lujain Gad had a good chance for the hosts, but Mackenzie made a smart save, the teams trading shots but not finding that clear-cut opportunity. City were on top, Sarah De Sousa playing in Thompson, whose shot was well saved down low by goalkeeper Aesha Rosas. City won a series of corners, first Emily Jackson with great work up the left, then Liliana Waterhouse made the same run up the same wing with the same result. One corner by Ashton found the head of Thompson, but the effort lacked power and was easily saved.

Just as Marconi looked to be turning the screw, Angelica Conate won the ball in midfield to feed De Sousa, who took on her defender to shoot, the ball deflected behind for a corner. Again, there was little joy from the set-pieces. At the other end, Matilda Egan’s free kick in a good position was neither a shot nor a cross and City survived a scare. Marconi broke the deadlock soon after though when Sienna Bell was penalised for hand ball wide on the Marconi right. Sofia Fragomeli launched a long ball into the box, the marking was non-existent and Mitchell was allowed time and space to hook the ball goalwards; Mackenzie got a good hand to it, but the ball fell into the net and the Marconi players rushed to celebrate the opening goal.

The game was paused for a much-needed drinks break, the game restarting with a kick off, and Marconi’s Browning continued to terrorise the City defence down the left. A robust foul by Bell then gave Marconi a second opportunity from the same position as the goal, but this time Mackenzie watched the ball into the side-netting. Mia Photiades had difficulty bringing a bouncing ball under control in the City defence, and Browning nipped in, but a glorious opportunity in front of goal was blazed over the bar.

City were struggling with their throw-ins, each one frustratingly intercepted, and were at times playing with three at the back as the players tried to find their positions. All of a sudden it was 2-0, and City couldn’t clear the ball, allowing Bugeja to thrash a shot goalwards from distance. The ball sailed over Mackenzie for an outrageous goal and Marconi were now in full command of this contest.

City rallied, sensing that the game was getting away from them, Mikayla Gadd firing in a shot from distance that went close. Goalkeeper Rosas was winding up the opposition, flopping onto the ball at every opportunity à la Jordan Pickford, but she was having a steady game and always in control. City, on the other hand, looked lost at sea, unable to play out from the back, turning into trouble and persistently taking one touch too many to lose the ball in midfield. A corner from Arbolino wasn’t dealt with after Mackenzie came to punch, and Angelina Putrus fired over when well-placed.

The first-half action concluded when Thompson cut inside and then out, firing in a shot that just cleared the corner of post and bar to oohs from the crowd. A difficult first period concluded, and Blacktown City had work to do in the changing rooms to iron out the kinks in their transition from defence to midfield.

The stiff breeze continued to play its part, and Marconi would have to deal with it in the second half. City went on the attack, Aurelia Smith and Emilie Chandran combining on the left, Gadd electing to shoot when a cross was perhaps the obvious option. At the other end, Browning played in Eden Babakian, who got to the ball first ahead of the on-rushing Mackenzie, but the wily City goalkeeper blocked with her feet to save a certain third Marconi goal. Mitchell blasted the ball wide of the right hand post when she found space out wide, and at this stage the visitors looked devoid of invention, coming out second-best in most duels and proving too slow to make decisions going forward.

Egan showed us how not to take a free kick, reeling in disgust at her own effort as the ball sailed harmlessly out of play on the left and that spurred on the visitors, Jackson slipping a great ball through for De Sousa who raced away to shoot wide of the post. The appearance of Lara Green for the visitors brought some fresh impetus, although there was an element of rustiness to much of the Blacktown play.

City pushed forward looking for goals and started to relax. Jackson swept in a corner that almost paid dividends. At the other end, Jackson was dispossessed, Kitching and Babakian colliding in the area, and the vocal home crowd bayed for a penalty that was never going to be awarded, Babakian too quick to go to ground. The final drinks break was a final opportunity to relay instruction to the players and the final quarter of the game was very open. Browning swivelled beautifully to fire in a shot but Mackenzie saved well. Then Thompson released Green but the roll on the pristine artificial surface took the ball through to the keeper.

Smith tried her luck from the edge of the area, the ball sailing wide, then Green blazed her way up the right, Thompson’s shot was well saved, and De Sousa just couldn’t turn in the rebound under pressure. Another Green raid up the right saw her cross headed goalwards by the unlikely attacking figure of Kitching who had stayed forward, and the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Browning was shoved to the ground for a free kick in a dangerous position, but the effort was easily fielded by the calm presence of Mackenzie. Jackson then delivered a corner that saw Kitching collide with the Marconi goalkeeper Rosas with a meaty crunch, Kitching showing concern for her adversary after a thumping collision. Blacktown finally reduced the arrears as the game approached full time. A good run from Thompson eked a corner from the Marconi defence, and when Jackson’s corner was cleared, Thompson picked up the pieces on the edge of the box and her trickery took her past her player, before being wrestled to the ground. The penalty may have been fortuitous, but Fry stepped up with supreme confidence to place her expert spot kick to the keeper’s left to bring the score to 2-1. There was just enough time for Thompson to fire a cross in which Waterhouse smashed over the bar; with Marconi’s game management on point, the remainder of the game was spent fetching the ball for throw-ins and the final whistle was received with an element of relief by the players of both teams, keen to get out of the oppressive conditions.

Blacktown City had battled well in the second half and shown more intent than their unflattering first half. Whilst this was a pre-season encounter with no points at stake, it was a game played in conditions conducive to the early rounds of the season. The lethargy shown in the first period will be a concern, the inability to make a pass stick coming out of defence and the slow decision-making in midfield can be put down as pre-season stiffness, and what was evident today was that this team will not be able to rely so heavily on the breakaway goal. The Under 18s competition should be strong, and whatever magic formula was in play in the victorious Under 16s team of last season is going to need a sprinkle of another exrta-special ingedient to compete at this level.

Today belonged to Jaydaleah Browning though, head and shoulders above her peers, and looking like a real prospect ahead of an exciting season.

Well done to both teams for a game played in good spirit in tough conditions, and we look forward to seeing two close contests during the 2025 season. More to come next week if the weather forecast is kind, Camden Tigers away on grass will be a different proposition altogether.

Note : With pre-season games not recorded on the Football NSW website, it is difficult to know who was who on the Marconi team. If you can help correct any of the names, let me know! This was pure guesswork!