2021 NSW NPL Women’s Wrap – Round 9

Last weekend’s weather was cold, but the action was hot in the NSW NPL competition. It was a round full of amazing goals, fierce contests and memorable triumphs.

Our featured game took us to Sydney’s Inner West for APIA Leichhardt vs Sydney Olympic, a game which formed part of the inaugural Festival of Football.

APIA Leichhardt v Sydney Olympic

A trio of spectacular strikes took Sydney Olympic to a 3-2 victory over APIA Leichhardt in front of a bumper crowd at historic Lambert Park. Substitute Sarah Yatim was the hero for Olympic, after earlier goals from Alexia Karrys-Stahl and Taylor Ray had been matched by goals from APIA stars Lisa De Vanna and Grace Maher.

APIA coach Spencer Prior made one change from the Round 8 win over league leaders Macarthur Rams, Susan Phonsongkham replacing Sophie Hoban in their attack. His opposite number George Beltsos also made one change from the previous weekend, Taylor Ray starting in place of Teresa Polias.

The game started at a frenetic pace. It didn’t take long for the first goal to arrive and it was one that certainly pleased the home crowd – on nine minutes a Maher corner fell kindly for De Vanna, who sent a right foot shot crashing in off the underside of the crossbar.

However, if APIA’s opener was quick, Olympic’s reaction was almost immediate. Less than two minutes after falling behind, Olympic levelled the scores thanks to a brilliant team move. Aimee Phillips, Mackenzie Hawkesby, Kiara De Domizio, Ray and Karrys-Stahl dazzled with a swift sequence of passes, then Karrys-Stahl curled a 20 yard effort into the net to make it 1-1.

Chances at both ends followed, and on 17 minutes Phonsongkham had a shot saved by Jada Whyman. Olympic responded with a Teigan Collister strike which Tori Tumeth did well to deflect wide of the goal, and a Karrys-Stahl effort that flew over after good work from Phillips on the left flank in the buildup. Midway through the first half, Rhianna Pollicina rose to meet Deborah-Anne De La Harpe’s cross, but her header was easily saved by Whyman.

Both sides used their short, quick passing game to good effect, resulting in a lot of eye-catching link-up play. However, both APIA and Olympic were also well organised in defence and there was a period where neither goalkeeper was troubled.

The two backlines didn’t limit themselves to defensive duties. Olympic left back Jessica Frampton overlapped frequently, while for APIA both De La Harpe and Tumeth would often be seen stepping forward into the midfield when the hosts were in possession. Near the end of the first half, Tumeth got on the end of a silky passing move and evaded two challenges, sending a 25 yard strike over the crossbar.

There were changes at halftime for both teams. Sophie Hoban, a goalscorer in the last round against Macarthur, replaced Julia De Angelis, and Yatim replaced De Domizio as Olympic’s centre forward. Phillips and Collister also swapped flanks – for the remainder of the contest Phillips would be on the right wing, with Collister on the left side.

Olympic took the lead for the first time eight minutes after the restart, and the goal followed another scintillating passing move. Hawkesby, Yatim, Collister, Karrys-Stahl and Phillips combined to set up Ray, who fired a 25 yard shot past APIA goalkeeper Sophie Magus.

APIA responded well after going behind. On 58 minutes, Hoban released De Vanna and the Matildas legend outpaced the defence, forcing an excellent one on one save from Whyman.

Hoban was also involved just past the hour mark when APIA made it 2-2, using her body well to hold the ball up, and Maher rewarded that good work with a searing right foot shot from the edge of the area.

The teams were not afraid to take risks in pursuit of a winning goal and spaces began to open up in the middle third of the field. Impressively, a high tempo was maintained throughout the game and the passing remained crisp, even as fatigue started to set in.

For Olympic, Hawkesby had once again been impressive as she directed play in the centre of the park, so it was fitting that the former Young Matilda was involved in the winning goal ten minutes from full time. Following a turnover in midfield, Yatim exchanged passes with Hawkesby and sent a high looping strike into the top corner from 30 yards, putting Olympic 3-2 up.

That was the end of the scoring, but Olympic had to endure one heart-stopping moment before securing the points. On 85 minutes, Whyman spilled a Maher corner kick, and in the resulting scramble Claudia Cicco’s shot was cleared off the goal line by Phillips.

The result means Olympic move up into fifth and APIA drop to fourth. Both teams have a busy week ahead of them – APIA play Sydney University on Wednesday and Football NSW Institute on Sunday, while Olympic host Northern Tigers on Thursday and North West Sydney Koalas on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Macarthur Rams held onto first place after defeating FNSW Institute in a top of the table clash. Blacktown Spartans came back from 2-0 down to defeat Manly United, Northern Tigers secured a derby victory and Sydney University won comfortably at home.

Special mention must also go to Bankstown City, who defeated Illawarra Stingrays to break a 714 day winless run.

APIA Leichhardt 2 (Lisa De Vanna 9’, Grace Maher 61’)
Sydney Olympic 3 (Alexia Karrys-Stahl 11’, Taylor Ray 53’, Sarah Yatim 80′)

APIA Leichhardt: Sophie Magus, Claudia Cicco, Liz Ralston, Tori Tumeth, Deborah-Anne De La Harpe, Julia De Angelis (Sophie Hoban 46’), Grace Maher, Rhianna Pollicina, Georgia Yeoman-Dale (c), Susan Phonsongkham, Lisa De Vanna

Sydney Olympic: Jada Whyman, Angelique Hristodoulou, Charlotte McLean, Matilda McNamara, Jessica Frampton, Taylor Ray, Alexia Karrys-Stahl, Mackenzie Hawkesby (c), Teigan Collister, Kiara De Domizio (Sarah Yatim 46’), Aimee Phillips (Gisella Pipino 88’)

Yellow card: Sarah Yatim 48’

Around the Grounds

Bankstown City 1 Illawarra Stingrays 0
Blacktown Spartans 4 Manly United 2
Macarthur Rams 2 FNSW Institute 0
NWS Koalas 2 Northern Tigers 3
Sydney University 3 Emerging Jets 0

Table

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