2021 SA WNPL & WSL Cup Final (plus NPLW R13 catch-up)

Salisbury Inter came back from a goal down to seal victory in the SA WNPL & WSL Cup Final at a breezy VALO Football Centre on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,327 fans. This was the first Cup victory in Inter’s history and it keeps their chances of a league and cup double alive.

Inter were in imperious form en route to the final, having not conceded a goal in any of the previous rounds, as well as beating their closest championship challengers West Adelaide and Adelaide City on their way to the big game.

Defending SA NPLW Champions Metro United, whose Finals hopes are very much up in the air, saw this game as a great opportunity to boost their campaign ahead of the final third of the league season.

Metro were exceptionally well organised for the vast majority of the first half. They looked very solid and Lauren Steer did an excellent job marshaling the ever-dangerous Inter star Cote Rojas throughout the opening half.

It took ten minutes for an attack to be awarded with a corner and it went the way of Salisbury Inter. The Black and Blues put Anna Pritchard, Chantelle Ryder and Nicole Calder at the near post which caused chaos as the set-piece came curling in on the wind, Metro keeper Melanie Comyns rather flapped at the ball, but Isabella Scalzi managed to clear.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Metro United earned their first corner and they took full advantage. Rochelle Draper’s ball in was met by the head of Vanessa Reed, hit an Inter player before Reed followed up to put the ball home with Inter keeper Matilda Comley unable to get across.

Inter couldn’t quite get their game clicking in this opening period. Metro United deserve credit for this, and they could have doubled their lead eight minutes after the opener when Nicole Calder fouled Laura Stockdale just outside the box to the left of centre. Draper’s free-kick went narrowly over the bar.

With 40 minutes on the clock, Inter began to create some momentum and Emily Condon found Emily Heazlewood on the edge of the box before Draper shut her down instantly.

Just a minute later, Sharni Tansell took a throw for Inter deep inside the Metro half. Rojas found Heazlewood, who played a cross towards Condon. Metro keeper Comyns brought Condon down and although she may have got a touch on the ball before making contact with the Inter player, the referee pointed to the spot. Rojas stepped up and rolled her penalty kick into the left-hand corner of the net.

Salisbury Inter started the second half on the front foot. Rojas got free down the left and played a one-two with Condon who held off Isabella Scalzi and won a corner, which came to naught.

Yet, just sixty seconds later, Inter took the lead in some style. Condon found Dragana Kljajic on the left. She played in Rojas who controlled the ball with her right foot and instantly lofted a shot from the edge of the box into the far top corner for a sensational goal.

Inter were generally on top now. Rojas was playing noticeably deeper to get the ball and playing several one-twos to threaten Metro.

In the last fifteen minutes, Metro tried hard to rally, but the game was ultimately decided in unfortunate circumstances for United. Khal Adam Khan gained possession on the right and played in a low ball which Comyns looked to have gathered, but as she fell to the ground, the ball came loose into the path of Condon who side-footed Inter’s third goal into the net with ease.

Salisbury Inter saw out the remaining moments comfortably. Their success was particularly enjoyable for Dragana Kljajic, who finally won the cup after losing in the final on six previous occasions.

SA NPLW WRAP:

Round Thirteen of the SA NPLW was postponed a few weeks back due to the coronavirus lockdown in South Australia, and two of the catch-up matches in the schedule were played last weekend.

First up, West Adelaide traveled to third-placed Adelaide City for what could’ve been a real banana skin encounter for the league leaders.

Yet, it was West who came away with the win thanks to a single goal on 47 minutes when, after having several efforts repelled by City keeper Abbey Lucas in quick succession, Harriet Burnett pounced on Lucas’ parry to roll the ball home for the only goal of the night.

Football SA NTC played out a 0-0 draw with Adelaide Comets, although NTC hit the post and bar during the 90 minutes.

The remaining catch-up games will see Metro United host Fulham United on Tuesday 7th September, while Salisbury Inter welcome Adelaide University to Smith Partners Stadium on Tuesday 14th September.

TABLE: